Like I've mentioned, commitment is hard for me as I have the basic attention span of a teaspoon, but I sincerely try. I think once I get into the habit of sticking with things, it should come second nature for me. At least, that's what my goal is anyway. My newest revelation is something horribly simple. As with the advice that writing daily is beneficial, it also seems that reading often is equally important. Or so I'm told anyway. In theory, the good things about reading both in and out of your favored genre is not only that you can see what else is already out there, so you're not trying to write something that has already been written, but also so you can discover your own style among good works. Makes plenty enough sense to me.

And now, cue drumroll, here's the kicker: when it comes to reading, if the book does not snatch my attention within the first chapter, my tolerance for it withers and dies out instantly. It doesn't stand a chance. I guess this bit links back to my outstanding perserverance. On the contrary of my lack of dedication, if a book does happen to catch my sway, I am not able to put it down. The series Twilight by Stephanie Myer is an example. During class, when I couldn't get away with ( what I thought ) inconspicuous glances beneath my desk, my mind was pathetically screeching, plummetting into something I could safely compare to withdrawal syndrome. So yes, ultimately there's me not being interested enough. And then there's me being helplessly obsessed like a herione addict.

Anyway, a while ago my friend let me borrow this book of hers: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It's historic fiction, outside of my normal reading genre preference of fantasy, science fiction and the like. But Haley said it was really good. Okay, I said, I'd have a look at it. Two months later, after her endless requests for me to read it or to give this one book back, I finally sat myself down and forced myself to pick up after the first chapter I initally discontinued from. To my surprise, toward the end of the second chapter, I was hooked. Again. And I'm glad for it. The author has an interesting vocabulary and her play on words is fascinating. And, I daresay, she has the charm to her writing, a curious underlaying tone of wit and sarcasm that actually makes me grin down at the paper. I kid you not, my kid demon brother made fun of me for at least fifteen minutes because-- God forbid-- I take entertainment out of surfaces sans pixelated images. If it's not obvious, when I read, I enjoy books that can make me laugh.

``for starters

writ·er
writ·er [ritər](plural writ·ers)
n
1. somebody who writes as profession: somebody who writes books or articles professionally
2. person who wrote document: the person who wrote a specific text or document
3. somebody who can write: somebody who can write, who writes well, or who enjoys writing

Yes, if it's not blindingly obvious, I'm a writer. Writer as in the third sense of the definition. So when I naively refer to myself as that, do not be mistaken. I'm no author. But it does help my ego to consider myself a writer.

So yeah, I'm an aspiring novelist presently. It's either writing books or becoming a stem cell researcher. Polar opposite fields, perhaps, but both appeal to me. So far, I feel much more inclined towards becoming the novelist. I'm a dork, I know. Who actually goes on Google and types in 'becoming a fiction writer'? Yours truly, that's who. But that's what you get when you combine an uneventful social life, boredom, and then a laptop that stares.

Anywhore, that's when I stumbled on this fascinating writer's blog, Amanda. Somehow, some force within me compeled me to comment on her most recent blog-- she had caught my attention and I was curious. She responded to my comment and recommended keeping up with a blog. And that's how this little number came out to be. Not quite an oops baby, but more of a spur of the moment one.

So, I decided this will be the thing that keeps me going. Her advice for me is to write regularly, but not force myself lest I start to think of it as a chore. Doable, I say. But definitely a challenge. I'm bad with commitment. However, I really want to try. For now, this is the skinny.