By guest blogger Catherine Greti
I’m in the last module of the Fear of Writing graduate course and facing an assignment that asks me to be a guest blogger on the FoW blog. That’s Milli—helping us push past our limits again! I’m just getting comfortable with my own blogging site, and that was created only so I didn’t fall into the category of prehistoric animal.
I’m an early adopter in a lot of ways, but blogging wasn’t one of them. I used to consider it a lot of stuff and nonsense. A good excuse for being afraid I had nothing to say and being shy about saying it if I did. Speak up in public? Where anyone on the planet can see it? I didn’t think so!
Early last summer was when I began creative writing with any seriousness. I had never considered writing a story to the finish—my interests were collage, photography, cooking—but now I have 15 short stories that I love under my belt. An assignment in FoW even helped me to call myself a writer. At first I had to wrangle with it, though.
Calling myself a writer helped to put me in the mood to blog. I always liked diary journaling and blogs lend well to that. So in September I started my own blog. I didn’t invite anyone. I posted like I was posting for my friends, and showed only a few.By January 28 this year I was ready to do a makeover—take my blog to the next level, invite the world. (Did I really just say that?) I went into hyper mode. I did a complete makeover on my blog, wrote two short stories for my grad course, AND turned my outdated photography website into a blog as well.
I was ravenous. 3 weeks x 7 days a week I worked till whichever came first—exhaustion, or my husband walking up to me with a glass of wine saying, “STOP! Let’s watch a movie.”
Feb 17th I said “Enough makeover!” and made a post pretending I was launching for 1,000 viewers. I’m all fired up! I sign up with MailChimp and add the Subscribe button. I’m readying my newsletter template. I’m thinking of future posts. And then . . .
. . . I move to the last module in my grad course. “Write for the FoW Blog.” Wait! It’s just an invitation. “Would you like to be a guest blogger?” Sure, next year! And not for a blog where writers are! They’ll pick me apart! I’ll be carrion lying at the side of my Macbook slobbering by the time they finish laughing at me!
RELUCTANCE? You bet! I was wringing my hands figuring a way to skirt this issue when Milli’s email shows up asking when can she schedule my guest blog post.
OK, I did the 15 stories, I did the “I’m a Writer” therapy and I did the blog, reluctantly, but hey, every darn time, I became ravenous. After all, she’s going to show up, that pesky Milli, and insist . . . I can do it!
——-
Catherine Greti has lived in the California Bay Area for the past 15 years. Having only recently had exposure to creative writing training, which provided “fertile material” that opened doors in her mind that she had mostly ignored, she is enamored, enchanted and in awe of what happens when she sits down to write a story . . . still pinching herself and feeling lucky. You can find some of her musings at purple kangaroos.
Twitter: pattistafford
Awesome post Catherine!
I love the line, “After all, she’s going to show up, that pesky Milli, and insist . . . I can do it!”
I especially loved the “pesky” part. Milli is a true gem and that line is so true of her–pesky or not. 😉
And don’t you worry a bit–no writers are going to come along and pick you apart. You wrote a beautiful piece from the heart. You’re a true inspiration.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Hugs!
Patti
Thank you Patti. All the butterflies in my stomach just flew away when reading your delightful comments!
I’ve witnessed the incredible support everyone gives each other in this community and am so grateful to be a part of it.
big hug, catherine
This was so entertaining! It’s hard to believe you’ve only recently gotten serious about creative writing. You have such a great way with words. I look forward to reading more from you! 😀
Thanks Lois.
I really appreciate your encouraging words! It helps me aspire to be more courageous.
🙂 catherine
Great post, Catherine! Been there — afraid to put out a shingle and claim some territory for myself. I’ll check into your blog. . . Milli is good at poking and prodding at these lumps of clay until something magical happens and someone we don’t recognize emerges into the light! Brava for doing it!
Thanks Sandra.
Yeah, I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for Milli, out of the blue, writing me the most tantalizing email to invite me to try. “Just a thought. Absolutely no pressure.” That one thoughtful action on her part changed my whole creative life because it had never occurred to me. Admiring well written stories was one thing…but doing it myself?
From then on Milli has been sensitive to to my paranoia about speaking up in public. And, beyond the call of duty, she held my hand when I decided to start a blog. You can’t imagine what I put her through with my fear of that!
That’s great, and that’s Milli! That’s one of the reasons we love her.
Great post, its scary to leap into the world of blogging, when I began there weren’t nearly as many blogs- but now its intimidating to start one- kudos to you and for working through your fears! 😀
Thanks Aisha! I appreciate your encouraging words.
🙂
Twitter: patrickrwrites
What a great post. Thank you for sharing your creative transformation. If I have one word of advice, it’s this: The next time your husband approaches you with a glass of wine and an invitation to watch a movie, there is nothing wrong with you accepting the wine.
Milli, apologies for my tardiness in arriving at this latest great post!
Thanks for your comments Patrick. My creative transformation is all the more special being in a community where people give wonderful support to each other. I intend to stop being less like a crab burrowed in the safe sand because it’s so much more fun to come out and play with other artists!
Ha! And Milli is right. You can, and you did!
I love this: “I’ll be carrion lying at the side of my Macbook slobbering by the time they finish laughing at me!” That is how it feels every time I pitch an idea, submit something for publication, hit “publish” on a post that scares me.
And yet… there’s really nothing like it, is there? Yay you, writer-woman!
I’ll remember that, J, when the butterflies come back the next time I take a risk! Lucky for me my Macbook is still dry, having received such great support.
You’re right, there is nothing like it and that’s a good something to crave.