book publishing

Accepting My Writing Process. What a Revelation.

Accepting My Writing Process. What a Revelation.
Gidget my ever faithful writing muse

This writing thing and my own process has taken me just about ten years to be comfortable with. While I love to write, I was always looking for thee method that would make me feel like a real writer.

You know… those you put on a pedestal and think they lead this all so glamorous life and their writing flows out the end of their fingertips with no effort what-so-ever?

When I began sharing my writing with others, first via a column in a local paper, then my blog, and four books that have followed, I got caught up in trying to find the right way to do this and the one that would make it feel effortless.

I’ve read oodles of blogs, articles, and books about the creative process. Oftentimes I’d follow the advice of one author or another thinking this was it – this was thee way. But it would fall to the way side eventually. Nothing stuck.

But I kept at it, and I keep at it. What does my process look like? More importantly, what does it feel like? It’s messy and it causes lots of ups and downs of a roller coaster of emotions in my life!

But I’m not quitting.

As I near the end of the fourth draft of my second memoir, Wisdom Found in the Pause, I see that writing for me is so much about working through my own time and my own process. In other words, I gave up trying to buy into what others are doing that works for them.

It has nothing to do with how other writers write or their own process. There truly is no right or wrong way to do this.

The only way is to keep working at it. Keep trying it on for size.

I realized today that I started working on my current manuscript two years ago this month. And for many of those 730 days I found myself internally beating myself up wondering why I don’t yet have a published book.

Today I cut myself a huge piece of slack cake! Because I really understand now that this book wasn’t meant to be born yet. I see it so clearly as I continue to revisit and edit what I’ve written to date.

In large part, I’ve been working through my own inner process of healing and capturing in my everyday life what I’ve learned from the over 55,000 words I’ve written so far. It’s taken me this time to do just that.

But I’ve never stopped writing.

That’s the thing. Writing helps me to process life. To process what I’m feeling. To help me heal. To bring me to another level of awareness. To get comfortable with where I was, and where I’m going, and then share what I’ve discovered with others when that right time feels right for me.

What a new level of awakening this is for me today and it feels pretty dang good. And I do think I shall have to post this particular post next to my writing desk for that day, which oh yes, will no doubt come again…when I question my own process….because it is part of the process of a creative life!

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Keeping the Faith When the Journey Seems Uncertain

Frankie loved to “help” with fall clean up 

Keeping the faith in your journey when things seem uncertain is when you are yet again called to trust the process. I discovered that this past week as I finally wrote the afterword to my book, Through Frankie’s Eyes: One Woman’s Journey to Her Authentic Self and the Dog on Wheels Who Led the Way.  A big part of me was struggling with having to write it.  I knew I was still resisting because it wasn’t what I wanted it to be. I had other plans for what the afterword would be.  I knew I couldn’t change the fact that Frankie has passed, but oh, how I wanted my book to have a different ending.

I was reminded once again of my individual process and how I work.  I stopped pressuring myself to get it done, understanding that I had to have faith in myself that when the time was right, I would write the last chapter. That day came this past Monday when I knew this was it. I was ready. The stars had all aligned and I was ready to finish this part of the journey that Frankie and I had begun. It all fell into place as my complete focus was on spilling out the last words of my book.

As I wrote the last chapter and reviewed the copy a few more times, I suddenly felt a WHOOSH of emotions flood through me.  Happy, sad, loss, pain, joy, proud, grateful and blessed, just to name a few.  I felt myself wanting to reach down and hug Frankie, to thank her, to smooch the side of her soft face- my heart ached knowing I couldn’t do that.  But then my heart smiled as I realized she was here, she helped me write this last chapter as the beautiful spirit in a world I can’t see, but trust is there- that we are only a thin veil apart from each other.

In the days since, I have realized very strongly that my work with her truly does continue… just in a new way. I’ve also realized once again to trust myself and to know I won’t let myself down. Whatever it is I begin, and know I want to complete, I will.

If you find yourself in what seems like a “stuck” place give yourself time to really think about it.  How do you work best?  Don’t judge yourself on how others work or what is right for them, or how society says we should do things, but what is best for you?  Then trust that— and know you too will come to the place where you need to be at just the right and perfect time.

There is still time to get your limited edition t-shirt & help us celebrate National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day on Sept. 22, 2012


Available through September 12th only!  Orders your today!
To date, t-shirt sales have raised over $1,200 for the Frankie Fund!!  This will help three more small dogs get wheelchairs who otherwise may not have been able to.  A huge thank you to those who have already helped with this effort!

If you haven’t already, please do follow us on Facebook!  We will be announcing a dog photo contest soon and you don’t want to miss it!  Fun prizes to be given away!

Be sure to also stop by our website and check out some of the recipients of the Frankie Fund. They will steal your hearts!