I started this blog in 2015. It’s 2020 now, and I haven’t written as much as I would have liked throughout the years. It’s not because I’ve not been inspired. I talk about and work with language every day. I’m working with some of the best and most inspiring writers of my editing career. I’ve worked hard to step up my editing game by studying, reading, writing. However, the most difficult thing is to edit my own work. As soon as I hit “post” or “publish”, I read over my written words and sigh, “Oh no. A typo.” Or I’m afraid something could be misinterpreted, and I immediately delete. It happens to many writers, aspiring and established. The fact that I know this doesn’t soothe my perfectionist nerves of putting a little piece of me out into the world. It’s this fear that has kept me from doing what was one of my first passions: writing. I really haven’t written anything new creatively since my mother passed away in 1996. That’s a long time to keep yourself from doing something you love.

Part of my drive to be a proofreader and editor is so that I don’t completely cut myself off from working with the written word. And the bonus is that I am able to help someone achieve their goals. However, it’s time I take a step in the direction of my own goals. It’s time I stop letting fear dictate what I can and can’t do. The dusty crags of my creativity are full of cobwebs from nonuse. It isn’t going to be an easy road, and I know I’ll make mistakes. But here’s to getting into the writing portion of my career and to push myself yet one more step forward into improving my editing career: self-editing.

I recently took my first steps to get back into writing. Here are a few things I’ve written for our local paper in Katy, Texas, The Katy Times. They’re just a few listicles to help us all get through the pandemic. They’re baby steps. But that’s better than making excuses. Let me know what you think. What is one goal that you have been afraid to take steps toward accomplishing?

http://katytimes.com/stories/ten-ways-to-make-an-impact-while-social-distancing,1507

http://katytimes.com/stories/10-free-online-educational-opportunities,1272

http://katytimes.com/stories/give-these-a-listen-10-podcasts-to-entertain-and-educate,1262