I did not write today

I did not write today because my pirates – the whispering, nudging fears – gathered at my windows, peeping in, pointing at me. Every time I approached my computer or notebook (actually every time a THOUGHT about writing approached my mind) the shadowy beasts snickered and whispered louder. “What are you gonna write about today, ‘WRITER’?” “You can’t even organize your house, your day, your LIFE; how you gonna organize your THOUGHTS?” “Who’s gonna read your silly blog?” “Ok, someone will read but they’re probably gonna LAUGH, and it’s not because you’re funny!”  “You didn’t major in Literature.” “You never took a course in writing!”  “Who do you think you are? You’re no writer!”

Those pirates actually look like silly cartoon bugs, I now realize.  How come it took me years to recognize them for what they really are?  Out comes my can of Raid.  Spfft, spfft!  Sayonara, fears!  Begone, bugs!  I’m writing, and I don’t feel silly!  I don’t care if anyone laughs, and I don’t care about anyone’s criticism!  Because my fingers are tapping this keyboard and with every stroke I’m floating higher on my magical office chair above those naughty thoughts of “I can’t”, and sticking my tongue out at the confusion of “I don’t know how.”

Donna – Keeper of Dreams