My mind this week is blank. I have a serious case of the "blahs." I'm ready for Spring to spring. I'm ready for green grass and blue skies and chirping birds. I want 70 degree days and to wear flip-flops without freezing my toes off.
Of course, I get none of that today. I have a sky the color of used BBQ charcoal, sleet, and winds that could pick up a woman on a bicycle (that would be a Wizard of Oz reference to those who are lost and confused). There's a blizzard warning in effect for the next 18+ hours and they've even closed the interstate and schools.
So I sit here. Wanting the warmth and feeling the cold. It doesn't put me much in a state of mind to get writing done. It doesn't put me in a state of mind to do much of anything, to be honest.
But I did get an interesting request this week. I was asked to be on a short-story panel for Mayhem in the Midlands. That makes me nervous. I mean, I'm excited about going to the conference, but I'm not sure that I'm qualified to speak on a panel. I only have one short story published. Is that enough to put me on a panel? The organizers at Mayhem seem to think so. I'm not so sure.
In a fit of indecision, I sought advice from my writer-pal Lori Armstrong who told me to go for it. (And in big, all-capital letters with a few exclamation points, even!) I think I will. But I still don't feel qualified. I guess I'm afraid that I'll get up there and either have nothing to say or will say something that will forever label me an impostor. Maybe I would feel differently with more than one story published. Maybe not.
For those of you who have "been there, done that," how did you handle it? Is this first-time-on-a-panel jitters? Or am I truly not qualified? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Blessings!Nichole
No comments:
Post a Comment