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Said the Phlebotomist to the Writer….

“Too much fear stops the flow.”

Blood-letting. It happens, at The Blood Center and in writing — both for good cause. And for me, it’s happening simultaneously. My appointment to give blood looms on the horizon, and I have a short story due to a group of writing friends this week. Both events put the fear in me, so I figured this was a good a time as any to re-publish an old post.

Give it up.

This weekend, I gave blood. This wasn’t my first time, but let me say that (in my case anyway) it never gets easier.

I know the routine: the check-in, the donor questionnaire, the finger stick. I know exactly what to expect, which is the whole reason I break out into a sweat and forget how to breathe the second the phlebotomist cracks the cover on the needle. And, that sitcom rerun playing on the television across the room does nothing to distract me from the snaking tube sticking out of my arm for a solid ten minutes — or more, depending on whether or not my vein cooperates.

I am mess from the minute I walk into the Blood Center to the second I hear the beep from the machine that announces my pint-size bag is full up.

It’s the anticipation of discomfort that gets to me, and the worry that I might not make my quota. What if I didn’t drink enough water? What if something goes wrong and she has to re-insert the needle? What if I pass out and never make it to the sugar-filled treats at the end of Donor’s Row?

Oddly enough (or maybe not so much), a recent sit down with my work in progress felt a lot like this blood-letting. The same anxiety crept up on me seconds before I opened the file. I started to sweat as I scrolled down to my page mark. And, the initial string of words I typed out cut across the page and sounded choppy and slow. Then, all of the “what if’s” flooded my mind.

What if this scene doesn’t come together?
What if the story falls apart, right here, right now?
What if…I.Never. Finish.

I can’t avoid that anxiety, really. It’s genetic, and it’s part of my writing process. In many ways, dealing with it helps move me forward. I could give in to those fears, but that would mean I quit, and I’ve come too far to quit.

So, just like I squeezed that little stress ball and survived my stint at the Blood Center, I’ll write through my fears as best I can on a given day. Each word that falls onto the page fills that page, eventually, and some of those words will gel into a decent story. I’ll remember what the phlebotomist told me, in between her constant chatter that she hoped would settle my nerves: the more you relax, the better your blood flows, and – before you know it – you’re at the end!

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. ~Ernest Hemingway

* photo credit: rvoegtli on Flickr.com

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Welcome Geraldine Solon, Author of Chocolicious

…[L]ife doesn’t always go according to plans….
~ from Chocolicious

Life is like that. Just when you have it figured out, just when things seem to be moving along swimmingly, there’s a hiccup, a pause, or – as for Blair Nightingale in Geraldine Solon’s newest novel, Chocolicious – everything comes to a sudden halt. After the death of her husband, Blair finds herself stranded: penniless, homeless, and unsure of everything, especially of how she will provide for her newborn baby girl.

Chocolicious is a novel that centers around the loss of family and the rediscovery of self. True to the novel’s title and cover, chocolate plays an important role in Blair’s healing, but in more ways than just physical sustenance (because we all know that chocolate is healthy).  Today, I’m honored to host Geraldine Solon, as she talks about her novel, the role of food in family traditions, and the three P’s of writing.

~

CC: I always love reading about an author’s inspiration for a story, be it the sound of a character’s voice, a first line, an image. What sparked the idea for your novel?

Geraldine Solon

GS: You wouldn’t believe how I came up with this novel, but I was craving for a rich-filled, three-layered chocolate cupcake one afternoon when a vision of a miserable woman flashed through my mind. The story began to unfold smoothly, and as I became wrapped up in this woman’s chaotic world, I knew chocolate would play a significant role to my novel. It’s surprising how my chocolate cravings gave birth to a novel.

CC: At the root of CHOCOLICIOUS is a recipe for three-layered chocolate cupcakes, a recipe – handed down from Blair’s grandmother – that calls for more than just a few key ingredients to turn out right. I love this idea: that traditions, whether they are culinary or cultural, encompass a tactile and an emotional experience. Is there a recipe you remember from your upbringing that you enjoyed as more than just a meal (or a dessert)?

GS: I also love traditions and I believe that food brings good company. There’s nothing more memorable then sitting at the dinner table while savoring good food and chatting about what transpired during the day. Sharing a meal together is important in our family—it’s what unites us. When I was growing up, my family had an amazing cook who made us sumptuous meals and sweet desserts from scratch. Most of her delicacies were a fusion of Eastern and Western dishes and they were all delicious. Since chocolate is my weakness, my favorite dessert was the Chocolate Ice Box Cake. The chocolate is so rich that it melts in your mouth. Our cook always knew what our favorite dishes were, and to this day I am grateful for the labor of love she has bestowed upon me and my family.

