The Muse Has Been Silent

I've not written anything since the end of November. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Unless you count posts on social media, or editing a line or two of a school report my oldest child wrote; and I don't. 

My blog has been as silent as an old ghost town in a black and white western.My characters have been as quiet as little mice. I've been too tired, sick, busy, blah blah blah. 

I've read about writing and blogging, discussed writing in online groups, and critiqued work for others. I've listened to ideas and storylines, even had one or two pop up in my head. But no writing. 

The past couple of days, I've thought about the "whys" and the "hows" of this dry spell. I've come to a conclusion. There's no real reason I haven't written anything, other than a complete and utter lack of desire to do so. 

Does this mean I can't write? Nope. Does this mean I'm not a "real" writer/blogger/author? Not at all. What does it mean? For me, it means I just needed to pull back and regroup. I needed to give myself permission to be human, with all the doubts and weaknesses. 

What now? Well, I wrote this post. And there's a small idea bouncing around my in my head. I'm good with that. Should I be okay with that? I don't know, but I am. 

I'm Still Around!

I apologize for being so lax about my posts. I could give you a list of excuses why I haven't blogged recently, but it would be just that--excuses. (I'll wait while you berate me...Done? Good)

I'm working on a secret project of my own (are you intrigued?)and still trying to finish my WIP; plus my children are involved in no less than 50,000 or so activities this year. Okay, so that's a slight exaggeration, but only a slight one. 

I'm also blogging for Motherhood Later. It's a fantastic website and they've  been generous enough to allow me to post on the site. Here's a little about the site:

"Did you become a mother, for the first time or again, at age 35?MotherhoodLater.com is here for you – they offer community, free Baby Bloomer newsletter, blog, get togethers and  giveaways.  https://www.facebook.com/MotherhoodLater  They welcome your participation, accept guest blog posts and want to hear your later mom stories."

And because I don't have enough to keep me busy, (maniacal laughter), I'm working on a horror anthology with three other talented authors: S.G.Lee, V.J. Prucha, and Jackie Lycke. Let me give you an introduction to them now. 

S.G. has a blog showcasing the many works of horror produced by that incredible mind! If you want nightmares, head on over to http://sglee.blogspot.com. I guarantee you won't be disappointed! 

S.G. also has had work published. Check out http://smarturl.it/athellsgates for an anthology whose proceeds go to a worthy cause; and Journal of the Undead series amazon.com/author/sg_lee. S.G. can be found on Twitter and Facebook, as well. The links are @sg_lee_horror and https://www.facebook.com/sg.leehorror

V. J. has written a wonderful thriller. I bought it and finished it a couple of days. She kept me on the edge of my seat!  The book is "My Soul to Keep" and is available on her website www.vjppublishingllc.com and through Amazon. She's also a very talented artist and you can find her at Etsy now under VJPArt. She's also on Facebook and Twitter. Her information for those is: http://www.facebook.com/vjprucha and @valerieprucha. 

Jackie writes romance and does some fantastic book review--without spoilers! She can be found on Twitter, Facebook and her book review blog at travelthroughthepages.blogspot.com.  Her Facebook page link and Twitter handle are: @jackielycke and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Have-Book-Will-Travel. Jackie is always busy! She works her day job and writes in what little spare time she has. I wish I had as much energy as she has! And she can write fantastic horror! She scares me silly! 

I hope you enjoy perusing the sites I've mentioned. I'm honored to be associated with them all. In the meantime, check back in and say hello! Thanks for reading!

Quell Those Doubts

One of the most difficult things for me to do is stop negative self-talk. I doubt myself more often than not. That's a very difficult position for anyone who likes to create.

I've developed friendships with a few other writers. These friendships started at a local writing group. This is helpful on so many levels. Writing is a solitary activity. The interaction with people who understand this is invaluable. 

The writers I'm friends with offer critiques. And I do the same for them. We bounce ideas off each other, read our work in group, or critique hard copy for each other. I also have a network of followers and followees, if you will, that provide inspiration, information and experience. 

