Monthly Archives: April 2006

Bandwagons

What would you attempt if you knew you would not fail?

Laini and Megg have started a new weekly challenge called Sunday Scribblings with the intention of providing “inspiration and motivation for anyone who enjoys writing and would like a weekly challenge.” Although the site is worth looking at for Laini’s art alone, I do like the idea of a weekly prompt. So here goes …

I have a whole list of things that I’d like to accomplish, and I made the list with the intention of actually attempting them one day. Someday I will bake and decorate a wedding cake, for example, but it won’t be for anyone’s wedding because of the very real possibility that it would be a failure. Or ugly, at the very least.

So what would I attempt if I knew I would not fail?

I’d like to try to write a novel. Not a serious attempt at getting published. Just a lark to say “I’ve written a novel. It’s sitting there in my desk. Would you like to see it?” I had every intention of participating in NaNoWriMo last year, but then we had a vacation in mid-November and my plans slipped away. I don’t know why the spectre of failing to finish it should stop me from starting. Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe I just feel a little bit silly entertaining the thought that I could have enough original material in my head to fill a whole book.

I would like to fly a plane. Failing on that front would have dire consequences, though, so chances are I will never be brave enough to try it. But if I knew I would not fail (and if I had the time and the money), I would sign up for flying lessons.

If I knew I would not fail, I would open a bakery. But first I would go to cooking school and learn the secrets of the pastry chef. This dream, too, falls victim to time and money even before fear of failure.

Had I time and money, though, I wonder whether fear of failure would stop me from attempting these things. I know that I have Rockford’s full support in whatever I do, and there’s always a lot of comfort found in that. But I have a whopping self-doubt that might overrule that. It would be nice to find out one day.

Reading

Reading lists

Every year for the past 18, librarian Glenna Nowell has written to celebrities, politicians and other random “names” and asked them to share what they’ve been reading or what books they’d recommend for a list she calls “Who Reads What. Some of the answers are lame and, I’m guessing, not really representative of the respondant’s real favorites (*I’m talking to you Newt Gingrich! And if “The Effective Executive” really is your favorite book, remind me never to invite you over for dinner. Oh, and you, too Paul Taylor! Pimping your own book? Not cool).

A few entries:

  • I was happily amused at the idea of Gregg Allman cozying up to read “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.”
  • Writer Barbara Delinsky has high praise for “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” It’s one of my favorites. In years past, it’s been suggested by Sutton Foster and Jeri Ryan, too.
  • Eva Marie Saint suggests “The Year of Magical Thinking,” which is on my reading list. I’d better read it soon just in case I run into her and we run out of things to talk about.
  • “Best-selling author of thrillers and mysteries” T. Jefferson Parker said “Peace Like a River” knocked his socks off. I’m reading it now and hoping for the same results. But with my socks, not T. Jefferson Parker’s. Wouldn’t that be unnerving, your socks flying off for no apparent reason?
  • Smarty-pantses Mira Sorvino and Eddie Cheever Jr. recommend “A Short History of Time” (but Mina says it’s a little challenging). Eddie is a CART Team Cheever owner/driver. What does that mean?

    My dad recently enjoyed “Marley and Me,” but he wasn’t sure I’d like it because I’m not familiar with the “perils of owning an evil dog.” I do have a couple of rotten precious cats, though, so maybe I’ll check it out anyway.

    What are you reading? And what do you recommend?