Another Bonus in the Right Direction

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who loved to write.

Without going into all the dreary gut-wrenching details, this little girl (who is still very much inside me) didn't have a happy childhood. It happens. There are gems to be found among the ashes and tears - that silver lining in a rainy cloud if you will. Not the least of these is the fact that due to all the bad spots, I became an avid reader at an early age. By the time I was in third grade, I was steadily consuming books - most of which were written for adults.

However, my mother did not encourage my writing. From the time I was seven (and created my first story) and for many times since then, she mocked me - sad for a mother and an avid reader. I'm not asking for pity or going on a crusade to out the psychological physical and mental scars of my childhood. Nonetheless, there IS a reason I am writing about this at all.

When you are told and have had it literally beaten into you repeatedly by someone you love so very much, that you will never amount to anything, be a failure, and that your writing will never be good enough to be published or acknowledged by that same someone, the scar becomes more of a mental curse. Yes, us writers, or any of us who have a creative need to express ourselves, are often insecure and can't see the value in our work. Yet I know that this is the fundamental reason that holds me back from completing anything and submitting it.

In my mind, I am cursed.

After a lot of soul searching and asking for guidance from above, I have admitted that this is probably the biggest block to my success. Yes, I have amounted to something, I am successful in many ways and I never let it hold me back from raising a wonderful family. But the one dream I hold secretly very dear to my soul, is chained in by the power of this mental curse.

So, if anyone is reading this, you may be asking yourselves - okay so what is special about today? Well besides the fact that I'm working hard to overcome this by taking baby cuts at the corrosive chain holding it firmly to me = something festive happened today.

Phil, who is giving his all to help me attain my dream, enrolled me last week in the Institute for Children's Literature program. The first course materials were not scheduled to even get to me until October 30th or later. But, they arrived today. Only a couple days since he signed me up.

What makes today so significant?



Today is my mother's birthday.

I'm one of those people who doesn't believe too firmly that things which happen are merely coincidence. Somewhere deep inside my soul, where the chain hasn't eaten away at that little girl who lives to write, whispers words of hope. I think the powers that be are telling me I'm on the right path. This is a sign that I have been given a key to begin to unlock and unravel the curse chained to me.

Foolish? Possibly but I don't think so. If I can find hope and strength from a simple sign or coincidence, then does it really matter? The little girl is not as scared as she was to write, enjoy the writing and to succeed.

Now in this time, there is a little girl who loves to write...



Hello, my name is Anne/Danni and I am a writer.