In the beginning this blog served as a place for my voice to tread water. I needed reassurance that I was still a writer, even though I wrote only monthly 300-900-word blog posts. Now I’m swimming, writing on a more regular basis, working on larger projects. After a thorough and seasonal soul-search, this blog is  changing directions, inspired by Dara Barnat’s blog mybookandi.wordpress.com

Dara’s blog documented her experience of writing a poetry collection. From the first installment in March, 2011, Dara took a courageous step, because she was aware of the possibility of not finishing the collection. Having your readers know you quit or failed is a strong impetus to persevere, I guess, for Dara finished her book recently.

I haven’t written about my writing life in years because that life morphed into the working life, teaching life, grand mothering and healthy living life. Despite some writers’ reluctance, even refusal, to discuss current projects, I think it will be good for me at this time. Not only will it help me define what I’m doing, but it will also create a buzz for a book that one day may be published.

In Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? one of my grand daughter’s top three, Mr. Brown can go like a bee. He can go “BUZZ BUZZ.”  I figure if Mr. Brown can do it, so can I.

Yet, I am still slightly reluctant to talk content. I prefer to talk process. I’m always interested in other writers’ process. The more process we hear about, the more empowered we feel to value our own choices. My process is certainly not what the masters and published authors preach. What I shall describe in future blog posts is the process of a woman who loves to write, but loves to do other things as well, which often interfere with writing.

I recall a poem by Marge Piercy called “For the young who want to.”  Here is the first stanza:

Talent is what they say/ you have after the novel/ is published and favorably/ reviewed. Beforehand what/ you have is a tedious/ delusion, a hobby like knitting.

That’s me, standing in front of my lap top that sits at a slight angle on a lectern. I avoid  sitting in one place too long, prefer standing, engaged as I am in my tedious delusion, knit one, pearl two.

May the coming year bring us all good yarns.  Hatima Tova.