My foot

Lately I feel like there is someone’s foot in my stomach. Not like I ate it, because that would be gross, but more like I’ve been kicked hard right in the belly and somehow the foot got caught in my fat rolls and it’s never coming out. Ever.

Do you ever feel kicked in the stomach and the foot is stuck in your fat rolls and it feels like it’s never coming out?

Maybe you hurt someone’s feelings and you’re sick about it and you can’t fix it and nothing is every the same? Maybe you lost someone and you’ll never get to talk to them again and you can’t seem to breathe? Perhaps you made a decision and then you weren’t sure it was the right one but then there was no turning back and maybe moving forward seems scary and you wish you could rewind and stay safe?

Ever have any of those?

What do you do? How do you get the foot out?

And if you can’t get the foot out, how do you move on?

Today I am going to write 500 words. I’m tired, my throat is sore and then there’s the foot. But I can write 500 words.

Can’t we always write 500 words? Even if we feel completely empty? And if not 500 words, what about 250? Or maybe 150?

My goal is to do that, to write, because writing equals creating. Creating equals joy.

Love to all of you,

Ann Dee

15 Minute Monday

I just saw this “Give Yourself an Exciting Horoscope!” Geez. All this time I’ve been looking at the old, boring, supposed-to-happen horoscopes. I think I’ll opt for exciting from now on.

This morning I’m sending an email to an editor. I have an idea. An awful idea!
The Lynch gots a wonderful, awful idea!

This idea is naughty, even.

And I want to see what my-hopefully-soon-to-be editor thinks. I sorta think she’ll say no. If she does, I’m talking to my agent.

I’ve never done this before–you know, come up with an idea that I think is controversial in the publishing world. I mean, I’m even thinking of using a different name. Probably I’ll use a play on John Green’s name, because that will help sell the novel. Joan Green. Anyway, let’s put that aside. My question to you is, when do you KNOW you must write a book?

Maybe a book outside your comfort zone.

Maybe a book that could get you in trouble.

Maybe a book that needs to be written but will be hard as all get out. (Yes, that’s a thing. That’s historical slang.)

Usually when I write anything it’s because I must. Something hilarious happened. Or something horrible. Or something frightening. And now there’s this emotion and it needs to be set free.

And this idea is sorta like that.

I have this unhappy feeling in my gut that has to come out.

So–

Why do YOU write?

Not the average answer, “Because I have to.” We all know that. But why do you have to write? And why do you choose the ideas you choose? None of this, ideas choose me. We pluck them from the air or from the news or from other titles or from people.

Your answer is?