Just so you know...

One of the most important facts that anyone needs to know about me is I like to talk. When I was six years old and in first grade, my mother had to send a notebook with me to school so that when I finished my assignments I could write in the notebook instead of talking to disrupt my fellow students. My mother would often receive comments from teachers and friends about my extensive vocabulary for my age--understandable that when you've used so many words so early in life you would need to find more. It's no surprise then, that I would grow up liking to write given as much practice as I had that first year of my schooling.

I like to talk almost as much as I like to write (maybe more). In fact, you could argue that the reason I write is because the paper or computer will never tell you that you're not interesting or that you talk to much. Writing is simply me talking to an always captive audience. No one could read what I write ever and I would still feel like I told someone my secrets. However, this is not at all meant to be about writing. This, this blog here, this thing that I'm trying to do is all about talking.

I am a professional talker. That's the simplest way to put it--I get paid to talk. I went to college and graduated with my Bachelor's in writing. I naively thought that upon graduation I could be instantly snatched up by my favorite publishers and whisked into a world of literary magic. When my favorite professor enlightened me further on life in the publishing world (I so desparately wanted to be a book editor) I became completely disillusioned. I thought then perhaps writing would have to be something I do just for me instead of for me and a paycheck. However, do not fret, I haven't completely given up that dream. I've just temporarily replaced my desires with a practical application of my "skills."

I have six years of experience talking to people for a paycheck and about twenty four years of experience talking for free. I should have known the first time I accepted a talking position that I would be forever cast into the role of the talker. I should have also known then that talking on someone else's dollar isn't nearly as much fun as it sounds--if it sounds like fun to you at all. It's hard for me to look back and think that this type of job was something I ever sought after, but I was young and stupid once. I'm still young...I just hope no longer stupid.