Introduction

Welcome to Written To Write blog!

I'm surprised to be here too. I've tried and failed to keep up with blogs before, but every year or two I seem to come back to give it a shot. Here I go!

My name is Jaimie Gross; my friends and employers call me James. I try to write things in a way that makes them unique and interesting but I have no idea if I achieve that, or if people are simply being kind by saying it is good. I make a lot of mistakes... I abuse commas, colons, and semi-colons. I spell things wrong and argue that it is correct. I misuse words and deny the accuracy of the dictionary.

And sometimes I start sentences with "and" "or" or "but" just to be facetious. Once in a while I use a big word correctly. When I get really angry, I use the English Language so well with so many big words used correctly I confuse people. When I am playful angry, I tend to whack friends on the arms - or more accurately, I go for the gut.

I'm socially awkward. I can talk to older people, nerds, and young kids just fine... but if you put me around "normal people" my age, I get flustered and make more mistakes verbally than you can imagine and people tease me regularly for it. I try to be ordinary, but my aura wears a post-it note that says "give me crap". Most days I just sit back and joke back, but on a bad day I smile on the outside and seethe on the inside.

Nine years in customer service has tempered me to never show how I really feel, so people around me tend to know only when I'm having an extraordinarily bad day and I can barely contain my bad mood. Even then I tend to simply brush things off as "Oh, I didn't sleep well" or "No, I'm fine, just thinking deeply".

At the time of this writing, I have three jobs. I work at a factory running a machine known as a punch press which makes parts for washing machines. My largest job on the press is forming the front panel for home-model top-load washing machines. I'm sure my job is a fun time every day. I have a decent paycheck (not great, but you know...) and nearly-full benefits.

I also work in an office sorting files, doing paperwork, and various other odd jobs my boss wants me to do. It's easy work that I can do around my own schedule.

My third job is working at a tea shop. Watson Street Tea and Treats... I love that place, so here's my plug. If you're in Ripon, Wisconsin, go on over to 208 Watson Street, Ripon, WI, 54971. Why? Because there's over a hundred different varieties of teas, tons of cooking spices, and the popcorn, truffles, cookies, cinnamon cashews, caramels, and other snacks are all made fresh on site. I want them to stay open, so go visit them and spend money. You can find their regular website here and their Facebook page here. OK, I will stop plugging them. Hah...

I try to write, thus the new blog. I'm intending to just blog whatever is on my mind so that I can stir the creative juices cauldron and hopefully spew out some writing. I used to write fan-fiction but that's sorta died out. You can read them here if you really want, but they're not that great and I don't think many (if any) are finished. The later works showed potential, but the earlier works make me cringe. It's like going back through all your earlier work and asking yourself, "OH BLOODY MOTHER OF... what was I on?!" Now that I'm older, I want to write my original fiction... and finish it. My novel is almost thirteen years old, and on its eighth or ninth incarnation. I'm going to say eighth so that it doesn't sound so bad. Anyway...

Nettie's story is here, if you want to read it. It's not my first original story, but it's the only original story that doesn't make my cheeks burn when I share it with others.

Thanks for reading my rambling! I hope you come back for more. I hope I do too!

PS! It's Friday the 13th and a full moon tonight, I hear. Enjoy this night of bad luck and werewolves.