For Love or Money

Today’s Salad Bowl Saturday guest blogger is Yolanda Renée who poses a very interesting question that each of us, writer or reader, should reflect upon. ~ Jim

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From 2008 to 2011 I hosted a Blog Talk Radio Show, called Conversations with Renee. I would send my guests a list of twenty questions and ask them to pick at least ten for our on-air discussion. One of those questions caught my eye today while looking for inspiration for this post.

If guaranteed riches beyond your greatest desire but no love, would you go for it?

Those that chose to answer it always chose love over money, but today, I realized that I should have changed the question to read:

If guaranteed riches beyond your greatest desire, but you could never write another word, would you go for it?

At first I thought, that's easy, of course I'd choose writing over money. Writing is what gets me through the day—it's my identity. I love writing. I love the intensity, the challenge, and the surprises. I mean, there are times when I'm so caught up in what I'm working on, I have no idea what time it is, let alone what day it is. Eating, feeding others, a dirty house, and a stack of laundry doesn't even register—I call it being ‘in the zone’.       

When it comes to a writing challenge, I'm there—whether the prompt is the title of a potential story or simply a list of words that need to be incorporated into creative fiction—flash fiction is close to an addiction.

Then there are the surprises, the ones that catch you off guard, like when a character takes you on a trip you never saw coming. Or you find a glitch in your story—something you have to tie to the past—but can't figure out how to do it. On those occasions, I've purposely gone to bed thinking about the puzzle and wake up with the answer. Sometimes the answer comes in the middle of the night, sometimes first thing in the morning, or later while washing my hair in the shower. Those are the surprises that I love, especially the ones in the shower. I get some of my best ideas there, it's a wonder I don't take three a day.

The only problem is, that when I'm no longer in the zone, the dirty dishes, dust, and stacks of laundry still exist. As do all the bills, and our 100-year-old house that can, at times, be more money pit than comfortable home. Hubby and I are getting up there in years and retirement will be a challenge. Wouldn't it be more fun to enjoy those leisure years than stress through them with health issues? Maybe the option to have endless riches would be the wiser choice; after all, I can always try another creative outlet. It would be wonderful to tell hubby he can retire and all that traveling he wants to do starts tomorrow.

Besides, just because I can't write another word doesn't mean I couldn't find another creative outlet. I could always try painting, except I'm all thumbs when it comes to drawing; I can't even draw a straight line without a ruler. I remember having fun while creating Christmas crafts— could I do that instead of write? I've always admired my grandmother's quilts; maybe quilting is a possible outlet. Would that be enough? Somehow, I don’t think so.

I have stories in my head, and they keep running if I don't write them down. Characters constantly vie for my attention. If I accepted the money, I'd never be able to write another blog, twitter message, or Facebook update. So, no more social media, because the temptation to get involved would be too great, although, some would say never participating online again would be a blessing …hmm …something else to consider.

Suddenly a new idea dawns on me—if I can't write the words, what about recording them? Is it possible to create my tales via audio? That's an idea that might work, until I remember that it's always in the rewriting where the true gem dwells. It's all about the selection of just the right word, the way the characters express them, the flow of words in describing the setting, but the best is the quotable phrase. The first draft is just simply putting it down, especially for the mystery writer. The character and plot development, subplots, and red herrings create the finished product. Could all that even be done using audio?

And what about the writing implements, the journals, the pens, inkwells, typewriters (for those of us who still remember and the few of us who collect them,) or laptops—those things we cherish as our instruments of creation, how do we turn away from them and just say no?

Could I really give up my creative outlet for money? Could you?

I don't have that answer, because today, I'm having too much fun, at least I thought I was. Until the electricity went out and the electrician told me that we need to replace the main breaker, the breaker box, and the line into the house. Suddenly, that question isn't so funny anymore, and I'm wondering exactly what guaranteed riches really means?

So, dear readers, what would your answer be?

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An adventurous spirit took Yolanda Renée to Alaska where she hiked the Brooks Range, traveled from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and learned to sleep under the midnight sun.

She claims her vivid imagination as a blessing, a habit, a hobby, a calling and sometimes a curse.

Renée now resides in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, two sons, and Boston terrier, Patches.

~ Memories of Murder ~ &  ~ Murder, Madness & Love ~

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