Onward From Travesas

“The only thing to fear is fear itself.” -Franklyn D. Roosevelt

There’s an unsettling feeling about being alone on the road in the morning. My transfer service returned me to A Travesas much more refreshed and on level ground. I walked to the soundscape of roosters crowing, setting off a domino effect. The path I began on opened up to a much busier road with a narrow irregular shoulder. Traffic steadily increased starting with long haul trucks that rumbled the fear of death into me. I darted across the highway figuring I could better stay out of their way and pull if I could see them coming.

Eventually, the morning’s coffee got the better of me, likely prompted by the site of a gas station in the distance. My need to use “the facilities” increased with every step of course. Imagine my dismay as I drew near and found it not only closed but abandoned. There was nowhere private to pull out my Go Girl either.

At that most inconvenient point, a white van drove up with two men in it. The men looked over at me and my head went straight to story, distracting my bladder. They were likely only checking out the gas station, disappointed it wasn’t open, but my story went sinister - as in abduction, assault, robbery, and/or organ trade and human trafficking. Truly! I mean, who’d want my aging organs? I should be writing thrillers instead of romantic dramedy.

Self-doubt squirmed in my psyche and I wondered what on earth I’d been thinking when I decided to walk the Camino alone. I took this photo of the van and made sure they saw me appearing to talk on the phone. And then I pee-pee danced on to safety. Later, I realized they were likely only eyeing me to gauge how quickly I’d move on so they could pee in a bush.

The Camino arrow pointed to a short, deserted path leading away from the highway. It led to a quiet walk past groomed gardens, and this cat. A cat fix always settles my nerves.

What fears hold you back - as a person and as a writer?

Make a list and brainstorm them.

Insecurity and self-doubt often go hand in hand with fear of failure. Both can be soothed by tackling them head-on. Sometimes it’s as easy as giving your head a shake. Make note of the feelings though, and their intensity, so that you can draw on them when you want a character to feel that level of angst. Waste nothing.

Ultreia! Forward, together!