CC: Speaking of your childhood, your bio on your website states that you grew up in the Philippines. What do you miss most about that time and place?

GS: The Philippines is such a beautiful country with lots of remarkable people. I miss the powder-white beaches, the laid-back lifestyle, the never-ending parties, and most of all my friends and family. People back home are so kind, helpful, thoughtful and generous. You will never die of loneliness in the Philippines because life there is about being together and sharing with one another. For a Filipino, friendship is golden—once a friend, always a friend you can count on.

CC: What are you reading these days?

GS: I just finished reading The Mill River Recluse by best-selling author, Darcie Chan and I was very impressed with her debut novel. She created such quirky, memorable characters that continue to resonate in me. She raised the stakes for her characters and pushed them above their limits to do things they were not capable of doing. I hope to read more from this author.

CC: What advice can you offer writers on the rise?

GS: Don’t try to follow the trend, but write about what you care about. If you believe in yourself and in your story, then put your heart into it. Work hard and have a vision on where you’re going. And it’s more than just writing the book, it’s about reaching out to your readers, capturing your audience and building your brand as an author. I live by the three P’s—Passion, Persistence and Prayer.

Thanks for having me over, Christi. I enjoyed the interview. You can learn more about me and my work at www.geraldinesolon.com or visit my blog at www.geraldinescorner.blogspot.com.

Geraldine Solon is the award winning author of Romance and Women’s fiction novels. Her debut novel, LOVE LETTERS, won the Beach Book Festival for the Romance category, has been nominated for the Gobal eBook Awards, and is currently being adapted into film. Geraldine resides in the Bay area California with her family.

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One Key to a Writer’s Success: Find Your Community

Recently, I hung out with a group of women for a few days, on retreat. There were Fall colors, belly laughs, and snacks sprawled out on a long, buffet table — salty and sweet, free for grazing at all hours of the day or night. Someone stuffed a 12-pack of Cherry Coke in the refrigerator.

“I’m in Heaven,” I said.

At home, I stock apple juice and goldfish. Cheese-its on a good day. Oh, the thrill of Cherry Coke, and of seeing the bag of mini Heath bars in the mix on the table, too…I carried a candy bar around in my pocket, just for fun, until it melted.

I didn’t just laugh and eat, though that would have been enough. I also woke up two mornings in a row, at 7am, for Yoga, if only to balance my gluttony with a little meditation. On Sunday, I drove home with a full belly, a satisfied spirit, and a quiet reminder from a sign posted just outside the main building.

At the retreat center, running alongside the building and out into the woods, is a nature trail. The trail is mostly paved, as the center also caters to people with disabilities, but one part of the trail opens up onto a grassy path not as easily accessible by wheelchairs. Just before you step off of the pavement, there’s a sign: Trail may not be suitable, it says, travel with a friend.

I’m sure whoever made that sign didn’t think of the power behind those simple words, but I did. It hints at community.

What’s funny is that in the week following the retreat, I read a few blog posts that mentioned the same idea in regards to writing or publishing: the path is difficult, but it isn’t impossible, especially if we ground ourselves in community.

Anne R. Allen says in her recent post, that “Aspiring writers…make friends with each other. We get support. We network. A lot of us talk about writing and publishing. Because, um, that’s what we have in common. . . .Friends are very important in this business.”

In Natalia Sylvester’s interview with Erika Marks, Erika talks about the importance of social media to a writer’s psyche:

I know I’m supposed to see it as an extension of the business of writing, but honestly, I can’t see it that way. The friends I have made on Twitter, other writers and readers, are truly people I’ve come to feel I know and want to check in with. I never would have imagined having that sense of genuine community through social media. I am so grateful for it and for everyone I’ve met through it. As you well know, Natalia, writing can be such an isolating endeavor. It has to be, somewhat, but I think that is the appeal of something like Twitter—that it allows for communication, even if it seems brief, it can provide some much needed interaction in the midst of so much quiet.

Travel with a friend.

Almost a year ago, I wrote a post on four reasons why writing groups were critical for my success, whether that success comes in a finished story or a published book. Those reasons still hold true, especially the last one:

…I benefit from more camaraderie and support. I could tackle this novel alone, huddled over my laptop in the cold basement of my house. But, I focus better and am more driven to finish when I’m surrounded by the warm bodies of other writers.

Pack some snacks, stock up on Cherry Coke, and whatever you do, don’t go it alone.

Where do you find your community?