Hello. Welcome to HBH: Journey to the Beginning.

    When considering a name for my blog I went through several days of trail and error. I tried silly and serious and even a few innuendos. Finally I hit on "Journey to Getting Published". This is a good solid name, but I saw two big problems.

1) It was already taken.

2) This isn't just about being published.

Yes! I want to get published. That is my goal, but I hope to continue this blog after I am published. I didn't want a title that indicated once I reached my goal of getting published I was done. Getting published is an ending to my goal, but a whole new beginning for my life! So, I decided on my blog's name. I stayed up all night setting up my blog. Now comes the hard part.

Every writer faces obstacles on the way to print; some the same, some very different.  I need a plan. First I must recognize my obstacles so I may map a route to overcoming them.

Time:

I have a husband, house, dog, and 3 kids  under the age of 6 to take care of. While I normally have help from my husband for help and support, he is currently serving in Afghanistan (*proud me*) and needs my support. Between playing, studying- yeah, we do that over the summer- potty training, bottle feeding, sports camp, cooking, cleaning, house chores, exercise...blah, blah, blah.... My time is often stretched thin.

My solution: Squeeze it in. At the end of the day when I'm tired, grab a hot shower, a piece of chocolate and put in some quiet, productive writing time.

Memory:

My A.D.D is so bad I may be worse than a few people with short term memory loss. I have struggled with weather I should go to a doc and see if meds can help, but I am not fond of meds in general and that's IF I remembered to take them! I lose. I what I'm thinking before I complete the thought sometimes.

My solution: I am currently trying many things. I carry a little note pad and pen with me everywhere to jot down thoughts. I have been trying meditation- key word: trying. If it continues to interfere with my writing or if it gets worse I will probably have to suck it up and go to the doc.

Typing:

I did OK in typing class, but not great. I have been getting better over time with lots of use, but I simply like pencil paper better. My thoughts flow easier, but hand cramps faster...and I am horrible at short hand.

My Solution:

Bite the darn bullet and practice. I will have to keep at the typing. I can do both, but I do need to keep typing and hopefully continue to improve.

Ignorance:

No. I am not saying I am stupid- though I can claim my fair share of blond moments. I am simply ignorant of the way the industry works and have many questions about how to do stuff; like send in manuscripts, where, when, who???

My Solution:

Research. If I can research a topic for my book, I can certainly research how to get that work on the market. As I feel my way around this process I will share my experience and hopefully help someone else with theirs.

Finally, the biggest and hardest of my obstacle...

Fear:

There is the fear of rejection, too many or too obvious mistakes. I have felt many types and degrees of fear in my life, the worst ever not knowing weather my infant would wake up and breath by himself outside of a hospital ever again. This I have now is strong, not quit that strong, but strong all the same. I love writing and I want so very painfully to be good at it. I think I am good, but I want it so bad and I am afraid I will simply find out I don't have the talent for it.That would be a crushing thing.

My solution: This one is rather tricky. I don't have a solution. Instead I have a wall around my heart. It looks like it's made of brick, but really it's that vinyl stuff that is brick patterned and flimsy when not glued to the floor. I have that wall and two sayings I repeat every day, several times a day. "I will never know, unless I try." and "Failure is the path to success."

So, armed with my quotes, fake wall, computer and will I am marching toward my goal. It will be a hard journey I am sure and I have yet to leave my safe little concrete driveway for the dirt, dust and pot holes ahead, but I can do this.

I believe in positive affirmation and I can do this. I will do this. I AM doing this.

I have to thank Janet Reid-who has never met or even spoken with me directly- for my courage to start a blog (new territory for me) and stay on my toes with my writing. Her "Rules for Writers"; particularly Be Confident and Be Brave, spoke to me like no other articles I have read. It was from the I got the confidence to pursue this dream. You can link to her blog from my home page and check out her Rules for Writers.