Cupcakes and Writing: Red Velvet

I've mentioned before I love cupcakes.  For me, cupcakes are kind of like my writerly mascot.  Well, so begins the Cupcakes and Writing series.  Each Wednesday another cupcake flavor will be compared to an aspect of writing.  Well, until I run out of flavors, or inspiration, whichever comes first.  Bon appetit!  

Red Velvet: The Messy Writing Journey

I must admit, red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting is up there as one of my fave cupcake flavors.   I remember one time I determined to make a batch myself.  Before I knew it, I had cupcakes baking in the oven, but my fingers and my counter were stained red.  My counter still hasn't quite been the same.  But whoa, those cupcakes sure tasted good!  And with that cream cheese frosting (I must confess, it was from a can, I wasn't brave motivated enough to make my own) it seemed like perfection.  I was so proud.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about writing.  We get an idea and we start brainstorming and typing away.  And then, when you look back at it, all you can see is the mess of the rough draft and the doubts creep in.  You're proud you have something on paper, and that it has the potential to be something great.  But all you can see is the red food coloring on your counter and fingers and you wonder if it was worth it all.

The same goes for later on in your writing journey.  You get a critique that brings about doubts and insecurities about your story.  Or another form rejection pops up among your email.  For me personally, it's easy to let the stains of those things keep me from writing for anywhere from minutes to months.  And I focus on the mess, and not the cupcake that's been baking for a while now, it's awesome aroma making my mouth water.  I focus on the bad and not the joy that has been my journey.  My growth.

And then, oh my goodness, I have a flash of brilliance and my fingers are flying over the keyboard.  Or I push through the mess and start spreading some of that cream cheese awesomeness on top of that WIP that's been sitting in a drawer for a while.

It's time we frost our manuscripts.  We need to let go of the stains and the mess on the counter and enjoy the baked goodness of a moist red velvet cupcake with that awesome cream cheese frosting on top.