Power

There are times I feel powerful. Like when I lift and carry forty pounds of sleeping daughter up our long flight of stairs. When I drive with aggressive confidence through six lanes of rush-hour traffic. Or when I've opportunity to say the right thing, offer a warm hug, lift a soul up.

But mostly, it's when I write.

It might start out a small feeling, just a hint needing cultivation, as the first threads of creativity take hold. And then, as my idea forms, the words gather and a sense of efficacy latches on, wanting more. It builds. And later, after I've written, once I've shared and people have read, absorbed, related, when they've told me they connected, laughed, enjoyed...

There it is: POWER.


When do you feel powerful?

Cook's Diner

Your arrival is announced by the tinkle of a bell, as you push the door into smells of fried chicken and fresh-baked pies. Diners' voices fall; their eyes find you. But curiosity does not linger, for their interest is more heavily weighted by deep conversation and common gossip.

You spy your booth in the corner, set off from those already occupied, and approach its solitary offering. The vinyl seat welcomes you with worn comfort as you settle, tucking away thoughts of distraction.

Cook catches your attention from his square kitchen window and you nod. Yes, you'll have the usual. No hurry.

With the touch of a finger, your laptop comes to life. You sip from the cup Suzette just delivered with a quiet smile, access the file and...

What do you write?

Why Do You Write?

Something draws each of us to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), regardless of the outcome. What's your driving force? Where does it come from?

For me, writing is more than the potential it holds. Yes, it is exciting that I could one day look back and see I've made a name for myself, but that's not why I write. I write because I love the process of finding the right words.

Sitting down with an idea, with a few snippets of text floating around in my head, is awesome. Watching it evolve, coming upon the perfect word or phrase and fitting it all together, is incredible.

What about you?

If Writing Didn't Pan Out...

I'd make a job of bouncing from yard sale to yard sale, scouring antique stores and flea markets. I'd watch for poor-looking and sickly items I could pick up dirt cheap and refinish to make amazing.

Last Friday my mom, my daughters and I stopped at a garage sale. (Garage-saling is one of THE best things about spring...) A large coffee table caught my eye, and I thought on its potential a bit. With its battering from over the years, it had seen better days. But the piece was sturdy, and my mind saw what it could be. It was marked $30; I paid $25.

Here, as it was before. The two square inlays had a wicker look. It was chipping and ucky, and not something I was too keen on. You'll see how I took care of that in a bit...

I sanded the table down (the easiest sanding I've ever done!). I sponge-brushed a base of cornflower blue (two layers), then covered with black, also with the sponge-brush, which covered unevenly. A metallic-silver finish (one I watered down) was wiped over the surface, completing my sought-after distressed look. Then I covered the inlays with fabric and filled with some antique items I had; most have some meaning or symbolism. (Sorry that picture's dark; by that point I'd moved indoors, and the flash doesn't work on the camera I was using.) The table came with the beveled glass insert, which finished it off. It came out so much better than I'd envisioned!

What about you? Do you have other passions or hobbies? What do you do besides write?

ETA: I just realized my last question assumes you're a writer. How unfair of me. If you're not a writer, tell me what you do - and then give us the lowdown as to your hobbies. :)

Something She Memed

I was hoping to post with some pictures today, to show you what it is I'd do if it weren't for this writing thing. But - pfft! - the USB cable "can't find" the device that is my camera, and won't allow an upload of the photos I'd need to make the post worthy.

So I shall save that for another day.

In the meantime, I was excited to learn I've been tagged! Well, to be more precise, a light woo-hoo escaped me, because it means someone likes me and appreciates my thoughts. My glee was followed by an oh, um... right, because I remembered there's actual work involved in these meme things, and then a well, if I must... because I just can't say no. :)

Getting on with it, Michele over at Writing the Cyber Highway asked if I'd participate in the Why I love writing from home meme. (And thanks so much, Michele, for the kind comment about my blog within your own post!) So, shaking those niggling reasons I don't love writing from home (noise, interruptions, demands, interruptions, diversions, noise and interruptions...), I've compiled my list.

*There's no time clock, as there was with each of the others jobs I've held.
*I'm my own boss, and I rock!
*Iced mochas are just a staircase away.
*My desk stool is a lovely faded-red color, and atop it (and under my buns) sits a pretty, girly cushion.
*I can look around me at any given moment, just for a breather, and enjoy the decor as I've created it to be. As long as I ignore the mess, that is.
*AW: No Holds Barred, just a click away
*I'm within walking distance of the lake, which is an amazing inspiration for me.
And last, but MOST important: Writing from home allows me stay at home with my daughters. It is indeed a blessing.

What about you? Why do you love to write from home? I'd love for you to, instead of posting here, post on your own blog and leave the link as a comment. :)

Until the next time...

It's Here!

The publication with the first installment of my new column arrived yesterday. How exciting! I ran (up the hill, huffing... I'm no runner) from the mailbox and burst through the door. "It CAME!" I yelled to my husband, who watched my frenzy with the newspaper for a half-second, then returned to his project.

Soon after discovering my treasure amidst sales flyers and a cell-phone bill we had to leave the house. I absorbed the column with new eyes as we drove to our destination. I was nervous, excited, proud. I was grinning like mad. And I was a bit disappointed to see they changed the wording in one of my sentences. Actually, it was supposed to have been two sentences, but they replaced a period with a comma and ran (on) with it. Hmph.

During our excursion I was able to show the article to a friend, who hadn't really been acquainted with my writing yet. I stewed while she quietly read, afraid of what her response might be. Is it really that good? I wondered. Is she gonna think I'm a dork with only mild talents? ...She did seem to like it, but then my string of doubts took over.

Through fits of wakefulness last night I kept thinking I should have included this or That word should have been omitted. I reread it now and, though I'm proud of it, I worry it'll flop. Maybe it won't get the warm welcome I'm hoping for within our community. What if I'm not the next Erma Bombeck? ;)

But I just have to get my mind out of the funk. I have to believe in my writing, right? And I do. I just need to keep remembering that not every single person will enjoy my words. But if I write them true to myself, making them as entertaining as I can, I will have succeeded at my job.