I was given a pleasant jolt into the mainstream of life the other night.  At a dinner that had nothing to do with the writing world I took a plunge and promoted my blog to a woman I admired.  She immediately responded with interest.

“How long have you been doing this?  What do you blog about? Why did you decide to blog?  What do you write?”  All these and more questions came from her lips.  Another one sitting at the table chimed in and asked more about a book I am working on.  Their enthusiasm was overwhelmingly flattering.

That was when I realized that surrounding ourselves with writers all the time lulls us into a comfort zone. I had become complacent about my craft. It was just something that I and all my friends do. We all talk about writing, critique and edit for each other, share tips and troubles, and celebrate sales and mourn rejections. While we don’t lose our identity as writers we sometimes forget that, although everybody we know is writing, it’s still a select group.

But in the non-writing world, it can be a big deal. Non-writers fall into two categories – those that think anybody can do it and those that appreciate the talent. Those that think anybody can aren’t actually trying it, are they? Happily, the crowd I was in recognized it is a skill.

This encounter gave me a fresh perspective on my goals. I think I was beginning to feel that they weren’t important – as if, if I didn’t get published, some of my friends would, and their work is good, too, so what did it really matter?

Some of you will shake your heads and say, but it matters to YOU. You are right. And we shouldn’t forget that. It’s important that we tell our stories. It’s important that we complete the projects. Our psyche cries for these things. Any writer will tell you, we begin writing because we like to write and feel we have something to share.

I hadn’t stopped (you know, we can’t do that!) but was beginning to feel that I was just one of so many others that it didn’t matter. I needed to get out a little more and get a fresh perspective.

So I recommend that if you are feeling a little bit like your writing isn’t going anywhere, walk up to a stranger, introduce yourself, and promote your book, poetry, blog, newsletter, or whatever you are working on. Often the response will warm your heart.

Thank you for the interest and well wishes, ladies.  I feel like a writer again!