Enjoy this reflective essay, written about eight years ago as I was pondering my good fortune as a writer and trying to imagine, and concentrate on, the years ahead. Thank you for reading.

At the time of writing, 2015, I’ve been a practitioner of the written word for more than eight years, and, creatively speaking, and in terms of the variety of manuscripts I’ve been churning out and the pace at which I’ve been laboring, I couldn’t be more on target. When initially overcome by the urge to write, back in 2007, I channeled a lifelong influence of cinema—dark films in particular—into a hobby of sorts, by coming up with stories of my own, putting them on paper, shaping them and sharing them. All that TV I watched in my lifetime did not destroy my brain as so many feared it might. It only enhanced it: stirring my imagination, giving me a genuine, all-consuming purpose. Thus far I’ve proven to countless skeptics that the most unsettling realities on earth can do wonders for human aptitude, for self-respect, for self-discovery, for literacy, and for critical and imaginative thinking.

After getting my first stories published, I began reading a great deal of literature, and the more broadly I read the more I felt myself by degrees being nudged toward composing literary fiction, veering, without trepidation, from the very formula that had rewarded me with my first professional credits. I didn’t foresee the change, mind you, but I couldn’t resist the temptation, irrespective of the unknowable consequences. I was having incredible fun as a writer, so, filled with unbridled zeal, I embraced the dramatic change. With no regrets to speak of, I remain contented.

Then, around the same time, I had one of my stories adapted to film in Canada. I couldn’t believe it, a film deal, a timely break, to cherish and to hold close, forevermore. Though I couldn’t be there for production, I still felt as though I had been part of the day-to-day happenings, having had the Internet as a reliable informer. Working on that project showed me firsthand how to envision a story for the screen, which for me wasn’t by any means problematic considering my lifelong fascination with movies and how I used that foundation to develop my own “visual” writing style and technique. No doubt a curiosity of the film business had begun budding within me well before I commenced writing with any serious intent. Nevertheless, that 20-minute film taught me that I had yet another purpose, if only I could chase after it, comprehend it on the most rudimentary levels, and bring more balance and structure to my craft. Patience, patience, I told myself. Soon, I hoped, possibilities, prospects, would materialize.

As any dedicated writer would do, I kept writing and submitting regularly, and scouting around for filmmakers; believing, all the while, that somewhere in the world I would encounter an ideal match, a production company that would not only appreciate but find appealing my creative insight, my vigorous, overactive imagination, and my burgeoning passion for cinema. Following extensive and elaborate research, I came across a film company, had a movie made, and thoroughly enjoyed my collaboration with all involved. Serving on the production as a contributing writer and associate producer, I had the huge fortune of dealing with actors, of helping on the set, and of lending a hand wherever necessary; learning, absorbing, thriving, accelerating, like never before, feeling not only singularly engaged and focused, but determined beyond measure. That project—“Abandoned in the Dark,” an anthology film based on four stories from my book of the same name and released in 2014—left me wiser and better-equipped to henceforth make increasingly beneficial decisions in my creative life.

Time passed in a hurry, though, as it always does when you’re immersed in work that demands the best of you—that satisfies your heart, your soul, your intellect, your dreams. Along came another chance to prosper: I landed a job in the haunted-house business, contributing to the public relations staff of a New Jersey attraction, a fun, multidimensional station that allowed me to meet and interact with interesting people, most of whom derive as much pleasure and entertainment from Halloween as I myself. My position put me in intimate acquaintance with thousands upon thousands of like minds, and I found infectious their cheerfulness, their passion, and their own magnificent ideas of dark, eerie amusement. The unique experience proved to me that I had indeed another gratifying purpose. After all, moviemaking and haunted-house entertainment share a number of similarities which I find noteworthy. Whether speaking with actors or staff, answering patrons’ questions, or providing information about the behind-the-scenes functions of a haunted house, I found my duties alluring, stimulating, and educational.

Collaborating with musicians has been engrossing as well. No doubt I’ve relished every aspect of being a freelancer, of being a writer unafraid of branching out and of resisting labels, of transcending my own expectations, and certainly those of my readership. For musicians I’ve written short biographies, interviews, analyses, website content, and reviews. I’m quite fond of writing about and promoting creative people of all backgrounds, discovering for myself their individuality, their hard-earned image and wisdom, and illuminating their assets, especially if to a large extent I admire their craft, which has been the case with every undertaking. So, yes, doing projects of this kind has made me aware of another purpose, and perchance there’s more to come, as I’m an enthusiast of music and all its varieties.

As you can see, my course in the literary arts has been one of great reward and diversification. All avenues have appealing characteristics, amenable paths, and potentially lead to further experimentation, which, no wonder, revs my creative engines, making my quest even extra intoxicating. No complaints, no reason to squawk here, fellow readers and writers, I’m just endeavoring to determine somehow where I’m headed and the most practical and logical route. While in progress, I cannot stop asking myself the titillating question of where my true st purpose lies, or if on the other hand the answer is so obvious as to temporarily elude my grasp. No matter. For as long as I am of sound mind and body, I shall keep trying to figure out whether I’m meant to train my energy in one area or in several. Not a burdensome matter to contemplate; I couldn’t be more grateful for the artistic windfall. Most important, though, and more to the point, I must continue having fun on this adventure, enjoying the little stops along the way. And to those dedicated readers who have joined me on the journey and supported the detours I’ve taken, I thank you for your unwavering interest.