So Apparently Now I Blog

This is my first official blog. It's kind of daunting, actually. So much space to fill...

I was inspired to write today. Not necessarily my ordinary musings that get stored on my computer or scratched in a notebook never to see the light of day again, but something to share. Something to get over the incredible fear of regection and failure that I've somehow managed to acquire.

I wasn't always afraid.

When I was in high school and even into college, I thought I was invincible. I had teachers praising my work. I had poetry selected for publication in anthologies. I had pieces performed on arts nights. I had confidence.

Something changed when I was in a creative writing class in college. I remember the short story assignment well, and I chose to fictionalize a recent breakup. I poured my heart and tears into the story and turned it in to the professor who, in turn, broke my heart all over again.

There was a part to the story in which I lie in bed, next to the man who did not reciprocate my love, and all I could hear was the Bonnie Rait song "I Can't Make You Love Me" playing over and over in my head. A soundtrack that crushed me. A soundtrack that summed up the entire experience.

The professor, with his vicious red pen, pointed out that Bonnie Rait running through my head was entirely too cliche.

Too cliche?

Excuse me?

How can the truth be cliche? Plus, isn't there a portion of every love or breakup story that is cliched? Isn't that part of what makes us relive them... because it's something that we all can relate to?

That's when I began to doubt myself. If I can't portray the truth in a convincing manner, who the hell am I to think I can create something convincing?

So welcome to "That's How I Roll." It will be an adventure to say the least...