Friday's bear in the room

After the death of Madeleine L'Engle (my life long hero), I decided to write beyond the confines of my room. First though, I needed to confront this bear (my self-confidence) that lived in the room with me. Sometimes it's tiny and cute, but other times it's ugly, mean, horrid, and is so big it shoves me out.

Published authors told me they had bears. "You need a bear in your room. It's keep you alert, active, agile. Just don't let it make you stop writing, or from sending in a query or entering a contest."

I've written for 35+ years, but I've been a writer for three--as in taking the craft seriously. Since then I've taken three mediabistro.com classes, worked with a writing coach, attended a writer's workshop at the Univ of IA and another in Tempe, AZ, took a linquistics class from Iowa State University, and have found a brilliant editor, who is a professional writer.

35 years into it and a contest looms... The bear is back and its ugly. It's easier to put that brilliant, fresh manuscript into the desk drawer.

Time to get out the whips and chains, so I can beat that bear away from the door... I guess...