My friends cluster around me at the coffee shop every Thursday morning. They lean their heads in close and wait for me to say something, anything, as though I’m harboring golden nuggets of insight for their lives (or hiding chocolate in my pocket). A sweet component is that we’ve circulated in the same community for many years, and have a long history of shared relationships and memories.
They’re wonderful listeners, and that’s what makes them valuable critiquers. They kindly sharpen me, humbly correct me, and thoroughly encourage me. With them my writing has improved and my goals are being reached. It’s just plain fun to experience their gentle admonitions and raucous exultations.
It’s been more than a month since my last blog post. I’ve been taxed with working on my novel and my home commitments – and honestly, I’ve allowed Facebook to pull me away. I was prepared to announce today that I’m not going to work on my novel for the month of December, and call it something clever like NoWriNoMoFoNow. (Instead of NaNoWriMo which is National Novel Writing Month). But I don’t think that’ll stick. My friends are waiting to see what’s in my pocket.
by Kathy Sheldon Davis
kathysheldondavis.com 