Ink Well My Raven Quill

Originally posted on my IntroMuse Page on 08/24/2012

My name is Raven Hawk. I’m 35, and I live in Central Vermont with my four children. I have all boys (18, 15, 13, and 12), and they keep me very busy. I also have two cats (Mystickal and Shinx), but we’ve been discussing purchasing a new kitten because Mystickal is getting on in age. The cats are also boys, in case anyone was wondering about the testosterone levels in the house.

I have worked as many things in my short professional life, from a bartender to a paralegal. However, most recently I have been studying Psychology and Sociology while I work as a Mediator and Personal Advocate for low-income families. I have also taken classes focusing on Grant Writing, Community Organizing, and MNDR (Mediation, Negotiation, and Dispute Resolution). Overall, I generally enjoy working with the public and helping others. I particularly enjoy helping others overcome challenges and barriers in their personal lives, so they can successfully meet their own goals.

In October 2011, I transferred to SNHU (Southern New Hampshire University) to study English, Literature, and Creative Writing (with a specialization in Fiction Writing). I’ve been working on a fiction novel, geared toward 6-9th graders, for about a year now. My mother is actually the one who suggested I try writing as a profession. She says I’m a great storyteller, but I think writing a great fiction novel is a lot more difficult than telling a twenty-minute impromptu bedtime story to my children. I have to admit, I haven’t worked on it as much as I’d like since I started school and it’s sort of collecting dust right now.

I recently finished a class, Intro to Creative Writing, which changed my views on writing. The instructor stressed writing everyday – no matter what it is, just write something. I tried writing poetry again, which I haven’t done since I was in high school. I’ve also been trying to write in poetic styles and formats that I had never tried before, and some I hadn’t even heard of. I like writing poetry, but I think I’m more of a free verse, with unique rhyme schemes, kind of poet. I don’t like having to worry so much about the rules as I’m trying to get the words out. In fact, I find it frustrating to worry about a set number of syllables, and rhyme schemes on certain syllables within the lines, etc. It overwhelms me.

Something else that happened, within the flexible boundaries of that class, is that I began another book. One for adults this time. One of our writing prompts was to write about a marine that goes AWOL. The short story grew into something much larger and I intend to finish it. I already have about 6,000 words written, and when it is complete, I intend to work, very hard, on getting it published.

Anyway, I don’t expect writing to become a fulltime career for me, but I do enjoy it as a hobby and hope that my writing will encourage others to read more (chiefly my youngest son, Holden, who has severe dyslexia).

I would like to add that I have Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from an auto accident that occurred in 1995. This isn’t something that is obvious from looking at or talking to me, but it is a fact of my daily life. Unfortunately, there are times when I struggle to communicate well, due to my injury. I would like to apologize to you all, in advance, if I frustrate you because I misunderstand something you’ve posted, or if something I’ve posted is difficult to follow. I work hard to be fluent in thought and speech (written language in this case), but sometimes it is still quite elusive for me. I can be a bit of a scatterbrain, but I mean very well.

I hope that my ability to push past my disability to achieve my goals and dreams will inspire others to do the same in their own lives.

Cheers,

Raven