My Interview

I had a lovely interview with Cindy LaFerle at Bookpleasures about The Writer Behind the Words: Steps to Success in the Writing Life. You can read it here.

About Fear

Last night I was watching The Big Idea on CNBC and the host was talking to musician Dave Navarro who’s played for Jane’s Addiction and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Now whether you listen to his music or not is of no importance. I think it’s a great habit to listen to successful people, especially when they’re willing to share their strategies for success–granted that it’s legal.

I was impressed when he talked about dealing with fear. When he was a teenager his mother was murdered and he got heavily involved in drugs. Fortunately, he came through and one thing he said that stayed with me was ‘that life kept happening regardless of the fear.’ He discovered at an early age that he couldn’t control life and that made him fearful of it, but after nearly dying of an overdose he had to face his fear. And now when fear approaches he says ‘What’s the big deal?’ ‘What’s the big fear?’ He confronts it because knows that fear is usually worse in one’s mind than it will be in reality.

Many people put their writing dreams on hold because of fear. They fear rejections or bad ideas or stories that falter. Relax! It’s all part of the writing life and certainly something you can handle. Really.

As 2008 approaches I hope that you’ll leave some of your writing fears behind in 2007 where they belong. Reach for your dream(s) it’s out there waiting for you to claim it.