THE ICE PICK

Seven Steps on the Writer’s Path: the Journey from Frustration to Fulfillment, by Lynn Lott and Nancy Pickard. New York, Ballantine Books, 2003. 241 p. $24.95. ISBN: 0-345-45524-X.

How are you doing with your writing?

Are you experiencing loneliness, confusion, frustration, and unhappiness? Are you burdened with wanting to write so badly and unable to get the words on the paper?

Or maybe you’ve finally decided that you really can do it and have committed yourself to getting something written. A New Year’s Resolution, perhaps? And then your commitment fades into having second thoughts and leaves you wavering in uncertainty, unsure of yourself and feeling that everything you write is garbage.

Perhaps, though, you are at last riding the wave, letting go and letting your story energy carry you where it will, reaching for that stage when you are fully immersed in your work (and maybe a little afraid the wave will end too soon). Or you may even be joyfully basking in the fulfillment that comes when publication is at hand or you find the writing is its own reward.

Unless they stall out on one of the earlier ones, depressed and feeling that they are permanently stuck, most authors go through all of these steps, Some, perhaps most, go through them with every book they write!

If you need to know you’re not alone and that even best-selling authors go through the same thing, and if you want reassurance that "this too shall pass," and that there is a way up and out, this book is for you. There’s even a "Quick Finder" in the back to help you decide which step you’re on.

Recommended to me by another member of the Workshop, I eagerly pass the recommendation on to you. This is a truly wonderful book. It would make a great Christmas present to yourself and one that will help inspire you no matter which "step" you find yourself on.

Dare to dream.

{Published in SF and Fantasy Workshop Newsletter, Dec. 2004}

IN THE SILENCE
"Amen" is not "good-bye."
I used to be reluctant to leave a church service or to get up from praying, feeling that I was losing that wonderful connection with God. Sometimes I even avoided saying,"Amen," even though I knew it was from the Hebrew and means something like "so be it," a traditional ending for prayer and an affirmation or ratification of a statement or a plea. This morning when I finished praying in my quiet time, I suddenly understood that because God's presence never leaves me, "Amen" is not "good-bye." I may from time to time forget about Him, but fortunately He does not forget me. "Amen" is not "good-bye."

BACK AGAIN.
Well, it's been almost six months, but I finally managed to access this blog again. Google's tech support folks really tried to help me, but in the end all they could tell me was that a lot of folks with Internet Explorer had had this same problem and that I needed to change browsers. Not being very computer savvy, that didn't sound like a good idea to me. I was able to reach my Lickensplit blog once in April, but still couldn't get to this one or my Casanarva blog. I've tried off and on and finally was able to reach here today. Whether I'll ever be able to get BACK here again is another story! I would like to add my other Ice Pick reviews and maybe a few other things, and I envisioned eventually being able to post thoughts and comments on life in general and writing in particular. I wish there were some way to index my postings, but you can't have everything, I guess.