I’m a writer. I have been most of my life, at least since I learned such a creature existed. That identification has been both a burden as I struggled to write, and a joy as I put substance to imagined lives.
The problem is I’ve found a lot of distractions along the way. Almost four books finished, many more half way, and I’m still unpublished.
Am I afraid to succeed? Maybe, but I’ve come to see that my fear of failure runs deeper still.
Brenda Ueland wrote, “I learned that you should feel when writing, not like Lord Byron on a mountain top, but like child stringing beads in kindergarten – happy, absorbed and quietly putting one bead on after another.”
One bead–one word, one page, one chapter after another. Eventually a book is born.
It’s a strong image. And so, in this new home, I have re-named my fledgling blog “Stringing Beads.” A constant reminder to me of how to write. Word by word, bead by bead.
So, it’s back to the book.
Deb
Stringing Beads 
Deb,
I love the title of your blog and the scenery is so fitting to what you do.
Since I couldn’t figure this out earlier, I emailed you what I do when I get stuck with writing.
Right now, I can’t get “stuck” as I’ve so much to do, but taking just a bit of time away can really jump start my creative process. Sometimes, and I didn’t mention this before, I just get into a prone position, and let my mind roam around the characters and the events. I used to do this when writing research papers when I was stuck and would always have a hand covering my eyes.
My boys would say, “oh, oh, Mom’s thinking. We gotta leave her alone.” Some days I wish I had those times back, but not too often. 🙂