Sorting the pieces

Sunday, April 10, 2005
10:00:00 PM CDT      This may be a few days late, but I had a really good excuse.  I was on the road.  More info will follow.  Being an editors' pick was an experience, and I was truly honored.  I was amazed to see my hit counter growing more in a week than it's done in some months (well, ok, several months put together).  Having some attention was interesting for me. 
     It made me realize some things about myself as a writer.  I felt compelled to stay on theme, which is something I've never really done in this journal.  It's danced all over my spiritual, creative, family and work "lives."  I've included poetry, a whole lot of fluff, fun and nonsense and more pain than I should probably have publicly revealed.  I also felt an undeniable urge to rebel against theme and tried to find a path of moderation between the two. 
     There was an increased awareness of the reader, and at first, I found that a little paralyzing.  All I can liken it to is stage fright.  I know from having given a fair share of speeches though that you just have to jump in and take the energy that comes from that stage fright and channel it into what you're doing.  I had to really think about what it was I wanted to say.  That has both its good and bad points.  Overthinking my writing can kill it, but it can tighten it and improve my punctuation. 
     I also remembered how much I enjoyed being read, and I received so much positive feedback that it's given my courage a boost to pursue publication for my creative writing more heavily, instead of just my business writing.  I still have a mental boundary between those two, since they seem to spring from very different places.  I'm also used to selling business services, but selling my creative work carries a lot more emotional weight.
     I hope some of the people who visited my journal last week want to come back again.  I will eventually get around to everybody who visited.  (Since I had close to 400 emails and alerts waiting for me after being gone a few days, it may take a while.)  I'm grateful to the editor's for their recognition.  
     My last lesson learned was I really do have to break down and get another picture taken.

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This entry has 7 comments: (Add your own)

• #7 Comment from txsguinan 
  4/11/05 5:49 PM | Permalink

  Belated congratulations!  I'm late, as usual, and I never look at the editor's page so I totally missed seeing your pic ;(  Ah, well.  I'm sure you'll be chosen again!  Congrats!  :)
• #6 Comment from lisaram1955 
  4/11/05 9:21 AM | Permalink

  I noticed a distinct difference in your writing during your "fifteen minutes."  You wrote some very good, very cohesive stuff when you knew you were attracting a larger audeince.  I'm proud of you.  Still, it will be nice to have the "old" Cynthia back :)  Lisa  :-]  http://journals.aol.com/mlraminiak/ComingtotermswithMiddleAge/
• #5 Comment from csandhollow 
  4/11/05 7:14 AM | Permalink

  You were/are well deserving to be editor's pick. I never leave your journal without feeling something.
• #4 Comment from dimundntheruf69 
  4/11/05 1:10 AM | Permalink

  hey..I'm new and I'm here...christie
  http://journals.aol.com/dimundntheruf69/ADayInTheLife/
• #3 Comment from barbpinion 
  4/11/05 12:01 AM | Permalink

  I'm sure many readers who found you via the Editors Pick list will be back again. You're an awesome writer. I have never read a boring entry; never walked away without having learned something. Thanks. Love you, Cynthia.
  -Barb- http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK
           http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/BOTHSIDESOFTHECOIN

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