A Flash of Jazz - The Writing Life


 

Madeleine, or Maddie to her friends, set her pen down and looked at her black hardback journal. After a full year of writing, mingled with too many cups of black coffee and not enough sleep, she finally finished her third novel. She closed her eyes and allowed the feeling of satisfaction to flow through her like a ray of sunlight. After her first novel was published ten years ago, she went from a nobody to a somewhat somebody. While many dismissed her first attempt into the world of the Written Word, there were some who read The Bookstore and cherished it. Madeleine only wanted to tell stories. Ever since she was a little girl, all she wanted to do was tell a story. Her parents, however, had other plans for her - they thought that being creative was nonsense and a waste of time. Yet, when she presented them with a copy of her first book, they were quietly stunned; deep down, they didn't think she could do it. They thought that with their endless supply of "you're going to fail", that she would actually fulfill that wish. Maddie leaned back in her chair and sipped from her now cold cup of black coffee, feeling that memory dissipate in her mind. She finished off her coffee and then got up to place her notebook in her messenger bag, ready to be received by her arrogant yet well-meaning publisher. She had finished before his set deadline of 13 months and was proud of the fact that this novel would finally push her into the world of people who swore by The Paris Review. She had admired that world from afar, wondering if she would ever be several pages within their ivory tower-induced journal. 

An hour later, she strolled into her publisher's office and set the journal on his desk. Kevin beamed with pride as he took the journal in his hands and sniffed it. Smells like an award winner, he said with a hint of that precious arrogance, but then again, you're the award-winning type. Maddie smiled at his attempt to compliment her. Go home, he said, and celebrate. You deserve it. Maddie bowed her head and left without saying a word to him. When she returned home, she sat on her couch and stared off into space, as the feeling of accomplishment drained away, only to be replaced with the horrific feeling of crippling anxiety. No one knew her dirty little secret - that every time she completed a manuscript, she felt a sense of fear. Fear in wondering what she would write next, fear of finding out that the world hated her latest sacrifice of words. Fear of someone calling her out as a hack. As soon as the harsh tendrils began to caress her brain, Maddie stood up and set her hands on her hips. Today, she thought to herself, is going to be different. Today, and every day afterward, I will not. The feeling pressed a little harder, and Maddie pushed back. Finally, the feeling left her and she smiled. Today will be a new day, she said out loud as she left her apartment in search of a new journal.


Inspiration music - Walk On by Leroy Vinnegar


Try the tea blends of Viridian Tea Company - Tea Blends for the Strange and Unusual!

Click HERE for the Etsy store link!


Jackie's Special Tea Blend - inspired by the mystery novel Jackie Verona: A Murder of Gypsies

(ProSe Productions)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Crows

Image
  (tea leaves photo by me) The old crow flew down from the skies and perched next to me. Of all the times when I flew, he said in a gravelly voice, I wished to be on the ground. He cocked his head at me and waited for my reply. Instead, I set a small tin cup before him and filled it with my morning Tea. He cawed once, then lowered his beak into the warm liquid. Conversations are always important, I replied while he drank. That's why we are lost without them. The crow continued to drink the Tea. Just then, a woman with red hair and dressed in all black, walked up to us and sat down on the other side of me. I've forgotten how to think, she said in a singsong voice. The crow raised his head and cawed - then how are you talking now? His black beady eyes focused on her crooked smile. She closed her eyes and transformed into another crow. I stared off at the clouds and wondered if our thoughts betray us, or if we are the result of them. I then poured Tea into another cup and gave it
Read more

Tea Is A Good Friend of Mine - Celia Carmen Aceae

Image
Here's another great interview - meet Celia Carmen Aceae! What’s your name and what part of the world do you live in? Hi! My name is Celia Carmen Aceae and I live in Montreal, QC, Canada How long have you been drinking tea? What’s the story, morning glory? I’ve been drinking tea since I can remember. In my house, we never drank water and there was no rule against children consuming caffeine at all! I’ve only recently realized that the reason my sister and I were always labeled as crazy, wild and hyper at school, was probably because my mom sent us to class every day with a giant jug of tea. We were constantly caffeinated! Tea also means more than just Camellia sinensis for me. I’ve been reading about medicinal herbs since I was eight. My mother forbade all forms of medication in our household, so I learned at a young age how to cure small ailments with plants and tisanes. My sister was very prone to headaches and anytime she started to get one, I would hop on my
Read more

A Flash of Jazz - Acoustic Bicycle

Image
  When Abby declared that she was now the proud owner of an acoustic bicycle, I rolled my eyes and congratulated her on finally getting that last badge that would claim her to be a Black Hipster. She looked at me as though I had just told the funniest joke. You're just jealous that you didn't know the term, she laughed. At that moment, I wanted to leave but instead replied with - I've heard that snarky ass term before, thank you very much. In fact, I added with my own spoon of snark as I leaned forward on the table, I first heard it when I hung out with that really cool singer-songwriter, you know the one? Now she rolled her eyes at me, giving me full permission to continue on my soapbox. Yeah, yeah, the one who talked about planting wildflowers every time someone purchased her CDs. THAT one. So, Abby replied, I guess you're now going to save the planet, stop eating burgers, and plant a fucking tree every time someone farts? How very original, Wendell . The way she said
Read more