About Me — Marianne Irvine
I have a messy life
My messy life
By messy, I don’t mean I am dirty or untidy. Well, perhaps, I am cluttered sometimes. I accumulate piles of paper and documents on my desk and kitchen table, which I intend to organize and file soon, but soon has a way of never appearing.
A messy life is a life with many difficult situations and challenges. I write about some of it, but not all of it. For instance, I wrote about my journey with chronic illness in a 3-part series.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining about my messy life. It is what it is. Many of us have messy lives. I’m not the only one.
Perhaps sometimes I complain when I forget.
So — my life’s work is about sorting out the mess — resolving, arranging, researching, analyzing, resourcing, contemplating, and processing. Writing helps to make sense of it.
Writing helps to remember where I have been, where I am, and where I’m going — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I look back on my writing and think, I remember that.
Writing helps me see what I am missing and where I have strayed from my path.
Enough about the messy life.
My writing experience
I’m a new writer to Medium as of March 2022. A beginner. I have never had a paid writing gig.
I began writing online in 2010 on a free WordPress blog where I wrote whatever I was thinking or doing. Writing fizzled out within a couple of years. The site is still up, but I haven’t written on it for years. I think I bored myself.
At the same time, I had a hobby blog called Miracle Mama, where I posted inspiring miracle stories that crossed my path. That was fun! But, I stopped writing on it at the same time.
During those early years, I also wrote blogs in a volunteer capacity for a food system roundtable and a low-income group.
Why I joined Medium and how it’s going
Someone I know told me about Medium saying it was easy to start writing, there was no fussing with design features, plug-ins, setting it up, etc.
I signed up, read some articles, uploaded a profile image and bio, and added a few things to the About page.
A Write Here article announcing the weekly prompt topic for either something about work or a dream you have inspired me to write my first post on a dream I’ve had for many years. It’s entitled “The Icebreaker: My First Post on Medium.”
There are many excellent writers on Medium who I want to learn from so that perhaps one day I will become an excellent writer too, or not.
My experience on Medium has been terrific thus far. I’ve met so many wonderful writers. I love the engagement of reading their stories and responding to what comes from my heart. Though, I feel bad that I have trouble keeping up with the number of stories that pop up from my followers, who I also follow.
Here are some topics I write about and plan to write about:
- My personal experience with chronic illness, aging, wellness, self-development, gratitude, love, and spirituality
- Life lessons
- A little humour now and then (I have an idea percolating, although my sense of humour might be strange to some)
- I may write a rant if something irks me
- My journey to becoming a paid writer
That’s enough about me. Let’s talk about Toby Keith.
Does anyone remember Toby Keith’s, I Wanna Talk About Me?
and invited me to write a Ten Things About Me article, which I did. I’ll update this once it is published.
I enjoy reading about other writers. I appreciate you taking the time to read about me.
A few other articles I have written:
There are two ways to help support this developing writer if the spirit moves you.
1. Read, clap (up to 50 times is allowed), comment, or share my stories.
2. Become a Medium member through my affiliate referral link. $5/month or $50/year
Benefits: Ad-free, full- access to Medium authors and articles. Writers receive a small portion of the fee, helping to support their work.
