“Draw what you like and hope others like it too”.

Charles Schulz

Substitute “create” for “draw” and that advice is suitable for any medium.

As I cobble short stories together I can’t help but assess whether or not I like the particular story I’m working on. Equally important is how much I like, or dislike, my writing. As a thought experiment, I re-read a few of my earliest posts. It was a good news/bad news revelation. I can celebrate how much I have improved; I recognize I have a long way to go.

I have set myself the challenge of creating a short story a month. This past month, the scaffolding I built for a story did not develop into an actual story. I couldn’t get the ‘movie’ going in my head to be able to transfer the plot into readable copy. The result is, March’s story remains stuck in limbo somewhere between the page and my brain. I chose to leave it for another time and move on to the next one.

The trick, if there is one, is to enjoy the learning curve. Learn to dance with frustration but stay on the dance floor. Learning curves slope steeply, or rise gently, depending on the day.

Keep your joy.

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger, unless it’s a holiday weekend. Or summertime. Facebook or email.