Recently, I have been thinking about my webtoon “Lost and Found”. I abandoned the idea due to being overwhelmed with the scope of it. It still is daunting to think about, which is why I work on it in increments that are easy for me to digest. I struggle a lot of with dedicating all my time to one project, and enjoy hopping between them and chiseling bits off little by little.
This desire to write has come from that fact I have been reading more. This has inspired me to want to try my hand in creative writing. Some of my favorite writing assignments in school were anything that had to do with crafting some type of story.
One of my most vivid elementary school memories was a short story I wrote for a school assignment. If I remember, the assignment was to write a short story to practice grammar, spelling and sentence structure. I wrote about a scuba diver who went on an adventure under the sea, where he met with various under water creatures that could talk. There was definetely a talking sea horse in the mix. My mom loves telling people about this story because one of things I wrote about was how the scuba diver had found buried treasure. But because he didn’t want to steal, he gave it back to United States government. My mom attributes this to the CSI and crime shows like it that she would watch around us. This cracked her up so much, she still has the story. Though I would like to go back to fourth grade Erin and tell her to not be a narc.
I’m also going to admit that, when I was in middle school, I did write minor fan fictions for the anime and shows I enjoyed at the time. These have and never will see the light of day (I used to write them on an old iPod I don’t even have anymore). It goes to show that I have had an interest in writing creatively. Though given the laborious attention writing a well thought out story entails, it isn’t one of the things that I stuck with consistently.
My idea was to write a group of short stories in various different genres. I want to use this exercise as a way to practice writing in general, while also figuring out my “voice”, and what I am inspired by. My reading has been experimental for the same reason, in order to find the genre’s that speak to me most. Short stories feel within my scope. I have learned I have to take baby steps when it comes to my creative process or I set myself up for failure. Having a small bit sized plot might be able to scratch this itch without over extending my attention.
I hope to start working on these at a local writing event. The event happens every Monday night for an hour. It is for writers to have some scheduled time set aside for writing among peers. It stated there was no critique, which I liked given that was not what I had in mind. It sounds great to be able to have an accountability event that will allow me focus. The only reason I haven’t gone yet was because I didn’t have anything I wanted to write. I thought about using it for my blog posts, but I have been happy with my output for them. Posting multiple times a week or weekly was not my goal. Once a month felt like I wasn’t going to be grasping for random things to write about.
If I complete any of these stories, I will post them here! I may just make them blog posts, or may make another section of my website to host them on. I am making my boyfriend my proof reader, he enjoys reading and has been super supportive of my creative endeavors. He has not let up on wanting me to booth for my nail art. Now he gets to tell me all the words I spelled wrong.
I hope all those reading this are having a lovely day and a lovely 2026 so far. For me, thing’s are scary in the world right now. After much introspection, there are some thing’s the individual does not have control over. It is what you can control and contribute to in the everyday that matters. Even if it’s small in comparison to the big picture. My writing and creative endeavors feel like an extension of my feelings surrounding these things currently.
Stay safe out there.
-Erin
Orbitedbyerin 