Dear Reader,
The creative stuff in my life, especially writing, usually comes after a little bit of torture. If I actually described to you what most days are like when I'm writing, you'd wonder, 'Why does she do this for a living?' But the torture always leads up to the good stuff--I swear it does.
It takes a lot of digging to recognize the good stuff and I never find it until I've waded through a mess of emotions. I may not always like what I find when I'm writing, because suddenly there it is--the truth that's been hiding all these years. But after a good laugh or a wailing cry, I'm always glad I went there, even if it's not a happy ending. For me it's better to know the truth.
I grew up with an "elephant in the room," people pretending because they didn't want to admit the truth. So it took me a long time to trust my own feelings and to recognize that the really good stuff in life--is always worth the dig.
When you write you'll discover amazing things about yourself. I encourage you to enter my 16th Annual Write a DearReader Contest, which launches August 24th. One of the best writing tools I can recommend, is to read Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamott. For me, it's the absolute best book I've ever read. Jump in anywhere, on any page, and you'll find words that will set you free when it comes to writing.
I'm giving away a copy of Anne Lamott's book today, be sure to enter the drawing, or get started reading her book right away, and reserve a copy at your library. To enter the drawing, click here.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Start writing,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
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