Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Insecure Writers Support Group + Summer: Fact or Fiction, Pt 2

My tiny bit of encouragement for the month.


Writing is an Adventure.

It's steep and deep like a black diamond powder run on skis or a snowboard.

It's full of twists, turns, and loops like the worlds scariest roller coaster.

It's like cliff diving (or watching your youngest daughter jump from a 30 foot cliff).

It's like swimming with 14 foot Manta Rays in Hawaiian waters after the sun sets.

It's like walking along the edge of the Grand Canyon on the rim trail, with condors below you.


Even if your heart is pounding, you're gasping for breath, you feel dizzy, and your palms are covered in nervous sweat - it's worth it.

Take the leap onto the blank page.

Keep Writing.

Keep your Adventurous Dreams Alive!

And speaking of Adventures, it's time for:


Summer: Fact or Fiction, Part 2

Trembling with anticipation and fear, I climbed the rocky trail up to the top of the cliffs with my family. My husband, daughters, nephew, niece, and sister-in-law had jumped from a twenty foot cliff the day before. I wasn't sure if I could do it. I'm terrified of heights, and open water has some fear factor for me even after some adventures snorkeling with Manta Rays in Hawaii about 16 months ago.

My legs felt like jelly, and I tripped on a loose stone on the path. I regained my balance, but my heart started pounding in my chest, and I felt that familiar sensation of vertigo start to take hold. Dizzyness, with an almost compelling feeling of wanting to throw  myself off any high place . . . don't ask me why vertigo makes me want to jump while at the same time fearing it. My breath started coming in shaky gasps.

I sat down on a large rock, and watched the others approach the edge of the cliff.

"This one's only ten feet, Aunt Ty, you could jump that," my niece said.

"Sure, only ten feet," I replied. I swallowed  nervously.

They were milling around at the edge, when another family came up the trail, already wet from a previous jump. They were laughing and excited. The father of the family introduced himself as the Pastor of a church, and encouraged us all to just have faith, and jump. He smiled when he said it, then took a few steps and leaped out into the water. His two boys followed him, and then his wife.

I stood up from the rock. I walked slowly over the edge. I felt light-headed, but ready. The rest of my family watched me, parted a little to make a path, and without thinking, I took three more steps and sprang off the edge. I flailed my arms in the air and screamed, and then I hit the water, my stomach and arms taking a burning hit as I entered. The cold water surrounded me, and I started flailing again, not wanting to go down any further. Finally I reached the surface, and felt elation. I had conquered my fears.


So did I jump: Fact or Fiction?

Or did I ride the Silver Bullet from Monday's post?

What do you think?



33 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

It is worth it!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Alex - Definitely!

Unknown said...

Sometimes I need a real push to get writing. I think it's a fear that I'm not going to be able to write anything which is daft because I always write something :-)

I think you jumped!

LynnRush said...

Writing is an adventure, indeed!

Luanne G. Smith said...

Of course you jumped!

And I love what you wrote about writing being an adventure. At least it is if you're doing it right. :)

Brinda said...

I like the thought of taking a leap onto a blank page. :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

Susan - sometimes I need an extra push too . . .so I put on the kitchen timer and write against the clock.

LynnRush - agreed!

L.G. - that's true!

Brinda - me too!

Emily R. King said...

Nice! I'm thinking this is false and the roller coaster ride is true. We'll see, though.

Aidyl Ewoh said...

I’m saying fiction. =)

Barbara Watson said...

I joined IWSG this month--loved what I saw in the blogosphere over the summer.

I'm thinking fiction...will wait and see.

Allison said...

Good encouragement! Who can resist plunging down a black diamond, I ask? :)

Allison (Geek Banter)

michelle said...

The simple truth is that you jumped - because you didn't want to disappoint your neice.
So I'll go with FACT on this story!

And I LOVE your IWSG words of motivation!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Emily - I wish I could reveal all now, but I'll wait until Friday.

Aidyl - I'll let you know Friday.

Barbara - IWSG is wonderful!

Allison - I know I can't!

michelle - I can't say . . .yet

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Good for you! I'm guessing TRUE.

One of my stories was about cliff jumping, too ... a little! :D

ilima said...

This one is true. The other is fiction. I'll be back Friday to see!

Melissa Sugar said...

One of my stories is also about cliff diving. I love the story, but will have to reserve voting until Friday because I think I already decided your first one was true and I can't very well vote fact for both of them.

Writing is a great adventure. Good point.

Heather Murphy said...

AMAZING inspiration!
I'm thinking this story is fiction and your first one was fact. I cant' wait to find out!

Tara Tyler said...

oh, it aint that bad! i love the thrill of writing!
i'm guessing you did the coaster, not the cliff...

Angela Cothran said...

Oooo...I think you jumped :)

Anonymous said...

This one fiction. The first one fact.

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Tyrean
I don't know if you jumped. Certainly a good character would have made the plunge. I never would have made it to the top. Perhaps when I was young. Good post.
Nancy

Carol Riggs said...

I'm thinking you did NOT jump--just because I wouldn't. LOL Loved your Writing Is An Adventure lines. :)

Melodie Wright said...

I don't think you jumped. I think you DID ride the roller coaster, tho.
So this one false, the first one true.
Good luck!

Patricia JL said...

Very true words. =)

Shell Flower said...

Great that you linked this to writing. I am guessing you didn't jump, because you rode the silver bullet instead. I would like to hear your manta ray story someday, too. Sounds scary.

Unknown said...

I'm thinking this one is fiction and the first one is fact.

Jen said...

phew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. I used to do a fact or fiction weekly story but I got out of the habit. Maybe I should pick it up again...

Anonymous said...

Great IWSG post. I am all motivated. It is scary, but so worth it.

As far as the story. I am going to say Fiction on this one. The roller coaster one was Fact.

Anonymous said...

Great IWSG post. I am all motivated. It is scary, but so worth it.

As far as the story. I am going to say Fiction on this one. The roller coaster one was Fact.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Amy - cliff jumping seems to be a theme in these stories

ilima - wish I could say now, but I have to bite my tongue and wait

Melissa - Thanks!

Heather - Thanks!

Tara - not usually no . ..but some days it is

Angela - I'll tell on Friday :-)

Fel - can't say yet

N.R. - I think it depends on the character

Carol - Thank you!

Melodie - wish I could say - but mum's the word until Friday

Patricia - Thanks!

Shell - The Manta Ray experience was actually really fun, once I got over the getting in the water part.

Rebecca - :-)

Jennee- this is the first time I've ever done it and it's interesting

sydney - agreed - it is worth it!

Robin said...

Loved your IWSG post. I needed it today.

I'm going to say you jumped. This one is fact, 1st one fiction

Samantha Paige said...

Thanks for reminding me that writing is an adventure. As for the fact or fiction, if you didn't actually jump you're a great fiction writer for sure.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Robin - Glad it helped . . and I'll reveal on Friday.

Samantha - You're welcome and thanks! :-)