F Is For Freaking Out

A to Z April Blogging Challenge 2016

I freak out regularly. Not at people. But quietly and consistently over every single aspect to do with being a writer. The crap I tell myself, you wouldn’t believe. That thing that Robert de Niro said at the Oscars that one time?

writing

So true. Whoever writers the stuff actors say when presenting awards is pretty intuitive.

Challenging myself means taking chances. Taking a chance means I’m acknowledging an idea. And great idea will involve risk and stepping outside of my comfort zone. But what was it Fred Devito said? If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you. That’s my writing mantra for this year.

I’m one of those human beings that is anxious a lot of the time. In varying degrees. All over the place. Across the board. I still mange to get things done. Even if some days it’s at a snail’s pace. I persist. I’m stubborn. I’m fragile. I fail. I try again. I learn something. I experiment. I conquer. I start all over again. Some of the steps of my daily dance.

writing

You can find other bloggers doing their thing here.

Do you welcome the fear? Dance with it even?

The A To Z April Blogging Challenge: A Is For Adventure

It’s April 1st and that means it’s the start of my adventure. It’s a 26 day event known as the A to Z April Blogging Challenge. I’ll be blogging every day except Sundays. I’m perfectly serious. That’s 26 times in April. The last time I did that was, well…never. Hopefully the joke won’t be on me.

A Is For Adventure

So this will be an Adventure for me. I don’t exactly thrive on being adventurous. By that I mean I have no desire to scale Mount Everest. Or any kind of mountain, really. Maybe a hike in the hills where it’s mostly flat on a designated trail. I know urban hiking! That’s for me. I like to write about other people having adventures. Or running for their lives. Or generally being in peril of some kind. While falling in love. Because meeting the right person and fight or flight go hand in hand, don’t they?

So, I settled on a theme for this blogging challenge that interested me. A subject on which I have strong opinions. But what is passion without a little attitude? Let the adventure begin!

2016 Blogging Theme

Now that you’re riveted to your seat (as I knew you would be) let me try and explain what any of this has to do with the word adventure. Which is to say this endeavour is more about stepping out of my comfort zone. It’s also about creativity. And facing my fears in regard to putting myself out there. I think that qualifies as adventurous, in a non-life-threatening kind of way. (You read that right, two hyphens. I looked it up).

I’m reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I don’t know about you but fear and doubt are constant companions of mine. Am I good enough? Creative enough? Talented enough? Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah.

“Dearest Fear: Creativity and I are about to go on a road trip together…You’re allowed to have a seat, and you’re allowed to have a voice, but you are not allowed to have a vote. You’re not allowed to touch the road maps; you’re not allowed to suggest detours; you’re not allowed to fiddle with the temperature. Dude, you’re not even allowed to touch the radio. But above all else, my dear old familiar friend, you are absolutely forbidden to drive.” Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic

Tweet: Adventure, action, the need to act! That something deep inside me searching for the light.

That’s what this adventure is about for me. The chance to make new friends, to be informed, to learn, to be inspired, and to share my passion with the romance genre with you.

You can find other A to Z bloggers here.

A to Z April Blogging Challenge 2016