As an aspiring writer, I don’t pay my bills with my fiction.  I have a day job.  I’m fortunate that I’m one of those lucky people who loves what he does.  I work in the ocean, which is an incredible place, and every time I realize that I get paid to do it, it boggles my mind. 

I’ve been asked by friends why the ocean never seems to play a significant role in my fiction.  In the past, I think that’s been true, and it’s reflected in my published fiction to date.  I’m not sure why.  The ocean is certainly awe-inspiring.  I’ve usually attributed it to my shortcomings as a writer—I simply don’t think I’ve had sufficient skills to capture the majesty, beauty, and enormity of the ocean.

Over the past six months, however, the ocean has been a significant source of inspiration.  I’ve written several pieces with nautical themes.  So what has changed?  I’m certainly a better writer today than I was yesterday, but am I good enough?  I don’t know, so I’ll have to let the stories do the talking.  It’ll be interesting to see whether any of them actually make it into print.