"A weird mix of pleasure and pain, agony and joy"

The title of today's blog entry is a quote from Victoria, B.C., novelist Bill Gaston, who says: “I can’t imagine not writing, it’s a weird mix of pleasure and pain, agony and joy.”

I've got Gaston on my mind, since tomorrow, at 1 P.M., I'll be talking about his latest novel, The World, on Radio-Canada's Plus qu'on est de fous, plus on lit! How I loved this book, which is about... well... everything! The main character Stuart Price is in terrible trouble, but he is saved by his sense of humour -- and his big, open heart.

I agree with Gaston that writing is "a weird mix of pleasure and pain, agony and joy." I'm about to start the third revision of my book that will be released this coming fall. I'm jittery, I'm excited, I'm hopeful, I'm worried...

This morning, despite the -27 degree C. weather, I went for a run with my husband and told him how I was feeling about facing the next phase of the giant re-write. I said, "I know I've felt this way before, and the only thing to do about it is TO START." You know what he told me? That I sounded WISE!

So, here's to starting something that feels difficult and scary. Despite the weird mix of feelings that writing brings up for me, I wouldn't have it any other way. I am HOOKED ON WRITING. And I hope you are, too!