Well I never!

I never thought I'd write non-fiction. Well, not anything more than the training/semi-technical lessons I write for work or these blog posts. Non-fiction isn't my preferred reading material, unless it's a good biography or from some part of history I'm particularly taken with (right now, that would be royal Tudor England and the Salem Witch Trials). Non-fiction to me seems to take so much work. Checking facts, researching, organizing...ugh. Yes, I'm a librarian and researching really is my shtick, but that's work. Yes, I realize fiction writers put in a lot of research hours, depending on their story line.

Writing for me is has always been about release, escape. I don't want it to feel like work. I've never been drawn to writing something so involved that I have to do a lot of research to get the settings, situations, or details right.

But then, I started reading pieces of creative non-fiction. Oh this is so me. So...here's the first bit of what I've been working on. I've posted it before..a few weeks back. But since I've gained all kinds of new connections (readers), let's see what you think of it now...


Anywhere else wouldn't make sense.

I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. My parents still live there.

My mother would kill me if she knew I'd told you that.

Maybe I should explain. In my hometown, there is no "wrong" side of the tracks. There's the side where everything is—grocery stores, banks, fast food joints—and the side where everything isn't. It just happened that way, no particular reason. I grew up on the empty side.

When I was little, and the world consisted of school and the neighborhood, I didn't notice or care. Kids are like that. Sixteen year olds are not. Suddenly, upon reaching that magic freedom age, the world multiplies in size. And living on the wrong side crimps your style. Inevitably, the people you want to pass your time with aren't over "here." No, they're over "there" - with stuff to do and knowing glances.

Life lesson number one--you need to figure out on which side the world says you're supposed to be. You don't have to agree, of course.

For more things people never thought they'd write, visit this week's offerings at Sunday Scribblings.
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8 Response to "Well I never!"

  1. twitches says:
    Sep 9, 2006, 11:55:00 AM

    I didn't know I grew up on the wrong side, either, until I got out of there and went back as an adult. Thanks for posting!

  2. RB says:
    Sep 9, 2006, 1:30:00 PM

    The first three lines of your creative nonfiction piece really sucked me in with their honesty. Do you read any creative nonfiction? I recommend anything by Susan Orlean (try "The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup"...it's a book of her profiles of everyday people).

    Keep writing! :)

    Peace,
    FC

  3. Chelle Y. says:
    Sep 9, 2006, 2:40:00 PM

    You're a great writer. I always liked Historical Fiction, especially Russian history. It always interested me.

    Good scribble!

  4. Amber says:
    Sep 9, 2006, 9:02:00 PM

    This is also the kind of writing I do best, it seems. My own blog has turned into a place where I can lay it all down, an dhas been very healing. I hope you continue to find the same is true for you.

    :)

  5. papyrus says:
    Sep 9, 2006, 11:04:00 PM

    I didn't grow up on the wrong side but I chose it later. And my mother did nearly kill me. Fortunately, that was only her initial reaction. She got used to the idea fairly quickly. Actually, it was more of a case of having to stay true to her principles of letting everyone live as they want.

    Interesting question, and written with just that spark that draws one in.

  6. Kayt Says:
    Sep 10, 2006, 5:02:00 PM

    Great post - it sucked me right in :)

  7. Giggles says:
    Sep 11, 2006, 1:38:00 AM

    Yes, I want even more..Well done...you got me!

    Peace and giggles

  8. DonPare says:
    Sep 12, 2006, 9:00:00 PM

    Great start! Keep going.

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