Muffins In The Sun + The Writer's Biggest Question

Coming to you live from the wild Canadian hills, Claudia B. Liedtke had absolutely no idea what to post this week until she was sitting outside editing a form sign-up sheet and she suddenly realized she wasn't alone.

And now is when the dramatic music begins to play.

No, it was really just a muffin.

If you're a cat person like me, you'll know that the little kitties do have names, but they are rarely every referred to by their real titles.

Take into account my dilemma here: I was sitting, editing, and suddenly I turn and there is a little muffin beside me.

And no, it was not the kind of strawberry/lemon muffin you pick off a bakery shelf and take home for an outrageous amount of money. No, this is the furry grey muffin with tiny pupils set in beautiful golden eyes. This is the muffin who can't leave the door alone when you go to the bathroom and instead is always screaming at you to let them in. They refuse to let you sleep in your own bed, and if you dare try to snuggle up beside them, they decide that you've already reached your touching limit for the day.

This particular little muffin's name is Blue (occasionally Blue Blue) and she is just the darnest little thing in the world. She's currently staring at me from her rearranged place on the cabinet beside me, black pupils tiny slits against the spring sunbeams.

This little thing, two minutes ago was laying in the sun, tiny toes tucked under her belly like they do sometimes when they sleep. She decided that this sunlight was perfect, and she liked the sound of my awful tapping on the computer keyboard.

To be truthful, I don't actually think that this muffin has a nickname. Especially taking into account that we have one cat whose real name is Cali, and who we call Bonzo. And then you have my orange lapcat Peaches. His nicknames range from Bud and Mister Sir, to Fiege and Peachyfiege. But, she is called a muffin, like all cats like to be called (yes, she did in face tell me she likes to be called a muffin), so i guess that counts as one nickname.

In the last few minutes, Blue has relocated again, instead taking a seat on the little outdoor chair I currently have set beside the desk chair I dragged outside that I might be in the sunlight and write simultaneously. She has both toes tucked under her feet and her once-petrifying eyes closed against the light breeze. I would greatly welcome her to my lap, but that would probably result in text like the following: hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhggggggggggggggggggggnnnnnnwjdddckndjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjsssssssssssssssssssasssshhh and so on and so on.

And all this muffin talk has raised in me a realization. Cats, they are the most innocent of beings with the kindest of little hearts (most of the time, do not let them around a cup of water. And I now have witnessed evidence that what the reels say is true because I had my sister's cat (Bonzo, obviously) knock over her full cup of water not three days ago. hehehe). And then you have the writers. The people who spend hours, weeks, months, even years dedicated to certain projects. And then they are faced with a rather large question.

When do I know if I'm good enough?

My goal as a writer and author is to publish, to write enough that I get good enough to have my novels put out on bookshelves. And to get there, to actually take the leap, I need to know how good I have to be. I need to know how good I am, so I know where to grow and where to let my enthusiasm die down.

I have found an answer to my question, a developmental editor who I am going to pay to read through my current project. One day, after analyzation, I will know how good I am and if my writing is worth trying to get on shelves. And I'm going to be honest (honest, I never said humble) because I believe I am a good writer, that there is worth and power to the things that I have to say. That no matter what that developmental editor says I will be good enough one day to have a book in my hands. Will it take work? Yes, and lots of it. Is it worth it? 100%

If you need encouragement today, go ahead and reach out, I'd love to chat with you about books and writing, my two favorite things. ;)

The End,

Claudia