As a writer, I love sharing the work and processes of other writers. Today I'd like to introduce you to Elizabeth Fournier, author of All Men Are Cremated Equal: My 77 Blind Dates. When Elizabeth wrote this book, she was newly married. After planning a wedding across the country in only five months, she decided she could do anything. Elizabeth promptly sat down at the keyboard after her wedding in New Jersey and cranked out a fabulous memoir about her path which led to Mr. Right.
About Her Writing Process, Elizabeth says...
Best-selling author Anthony Robbins states, "A life worth living is a life worth recording." Before Robbins met his wife, Becky, he composed a five-page list of exactly what he did and did not want in a mate, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, socially, physically and intellectually. He explains the power of clarity and attraction in the relationship segment of his 30-Day Personal Power Series, “I believe if you get absolutely clear, you can attract what you want.”
Powerful stuff! I, too, am a believer in the list. A list is key. I made a list, gave it to my friends for them to hand-pick worthy suitors for my dating pleasure, and then sat and wrote about my year-long adventure. It wasn’t exactly a day at the beach; more like a day at the beach ingesting too much Lick-M-Aid.
I had pages and pages of dating stories that were bleak. Friends might have assured me that some great guy was sizzlin' hot, but these friends might be somewhat oblivious to the fact that their friend's dating ability hovers only around lukewarm. My pages morphed into a whole manuscript, with my devoted and loving husband standing by throughout.
I was married to my husband but dating my computer. Did I mention we were newly married? I wouldn’t blame him if he wondered aloud if life would always be like this. Devoted hubby never inquired why I needed to write all about my blind dates prior to meeting him. I suppose he magically understood my meet and greet predicament was reflective of most everyone’s experience at some point. Possibly.
He agreed being single wasn't simple, whatever anyone said, and it would be comforting to read about another contender’s view on the dating game. My wonderful groom appreciated that single men and women everywhere were looking for their Mr. and Miss Right. Automatically meeting the right person is rarely effortless. Except for the lucky few, but that wasn’t me.
But I did have a tad of guilt attached to this process. Writing about a date is like being on that date again. I spent time alone with just blind dates and my keyboard. There are methodical writers and spurt writers. I am the jump-out-of-bed-when–the-thought-hits writer. When you’re a writer, you write. You get inspired. You move on it. Suddenly it was all I could do. I wrote and didn’t stop for a month, then two. It was all I did – work…home…write – that was my life.
But one day the manuscript was complete. I finished piecing my past back together. It's almost as if it was a puzzle - big box of a thousand puzzles. And it all began with one simple list.
About Elizabeth Fournier:
After she got over her dream of being a Solid Gold Dancer, Fournier
promptly headed into the local funeral home and asked for a job, any
job. She became the live-in night keeper which meant she resided in a
trailer in the far reaches of a large, hilly cemetery and slept with a
shotgun near her bed. It was the scariest summer of her life. She is
currently the voice of the autopsy exhibit in the forensic wing at the
United States National Museum of Medicine and a full-time mortician.
She is also a ballroom dance instructor at Reed College in Portland,
Oregon. But she couldn’t resist writing the story of her unusual
method of dating that led her to the love of her life.
You can find out more about Elizabeth by visiting her website: www.elizabethfournier.com.
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