And as I move along in this creative journey, I find it easier to tell myself "you really don't suck at this", "you can do this", "you have a unique voice".

Quell the doubts and move on. 

You can find me on Facebook Linda Beeson Rosendale, Author or on twitter @writerlinda2008. 

A Review of The Perfect Day by Gunnar Angel Lawrence

The Perfect Day by Gunnar Angel Lawrence was a thrill-packed ride! The characters were believable and the plot frighteningly plausible. 

From the first terrorist attack to the last, I was hooked.   I found myself literally holding my breath in fear!  To read a novel that's unrealistic is one thing, but to read one so filled with scenarios that have occurred or you could imagine occurring is terrifying. 

Lawrence is a talented storyteller and I cannot wait to read another creation. My only criticism? I had a difficult time putting it down, so my work load suffered.  

 

Congratulations on a job well-done!

I'm Here and I'm Not Going ANYWHERE!

I've been writing for years. I've not published anything yet. Not because I've been rejected, but because I haven't submitted anything to anyone. Why? How long do you have? Short version, fear. That's it. Fear of rejection, of someone not liking what I wrote, of offending someone. Now that I'm approaching my next birthday (the big 5-0), I realize I don't care any more. I don't care if I offend or someone dislikes what I write. I just plain don't give a damn!

I presented a piece of work at a writing group last month. The critique left me discouraged, frustrated and above all, mad as hell! I am not a poet, never professed to be one. And I prefaced the reading with that statement. And when I was done, I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. My fault for calling it a poem. I should have called it a narrative or something. The end result, after I got over my cowering fear of presenting ANYTHING to ANYBODY, was to sit up and say, "Screw you!" Okay, not literally, but yeah, that's how I felt. And now, I'm glad I read it. I'm even glad I got the comments I did. I'm done worrying about it. It is what it is, good or bad. That's all. And you know, I'm not getting rid of it. It's got potential.

I'm putting my name out there, making my name visible to publishers, editors, other writers, and the general public. I want people to know who I am. A friend recently asked me how I feel about this new mindset. The answer? Scared shitless. I feel like I'm standing on the edge of a cliff, getting ready to bungee jump. And I can't wait to do it!!

My novels in progress are getting a lot more attention these days. My journal is filling up. I'm putting myself "out there" and letting life happen. By the end of next week, I will have an article ready for submission. Period. No "plan to" or "should have", it will be done.

So, watch as I jump! How do you like me now?

My Perspective on Creativity

I started getting more interested in creative nonfiction after a writing group a couple of months ago. A group member shared a story about her life and it touched me. One of the other members started talking about a recent conference he'd attended and mentioned creative nonfiction. I'd always wondered what you'd call my writings about my boys and my life. Creative nonfiction.

Isn't that a great way to describe one's life? I'd never thought about it, but it makes sense. When I tell a story about my boys, my quirky sense of humor kicks in. The way I talk about the escapades is completely different than what I was thinking and feeling at the time. Okay, most of the time anyway. But I think you get my point. Each of us has a point of view. It's not right or wrong, it just IS. My writings are simply MY perspective on life.

I've been reading memoirs lately. It's so amazing how these people put themselves out there. I read one about a poet's struggle with alcoholism; a former football player who went out for a fishing trip with three friends and was the only one who survived when the boat capsized; a man who was sentenced to prison at a leper colony not too long ago (I had no idea such things still existed in the United States). All of these people, from different walks of life, told their stories. Is that courage, or what?

The creative soul is fragile. Each time you put your work out there, no matter what your niche is, it takes courage. You know someone won't understand your quirky sense of humor, or your cynical perspective, or (fill in the blank). But does it really matter if some people don't get you? Don't like you? Probably not. Does it still feel "wrong"? Maybe. Do you stop creating? No more than you can stop breathing. I tried. (to stop creating, not breathing) I was miserable. I'm happy when I create. I'm at peace with myself.

For the first time, I put my occupation as a writer on a form at the doctor's office. Now, that may not seem like a big deal to some people, but for those of you who've struggled with who or what you are, it is a HUGE deal. Go, me!

Until next time, blessings.