Writing
Deadline is over, we’ve all pretty much recovered from our colds, and the weather is beautiful (it has been in the 70s or low 80s for weeks). But instead of being outside as I ought to be, enjoying spring and my beautiful seedlings, I’ve been glued to my computer, writing.
Writing is hard. I’ve been trying for months (and months) to finish writing my cloth diaper article, but one thing or another always causes me to run away and seek the nearest source of chocolate (which, unfortunately, is almost never my cupboard). But I’ve been toughing it out for the past few days, and I feel like I’ve finally finally gotten into a rhythm. I’m not sure I’ve made a breakthrough, yet, but I’m getting there.
Truth be told, I’m a bit nervous about finishing the article and turning it loose on the world. Will it be any good? Will you like my pattern? Will I die of embarrassment when I discover a typo in print? It’s been years since I published an article in the magazine, and even though there have been many requests for me to start writing again, I worry that I won’t live up to expectations.
I’ll just keep working at it, anyway. With and awful lot more work, a fair amount of luck, a couple pounds of chocolate, and a hearty scoop of courage, I’ll make it into the next issue.
Don’t be nervous, Annie. Everything will be fine. I have enjoyed your blog, and look forward to your article, even though my son is beyond the diaper stage. The readers will love it, because you are a real person, out there in the real world, doing real things. Finish the article, and set it free!
P.S. Chocolate chips in the bag are my personal “grab and go”, for when “times” get tough.
Mary Lou
I am a writer by trade, and I will tell you from experience that people won’t care whatsoever about the writing, whether it’s “good” or whether there’s a typo or whatever. People will appreciate the information, and I know your information will be great because everything else you do is great. I would LOVE such an article from you, even if the writing was horrid, because I want to go to cloth diapers and you are definitely a trusted resource!
My advice: write it from the heart, as if you’re writing it to a friend who needs to know about cloth diapers. People will appreciate the personal touch and you’ll really be in the right mindset to give just the right information. Don’t be concerned with the writing. Like I said, people will not care if it has flaws, but more than that, once you’ve finished writing it, you can always edit later. Write it, put it aside for a week or two, then read it again. Or have someone else read it. It will turn out fine.
I am sure looking forward to your article Annie..even though my youngest kids are 11 now. I think it is such important info for young mothers!! I loved cloth diapering and I think if more people knew that it isn’t as icky as it is made out to be they would try it…I would love to send your article to my future daughter in laws and save it for my daughters. You will do great!!
As a cloth diaper user in a paper diaper era, I was an oddity. One man stopped at our house and told me all the wives hated me because of the diapers which hung on the line every day, two boys in diapers. Their husbands would ask why I, along with running a riding stable and taking care of my family could use cloth, and they just taking care of a baby durning the day, used paper? The wives did not like me. I didn’t care.
My father-in-law got a huge sack of paper diapers when our oldest boy was born, my husband having had 4 children by a first marriage, and every day he stopped in and looked at the unopened diapers and fretted about diaper rash the the older children had so bad. My mother-in-law talked about it also. I would undiaper baby, and say “See Pop, no rash”. My husband finally told me to use the diapers so I opened then and they were to small. I took them to our church. And never had rashes.
Annie – JUST DO IT. You’re a terrific writer (if the blog is any indication – and of course it is!) and your ideas and thoughts are delightful.
Hot chocolate is an invention made in Heaven.
Indulge as often as required.
You can do it! I keep checking back because my first issue of the magazine will be the cloth diaper issue
I second the bag of chocolate chips (Guittard is my favorite, well, my favorite accessible brand — I love Tropical Source, too, but I can’t get them anymore).