Five Years a Writer

“ Write something ”  is a favourite encouragement of mine: Just start. Put words on the page. Write. Time enough later for editing, revising, refining. Today, right now: Write something . My sister sent this lemon poppyseed cake from my neighbourhood bakery to celebrate the launch of my handbook,  How to be a Writer in Four Steps , this past Saturday. Yum! Of course, my one fear was that no one would come. My other, much less rational, fear was that so many people would come the room would burst. Of course, neither of those things happened. This past Saturday, about 50 people came to my book launch. I know this number only because my clever friend Jacki counted the 45 people seated to which I am able to add the handful who came to buy the book but were unable to stay for the formal event. What a spectacular feeling — to have people, many known to me but also some total strangers, come to an event designed expressly to celebrate the launch of my handbook into the world. While I...