Guest Blogger - Tawny Weber

I honestly can't remember the first time I met Tawny. It was probably online somewhere as we live across the country from each other. But I'll be the first one to say that she's one of the most friendly and helpful people I've ever met! I have to admit that the Blaze Babes rock and Tawny is definitely one of the main reasons that statement is true. So please scoot on over and make some room on the swing set for her. Welcome to the Playground, Tawny!

The Face of Fear

I remember a few years back – I’d just sold my first book and was over the moon!! I’d done it, sold! OMGOMGOMG YAY! It was like finally getting to dig my spoon into a huge, calorie-free hot fudge sundae with tons of whipped cream, strawberries and extra pecans. In other words, deliciously awesome. To add a bright shiny cherry on top of that hot fudge, I sold just a couple months before the RWA National conference. Where (see, this just keeps getting better and better, right?) I was invited to lunch with my editor.

No, this isn’t where the fear comes in – although I will admit to a certain degree of nervousness in that first lunch. If only over what angle I might find to best fit my foot in my mouth (that it’d happen was a given, the degree of pain is always up for grabs). But no fear. Yet.
Fast forward to lunch. Now – let’s be perfectly clear, my editor is fab. She’s so fun and easy to talk to, tops in what she does and has a way of telling you to do something you find absolutely terrifying, and making you think it’ll be easy.

Yep, that’s where the fear comes in. She suggested I give a workshop the following year at the National conference. Me. Stand up in front of people and talk. Intelligently (okay, I’ll admit, she didn’t specify intelligently. But it was implied!) Ack!!!

If my terror of public speaking isn’t coming through loud and clear, how’s this? In high school one class required an oral book report. To make up my failed grade since I planned to cut class that day, I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy – writing a report on all three books instead of the 100 page book required. I almost passed out when I went to class and discovered I still had to give the report. Luckily, the misery didn’t dim my adoration of LOTR *g*

So... a workshop. At National. Despite my fear. What’s a girl to do when faced with that suggestion but nod and say ‘sure.’ Then prepare like crazy. And you know what, that first workshop went pretty well. It wasn’t easy, but I had some killer advice (the best – seed the audience with friendly faces). And my editor was right, once I’d done one, the rest did get easier. Facing the fear took the edge off. Just this week, I gave my first all-by-myself Valentines talk to a non-writing women’s group. How’d it go? It rocked. And it reminded me that just a few years ago, the idea of this would have sent me hiding under the table at worst, or at best, headed straight for the bar to tequila up beforehand.

How about you? There are so many fears we face in this business, aren’t there? The blank page. A new story. The end. That first submission? Our first (or tenth) pitch appointment? Book signings, presentations, revision letters. Rejection letters, resubmissions, oh man, the list could go on and on, couldn’t it? But... we become stronger writers because we face those fears, right?

How about you? What fears have you made yourself face lately? Do you feel great about it? And speaking of fears, want a copy of my latest Blaze story? In it, the hero has to face some serious fears to overcome one whammy of a curse. YOU HAVE TO KISS A LOT OF FROGS is a part of the Blazing Bedtime Stories III anthology with the amazing Tori Carrington!! I’ll give away a copy to one random commenter, just as a thanks for keeping me company today :-)

And don't forget to visit Tawny at her website http://www.tawnyweber.com/