WINFIELD WORD WEAVING

My name is David Winfield. I am a writer. I am many other things, but for the first time in my life, I can confidently say, I am a writer.

It all started 40-plus years ago, trying to attract favor from the feminine variety with sappy love letters. My wooing was generally unsuccessful, but it did help me develop my writer’s voice. Fast-forward to today, I’ve turned a long-time hobby of writing computer code, which started feeling like work, into writing stories, a life-long idea that has turned out to be far more satisfying.

So why can I say out loud the four tiny words I have not been able to say to the rest of the world for the first time?

Imagine this scene, a scene I experienced firsthand, alone, around people who did not know me in a location I had never been. It was a gray, rainy morning as I sat in the cozy loft of a small town coffee shop, cradled in a leather armchair, sipping lattes and munching on bagels and cream cheese, you know, the kind of bagels that have all those yummy nutty bits on top? I digress. During that lovely six-hour experience, I watched numerous people, couples, and a cute family come and go while I completed the first read-through of my first novel attempt, a 57,000-word manuscript about a cat and a dog who discover how scary humanity can be, marking it up with red pen and Post-It notes, a giant grin on my face, and bagel crumbs decorating my shirt. It was, quite possibly, the most satisfying artistic moment I have ever experienced.

I am a writer.

Currently, I’m fine-tuning Scruffy, brushing the tangles and burrs out of his fluffy coat and getting him ready to present to the world with the hope of finding an interested publisher. I’m keeping a realistic attitude about the process, knowing that 99% of proposed books do NOT find that sought after resource. A famous person once said, ‘You never know until you try.’ Thanks, Mom. Therefore, I will try my best to make it become a reality. I hope to share it with you and the world soon.

I have experienced the excitement of holding a story I wrote in book format a couple of times, having self-published twice. I’ve also experienced the horror of finding typos or cringed at word choices, incorrect tense usage, and awkward arrangements that I wished I could reconsider in said publications. But never fear; my self-esteem is intact, and I realize that my hobby is for personal enjoyment, and I am a work-writer-in-progress, long, wordy sentences notwithstanding.

While I patiently pursue a publisher, in the hopes they will fall in love with Scruffy, I’m writing short stories on Reedsy.com and participating in events that SCBWI of Oregon host to hone my skills and spur creativity. This website contains some of those creations, along with past and present blog posts. Read them at your leisure, and feel free to comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I hope you enjoy my word weaving; it’s not for everyone–actually, that’s not true. Since I have shared this on the web, I share it with everyone; therefore, it is for everyone, whether you like it or not.

Happy reading.