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Day at the Lake and why I write

Yesterday we went up to the lake for the afternoon. The weather was just perfect. It was hotter than hell, and there wasn’t a breath of wind, but on the lake? That’s a good thing. The surface was like a sheet of the smoothest glass. No ripples, no disturbance. Just beautiful. And at the end of the day, the sunset was spectacular. On east side of boat the water shone iridescent with an almost neon blue and purple sheen to it. On the west side, the water shone gold, reflecting every aspect of the sun as it sank lower on the horizon. Spectacular tubing wipeouts aside, the day was simply…perfect.

It was one of those wonderful days with my family that reminds me of why I write. I need that reminder sometimes. Most of the time the answer to that question from writers goes something like it’s what we do, or we can’t imagine not writing or it’s what makes us whole or lots of other poetic reasoning that hints at the fact that writing comes from the soul and we can’t survive without it. Okay I buy it, but that’s not THE reason I write.

I write so that I can be at home with my children, so that my schedule can always be worked around theirs. I write so that we can have the freedom to take the boat to the lake and build memories that we’ll talk about twenty years from now. I write so that I can take my kids to new and exciting places, so that they learn about the world beyond our doorstep. I write so that if my kids want to run out for a snow cone I can simply close my laptop and come back to it later. I write so that I never miss a single baseball game, band concert, school play or awards program. I write so that some mornings the kids can crawl into bed with me for hugs and snuggles until 10.

Freedom. It’s why I write.

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11 thoughts on “Day at the Lake and why I write”

  1. joyroett says:

    Awww. That’s awesome!

  2. Sharon M says:

    In my opinion, that’s the most important reason in the world.

  3. Brandy W says:

    :rockthefuckon:
    That’s a wonderful reason to write.

  4. Vicki says:

    Great post! My kids are older, but I write to one day do this full time. Yep, I love to write and yep, the characters talk to me enough that if I didn’t write people would think I was crazy (okay, so they may already think that), but really I write because I want this to be my full time job, I want to be able to do all that you mentioned above.

  5. I think that is a great reason to write, and it’s a win for you and a win for us readers who love your work :worthy:

  6. Lauriekap says:

    I love days with the family I wish I had more of them. But alas daughter is almost grown. Glad it was a great day – pains and all :kissing:

  7. Sue T. says:

    To me, this is the best reason to write! You are obviously a great Mom and I am sure your kids appreciate you and the snuggles. :) The up side is that we, as readers, also benefit. I loved this post.

  8. Amy M. says:

    That is so awesome! I am a work from home mom too, and I agree, it is all about the kids. Baseball, football, gymnastics, soccer, swimming…I have to make time for it all and make sure that they know we will be there for them. And I know that I sure am glad that you write, because your books are fantastic! :cheer:

    Amy M

  9. azteclady says:

    Thank you for the lovely post, Ms Banks, it has left me smiling.

  10. SonomaLass says:

    You write for some of the same reasons I teach! And now that my children are leaving the nest at an alarming rate, I am happy for every memory we have together that resulted from that choice.

  11. MichellekCananda says:

    Wow that was beautiful…you should be a writer hee hee

    Glad you had a lovely family day.

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