Beyond the Comfort Zone

When I started writing my book I knew, on an intellectual level, it meant people would read it. What else is the point? I'm accustomed to strangers reading what I write; business writing has been my job for more than 15 years. I have many exciting writing credits, articles about new integrated circuits to improve computer processing time or the right tuxedo to wear for a summer wedding. I've written copy for hundreds of fact sheets, marketing brochures, and web sites. No big deal. People read what I write all the time.

So, imagine my surprise when I gave the 'Burban Babe manuscript to my sister and immediately had a nervous breakdown. She was reading my book. The book I had poured my heart and soul into writing for more than a year. Oh my God. What if she hated it? What if she hated me for writing it?

That was the first time I realized how brave writers are. Creating something is an emotionally brutal task. You give the story your all, nurturing it to life. And then people read it and form their own opinions about it and about the person who created it. Yikes. What have I signed up for? Maybe a pen name wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Actually, I think it's good, and exciting, to be do something way outside my comfort zone. I hope it will make me a better writer. So, here I am world, and here is what goes on inside my head. Take it or leave it. That's my attitude, today anyway. My attitude could always change when the reviews come in. Or after my father finishes reading the draft I sent him yesterday.