Epiphanies and all that jazz

Odd how these things come in clusters but this past weekend was notable for a series of personal epiphanies--some of which were painful, all of which were useful. I'll share one here because it involves writing.

As I've noted before, my column sometimes attracts a surprising (at least to me) level of hostility. I've wondered why because the column is so light. And then I realized its lightness is actually what antagonizes a certain kind of reader. He/she feels offended by its (perceived) lack of serious purpose. How can a thing like THIS be published in a newspaper, they wail. IT'S NOT NEWS.

This realization was helpful. And, of course, I am now doubly (even triply) committed to lightness.

Wait. It's Friday already?

And I haven't posted since Monday?

The week clearly flew by, and apparently I was barely sentient while it all happened. It's funny how sometimes you have so much to say your brain almost explodes. And then . . . nothing. At least there's weather to speak of this morning. Snow and the wind just whipping it all into your face. We aborted our morning walk halfway through and came home where I have since consumed a can of Dr. Pepper while trying to write but mostly (instead) watching a flock of Cedar waxwings (joined by several party-crashing robins) eat the red berries of the Hawthorne tree outside my window.

Even if everything else goes to hell from here on out, the day will have been a good one because of this quiet view.

Happiness is . . .

So for my birthday, Lisa B. and I had a nice lunch at the Green Papaya in the WVC yo, where she presented me with three fancy little notebooks. And I did think to myself how much I love the blank notebook--how much I love having a pristine little pile of them on my shelf.

Why?

Because they're hopeful. They're just all HEY! YOU'RE A WRITER! AND YOU'RE GONNA FILL ME UP WITH AWESOME WRITING STUFF! Blank notebooks are the spring of paper products. I say that as I look out my office window and see the flowering pear in our backyard just starting to open.

Just curious

Have any of you ever participated in NaNoWriMo? What was your experience?

I'm seriously thinking of doing it this year, mostly so I won't feel like this year has been a writing wasteland. I think this is the first year in a long, long, LONG time that I haven't completed anything--the first draft of a novel or even a picture book. I was always getting started. Like a car with a failing battery. A little noise. A little energy. And then . . . nothing.

Maybe NaNoWriMo will help me salvage what has been a discouraging year.