Revival.  Write Jay Write was where it all began for me. In 2000, after some serious soul searching, I decided that  the quickest way for me to become a world-famous writer was to start a web site that featured my writing. The name was a Seussian way of reminding myself the things I needed to do to meet that goal.  To say I failed to meet even my own expectations over the past 10 years would be an understatement.  For a while, I wrote. Most of that occurred between 2004 and 2009 (found here), but even that was sporadic. It is possible that in that time I became a better writer.  It is difficult for me to judge because I thought I was amazing then, but when I read my old stuff, it sort of sucks. So, maybe I’ve gotten better, or maybe I’m still writing suckishly, but just can’t see it without some distance.

I took two years to mourn the death of my youngest daughter. I wrote occasionally during that time, but it was fairly depressing.  That is not behind me, but I have found a new road that I want to take, and I have no reservations about starting down that road today, so I am.  Fair warning – the vehicle I steer down this road will have a bumper sticker that says “Ask me about my dead kid.”  I’m not holding back just because the world doesn’t like dead kids. I don’t like them either, but I have one, and I can’t change that about myself.

I have officially been writing for 20 years. I am almost 40 years old. I have been published. I have made money from writing. All of that is fine and dandy and, I’ve realized, completely not the point of any of it.  Writing has always been, and will always be, the best way I know to express myself.  Moreover, it is the only thing (not person or place, but thing) I miss dearly when it takes its leave of me. It leaves me on occasion for absolutely no reason, and stays gone for sometimes a day or two and sometimes three years. But, it always comes back.  Today, it is back.

My name is Jay Groce, and this is my site. I hope you find what you’re looking for – if not here, then somewhere. As always, thanks for stopping by.

- Jay, January 2011