I Write.

I've always been the kind of person who writes.

I've kept diaries fairly consistently since I was seven. They're hilarious. In high school  I would talk my Mom out of the boring homework assignments in our school curriculum by promising to write stories instead. Also in high school, I instituted a family newsletter that I forced all of my younger siblings to write for, and I would put it together using Microsoft publisher and print out issues once a month. It was awesome. I still have every copy of the TBK (We wanted to give our newsletter a name that sounded like the kind of name an evil secret society might have), and I cherish those issues, and the bizarre articles we wrote in them.

In college I published The Random Writings of Rachel and sold most of the copies that I had printed. There's still a few left, if anyone's interested. I sent off dozens of articles to magazines, and had articles published in Devozine and Guide Magazine. I wrote query letters to publishers, trying my darnedest to entice them into taking a look at my children's book manuscripts, but none were interested. I still think those children's books are brilliant, and I'll read them to my own kids someday, if to no one else.

The words I write aren't poetic. Often, they don't carry any deep, significant meaning. I'm not the kind of writer that can tug at your heartstrings. Sometimes I do write passionately about hard subjects that mean a lot to me. More often, I enjoy taking an unusual perspective on a common topic, making people laugh, or milking a little extra enjoyment out of something funny that happened in my day by taking the time to record it.

Last year I started blogging, and at the moment, I can't imagine my life without this outlet and opportunity for creating with words. Through blogging, I now have the opportunity to be part of the writing team for QUITE Magazine, and I cannot wait to see the exciting things that I know will happen with that project in the months to come. {By the way, there's still time to subscribe and receive the the very first issue of QUITE for $4.50. Not too shabby of a price to see your favorite Rachel's name in print, right????}

Some hobbies are for certain seasons of life. When I was a kid, I crocheted. I haven't done it in years. Maybe someday, I'll do it again. From time to time, I'll go through phases where I embroider incessantly. Lately, I've been experimenting with my sewing machine, and I like it. But I've always been writing, and I'm quite convinced that I always will. Perhaps, one of these days writing will turn into a little career for me. Honestly, that's my dream. For now, I'll keep writing, and I'm so grateful for every one of my readers who supports and encourages me along the way!