At least I feel a bit foolish committing to a month of daily blog posts with only Sundays off. When it comes to describing my writing practice, A words like avoidance and ambivalence spring to mind. A few years ago when I cut back on my work life to devote more time to writing, and people asked how it was going, I had to confess, “Well, it turns out I’ve freed up more time to avoid writing.”
Not only am I undisciplined, I have also made a sad discovery: The Spirit—the one I rely on to speak through me as if I am just taking dictation rather than toiling away —also suffers from writer’s block.
But rather than throw in the towel, I have thrown myself into the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I’d heard about it a couple of years ago from my writing friend Claire, who participated. Then last year, the Write On Mamas, to which I belong, participated in the Challenge in a kind of round-robin way, with the members each contributing a letter. (Mine was E is for Empty Nest, which I reveal here with some trepidation in case I want to recycle it for this year’s Challenge. On the other hand, recycling is a conscientious choice for a planet threatened with environmental degradation, so if you see it here again in a few days, it is not because I am ambivalent and avoidant—aka lazy—but because it is the ethical thing to do.)
As part of our writing group’s effort, I also wrote a post on my own blog called A-Z: A Writer’s Alphabet. I was not yet ready to take the plunge, but I could at least come up with a line pertaining to writing for every letter of the alphabet. I had gotten into the habit of writing one line, a far less daunting task, with my friend Mary’s encouragement.
Then the aforementioned Claire said, “You really ought to do the A to Z Challenge! It’ll be good for you.” (Actually, she said “A to Zed,” because she’s British, which makes everything she says sound persuasive.) So now I am trying to think of writing as just a bunch of lines, strung together. One line upon another building into a paragraph, a post, an essay, an article, even a book. Or at least a month of daily blogging.
As you can see, my blog is called Shrinkrapped. It’s not about therapy, but I am a therapist, so psychology suffuses my world view. I’m particularly interested in how the personal, the political, and the psychological come together.
Some of my current favorite obsessions include: Motherhood; The Empty Nest (and, since my daughter has recently moved back, the not-so-empty nest); Politics; Psychology; Friendships; and Ruptures in Women’s Friendships. Plus, since everything is copy, one unwelcome obsession: What I’m calling my Cancer Detour, a new muse that showed up in my life in September 2012 (I’m fine now).
I hope you enjoy Shrinkrapped. Let the Challenge begin, and please chime in!
I don’t know how you found my blog, but I am so glad you did! I have enjoyed reading all of your posts so far (I started at “I” and went backwards).
Must be through the A-Z challenge. Thanks so much!
Vive le “recycling”! In fact, I am recycling my whole A to Z from last year, just from a different perspective, so I guess you could say that I am being very…ethical? ;-) Thanks for visiting my site and best of luck with the challenge!
Thanks–yes, where would we be without recycling/repurposing. I’m thinking of so much writing I can repurpose.
How fun! Your list reminds me that I need to find a writing group. I’ve put it on my task list for after I move. Will try to comment on your alphabet posts. Someday I would love to do the a-z(ed) challenge too!
I don’t yet know whether or not to recommend the Challenge as I am already exhausted and falling behind. But you should definitely find a writing group–they’re so helpful. I think you moved to SF, right? So maybe you should check out the Write On Mamas in Mill Valley. Many members come from SF. Cheers!
Thanks! Am moving to San Jose and hope to start a writing group there after the move. Would love to learn more about how Write On Mamas is organized.
Oh, I had you off by a major metropolis. Look at http://writeonmamas.com/, and feel free to get in touch with me once you are settled (though I am not one of WOM’s heroic founders and organizers).
Great post Lorrie. Wishing you all the best for the rest of the challenge :)
Thanks, David. I got a kick out of your Armadillo. Wishing you all the best, too!
I’m so glad you’re participating in the A to Z Challenge. It’s a great way to motivate yourself. I can’t wait to hear more from you.
Good luck with the 2015 A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com
Thanks for visiting. I tried to leave a comment on your blog, but couldn’t figure it out (T is for Technophobia!), so here it is:
I love movies, so look forward to hearing more. Haven’t seen either of these, though, so can’t render an opinion. I also love your Insecure Writer’s Support Group–must have a very large membership!
Thanks for visiting me over at Shrinkrapped.
“…so if you see it here again in a few days, it is not because I am ambivalent and avoidant—aka lazy—but because it is the ethical thing to do.)” This did make me laugh. You’re off to a great start. I look forward to your posts! Cheers.
Thanks, Elen. As a friend once said about our kids, “Gifted, Talented, and Lazy.” I envision lots of recycling, as I’m already exhausted on Day One of the Challenge. Loved your Alphabet Soup. Thanks for visiting me.