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There's a story I've been wanting to tell. It's inspired by the women of my family. It goes back to a wildly beautiful woman who has a baby out of wedlock at the turn of the century in a desert land that was full of buried riches. It follows through to a young lady enslaved by life and rescued by fire. Just one thing...
I'm a big chicken.
I kept coming up with a million different details that were holding me up. They were just excuses. I kept hearing that bitch, Nagging Doubt chatting in my ear. But louder than that was a siren... a glorious woman yelling at me to get off my doubting butt and frickin' write! Screw grammar and missing dates. That's what research and rewrites and editors are for right? Editors. Like real people... to read my crap... and laugh... {{sweating}} In creeps the horrible, awful doubt.
I hate that!
Recently, I've been surrounded... accosted practically... by amazing writers... beautiful women. They have encouraged me to just slice through the fears. Who cares what the eventual outcome is? This is a gift from me to me... and to my children. A story doesn't need to be published. It just needs to be told.
And then, one of the final details... the last real excuse hurdle I had to leap over was dessimated with one random tweet about an old ghost town and the right date of a particular event. Wow. I just sat there and tried not to cry. I wasn't looking very hard for this little piece of information, but there it was... on my screen. I could have just glazed over it and kept on my road of pretending I didn't see it. But that would be a regret I would have to deal with on my death bed. I am NOT going to do that to that poor little old lady that will one day be "Mizz Shoog" to all the other residents of my old folks home.
What the hell. Here goes...
Much thanks to these beautiful women. Please go visit them and be inspired:
Thanks Gayle - www.inspiremetoday.com
Thanks Claudia - www.claudiajean.com
Thanks Loretta - www.ExperienceEmpowerment.com
Thanks Trisha - www.trishagoyer.com
Thanks Trish - www.trishberg.com
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Minor Details, Major Regrets
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9 comments:
Isn't life amazing? Having the right people enter your life at the right time, and getting the tiny crumb of information right when you need it...to me, these things are evidence of a God who's at work in the world and in you.
I, for one, am very glad you're telling your story. Tell that bitch Doubt to take a hike!
Just last night I was twittering about a ghost town. Now I look forward to your story - it sounds like a great one, full of strength and courage. You go, girl! (-:
It will cost you blood sweat and tears, girl, but if it's a story pushing within you, I'm afraid you have to honour it. And if it is a story from God, that he wants you to write, who are you to argue with the Master Creator? : )
I, for one, am looking forward to reading it, and offer the odd kick in the butt when the going gets tough. You can write it NaNo style, perhaps...?
Just go for it, you have nothing to loose!
Ps. Just hit 20 000 words at Nano, and it's messing with my head!
Sounds like you need to get your story out. Good luck! I'm going to send a link to your blog to my writer friend. I think she'd enjoy it.
Thanks for stopping by my blog, and for your sweet comments about my Grandma. It was a great way to honor her and share.
How much do I love this post?
This post reminds me of Isabel Allende's stories.
Just get it out. At least your faithful blog readers will read it.
I'd call that confirmation! Be strong and of good courage!
I've been there; actually, I'm there now.
Last year, I tried to write another story, a fictional romance. It never jelled because there was another story within me, the one within my family history, that needed to be written first.
I'm writing that story now, and it's scary and painful. Some days are great, the words flow easily. Some days just suck.
It's really helped to:
1. Connect with other writers on the Homeschool Educator's Writers Group.
2. Cull information from my journals.
3. Work through the exercises in Pen On Fire: A Busy Women's Guide To Unlocking The Writer Within by Barbara DeMarco-Barret.
Godspeed on your writer's journey!
These women ARE amazing. I've had a big week where i have seen and felt the power of being a woman. Women rock, we have so much power within us that always wants to be squelched by Nagging Doubt....we've got to find a way to get over that, always!!!
I really want to read your story, i am an easy critic (well, not true, but I CAN be) and I would be a first good audience to run it by, even your description of it alone evoked a feeling in my I can't describe!
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