Proof that I'm nuts...

[scarlettina]

Exhibit 1: Yesterday I drove Fezzig, my beloved Saturn coupe, to work and back one last time. During the day, in concert with my insurance guy, I made arrangements to have Fezzig picked up for salvage. Driving home yesterday, I let my imagination get away with me, and found myself thinking of it as though I were putting a beloved pet to sleep. This

Comments

oh dear.

[suricattus]

*snicker* Sorry, but hearing so much of myself in part 2 that I'm just sitting here taking notes for when it's my turn...

Just remember, the only ones in that workshop who aren't terrified that they'll be Found Out are the ones who are going to kill their own careers through arrogance. The 'umble and open-to-learn ones are the folk who make it. I've seen this. It is True.

Re: oh dear.

[scarlettina]

Oh, honey, please feel free to snicker. I'm snickering at myself this morning, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to make this post at all. And you're absolutely right. Perspective is key, and learning is what this is all about.

[twilight2000]

Hang in there lady -- self sabotauge is a sneaky bastard -- but go for it and you'll be a LOT more happy with yourself than if you *don't* and have to wonder why...

I'll think good thots for you!

Twilight

[scarlettina]

Thanks, girlfriend. :-)

[herself_nyc]

I Hereby Give You Permission To Suck At Writing Short Stories But To Have Fun Doing So.

:: waves fairy wand, festooning you with glittery dust that gets up your nose ::

[scarlettina]

Ah...ah..ah-choo!

::grin::

Thank you, ma'am!

I give you two things to deal with this in the future.

[bedii]

The first is a motto, the second is a collection of Magic Phrases. With these you can handle anything.

The motto is "There are over one billion Chinese who would like me anyway."

The second is based off of a line in one of David Gerrold's books. It is the Three Magic Phrases to avoid someone pressuring you into something you don't want to do. First the phrases, then how to use them, which one applies in this instance, and finally the history and content of the rarely used and extremely subtle Bonus Fourth Phrase which is usually reserved for Zen Masters.

The Three Magic Phrases:

1. I Just Don't Want To.
2. I Have To Think About It.
3. It Just Doesn't Matter.

When being pressured, pick one of the three and keep repeating it no matter what. Experienced users can mix 'em up if they think the batter is getting used to their fastball, but for a beginner such as yourself I recommend picking one and sticking with it. If you do that, nobody can make you do anything you don't want to

[varina8]

At least you got the panic out of the way early.

I had dessert last night with a friend who is taking a developmental editing class. The teacher has permission from a number of authors to show before and after copies of their work. She says the best part of the class has been seeing rough drafts by people she admires and realizing nobody is perfect. The experience makes it much easier to relax with her own work.

(BTW I looked at the workshop site and it sounds great. Given your quick move from waiting list to enrollee, it also sounds like you were meant to be there.)

[scarlettina]

Meant to be there? Maybe. Also, I've known Kris and Dean for years. That helps. Still and all, it is, as they say, time already. This has been waiting far too long. ::grin::