Shoveling & Writing

Here in the Northeast, we've been hit by another snowstorm. This one brings another 8 inches on top of the 6 or so we got just the other day. I just came back in from clearing the driveway. When I say "clearing," I mean the old-fashioned way, with a shovel, fortitude and determination.

I see my neighbors getting plowed out by truck or throwing a flurry of snow up into the air with their snowblowers. They must think I'm crazy to be out there for two hours with a shovel moving pile after pile. Maybe I am, but I'm reminded of the legendary Kate Hepburn who continued to cut and stack her own wood well into her 80's and made it to 96. Why did she do it? Because she could. And I can, too.

Writing's an awful lot like shoveling snow. You have to stay at it and keep pushing things aside to get the job done. You dig out from under doubt and insecurity and keep pushing and throwing things up in the air until you find a bit of a story that works. We do it, because we can. And as long as I'm able, this is where you'll find me.