Five Years a Writer

I have pledged to write a new post for this blog every day in May.  I want to be a writer and am writing to get myself there. In the back of my mind, I know that I expect to, one day, wake up and walk into the realization that I. AM. A. WRITER. But the other day, I read a column that changed my mind and that perspective.  This is me, aged about 10 For Jane Friedman, her business is writing. She writes about writing and writers and the business of being a writer. She is well known for her excellent blog , her book and her smart advice based on many years’ experience in the writing and publishing world.  I have her book, subscribe to her email newsletter and follow her on Facebook. I am a devotee of her perspective and advice. So a recent guest column on her blog caught my attention and challenged my approach.  Susan DeFreitas wrote about developing a writing practice by not letting your mind get in the way of your plans. Yes, your hand puts th...

It’s May 1st and, in my corner, that means it’s time for another round of A Post a Day in May . I take on this challenge because I want to be a writer and, to be a writer, a person has to write. Self-evident, of course, but without a plan of action, the want remains in the realm of fantasy. But I want it for real. This will mark the third year that I’ve taken on this personal challenge of writing something every day in May and sending it out to readers via my blog. Last year, the stress of the daily deadline was outweighed by the satisfaction I felt from meeting my daily goal and the response I got from readers. The 2020 Brief Over the past few weeks, I have been catching up on episodes of The Great British Bake Off from which I have learned much about baking (that I likely will never use) and a great deal about friendly competition, personal fortitude in the face of steep expectations, and the importance of following instructions. Which brings me to, what in the show, t...