I’m Back!

Hi there! It’s been a long time since I’ve written on this site and I apologize for that. Don’t tell my students/clients this but, like them, I can get plagued by and become frozen by the death grip of the dreaded (should be) Perfectionism (though it helps as an editor).

It’s a weird phenomenon that can keep me from the page for days, weeks, years at a time. Sometimes I’ll open the file to work on it (whatever file it may be) then immediately close it and walk away or find something else online to fool with (with which to fool?).

Blogging seems like pontificating more than keeping a journal for the simple fact that somebody might actually read it vs. a journal which you usually hope no one does. Someone said blog as if you are writing to yourself. That works. And I am if nobody reads this, but you know it’s not true because it’s oh so public. So there’s this weird cross between a blog and a journal, a jog? No that was taken back in the ‘80s. let’s see, how ‘bout a blurnal. Hmmm… get it? blur-nal. Fits.

Also, I’m a writer not a blogger. There’s a difference. I’ve never gotten used to this blogging thing, though I haven’t given up. Now that I’m self-publishing my novel The Archangel of Hamilton Beach (see blog by same name). Link coming!

A lot of people are plagued by the P-freeze. We think it’s too much. We have to make it just right (whatever “it” is) and it just seems like too much work or too much time or effort and we just don’t know exactly what it’s supposed to look like when we’re done, if it’s going to be good enough (for whom? is a good question to ask).

BTW I’m happy to say that three people from Let’s Write! creative writing classes who had felt overwhelmed with P-freeze on beginning and at various other times throughout just recently self-published (with my help) their memoirs of which they and I am very proud and delighted. (Please check out my Testimonials page).  They and I know the work that went into these wonderful books as does any writer who’s finished something to its completion.

Also, there’s the length to consider. Blogs are usually short and this one’s already too long! Bye. I’ll be back. I think.

Author: Valerie Serrano

Valerie Serrano has a master of fine arts degree in creative writing and a bachelor of arts in psychology. Valerie taught English and writing in New York for seven years (1996-2003), and has been teaching creative writing classes online through www.LetsWrite.com and in Santa Rosa, California, where she now resides, since 2012. Her small business is called Let's Write! from which she also offers editing, self-publishing help, and more (such as motivation to good but scared writers). Val loves every minute of it, especially when students have the gumption to take their writing from first (very) rough draft to (self) published. Valerie has self-published her own novel called The Archangel of Hamilton Beach and a children’s picture book, Horses Talk Funny, both available on Amazon and via her blog. Val loves to say: So, Let's Write! View all posts by Valerie Serrano