Writing lessons from Beetrice ?

I wish you could have met Beetrice.

She was a little mason bee who moved into my office over the spring and summer.

My office is a log cabin and there are nooks and crannies where the logs interlock, making a perfect tube for a bee to build a nest inside.

One day, Beetrice came bumbling in through the open door, investigated a wall of holes, and chose one as her own.

I didn't notice at first; just thought bees kept wandering in, as bees are wont to do.

Then I realised it was the same bee, and she was returning to the same place.

I looked a little closer and realised she was building a nest. She'd wait patiently for me to open the window in the morning, then she'd emerge from her hole and go about her business.

A little later, she'd be back laden down with pollen and ready to build her cell and lay an egg.

Back and forward she'd buzz, straight past my face, paying me no attention at all.

Because what I was up to was nothing to do with her. She knew her task: build her nest, lay her eggs, give them the best chance of survival.

She had no intention of getting distracted by this big lumpen human crashing around the place.

As long as I opened the doors and windows for her, and kept an eye out for her when she got overtired, she was happy. That's as big an impact as I'd have.

Beetrice disappeared a month or so ago - mason bees don't live very long - and I miss her terribly. It's funny how attached we (or is it just me?) get to our little animal companions.

I think about her a lot, especially when my brain threatens to distract me from my journey.

Like when I see a competitor doing something, and they get more likes or shares or publicity or attention than me... yet they're offering something I know isn't in line with my values.

So I immediately think: maybe I should be more like him. Maybe that's the angle I need to take.

After all, I'm not doing enough, being enough, achieving enough.

But that angle makes me feel icky. It's not me.

And that's when Beetrice pops into my head.

I need to mind my business and keep buzzing onwards.

Not be swayed by what others are doing (and isn't it so hard to stay on our paths when other people are loudly shouting about what we should be doing?)

Remember this next time you're stuck. Remember it when something threatens to derail your plans to write. Be more like Beetrice, focused on writing your book.

And if anyone tries to tell you you should be doing things different, smile, and nod, and keep on buzzing.

p.s. one of my superpowers is helping people like you write a book that's true to who they are - no copying others or being a pale imitation. And I have one VIP coaching slot opening up starting this month. So if you've always wanted to write that book but haven't quite managed to get started, don't put it off any longer.

Book a free 15-minute call with me and let's see if I can help.