Do Not Panic

OK...The local newspaper that I do freelance for has recently lost a columnist. She is an old lady that has written the column for many years, and it has a few jokes and some of her own thoughts about the weather and whatnot, and then a recipe at the bottom. Well, her vision is not doing so well so she has finally retired from her job. The paper put out an ad looking for new talent.

Can you see where this is going???

I have been thinking in this brain of mine that it would be great if I could have my own food column, where I talk about healthy, delicious food and cooking. I am not going to talk about how everyone should be vegetarian or anything like that (seriously, this is a farming, meat-eating community!), but I want to offer better ways of eating, and maybe different things people never thought about before to make their food more interesting and delicious and nutritious. Maybe sometimes I could focus on one particular food, like avocados, and write about how great it is and what you can do with it and then offer a recipe. Maybe I could focus on making food for special diets, like how to avoid eggs, dairy, wheat, whatever.

So after thinking about it briefly, I sent the editor an email explaining to him what I want to do. He said to send him a sample column.

I am freaking out a little. I want to take it back. I secretly hope he picks someone else. I am terrified. I can't do this! What was I thinking? Do I think I'm some kind of expert or something?? I mean, who am I?? I don't have time for this! And really, would anyone read it?

Take a deep breath. This is good anxiety...good stress. This is big. I am already in the paper every week, but nobody really pays attention to who writes the city council articles. This would have my picture and would be my own thoughts and ideas. I recently read that the paper goes out to 14,000 people every week.

Going through with this thing that I feel unsure of and scared of is such a good experience for me. Can you imagine how good it will feel when I get to the other side?

Any feedback out there? Please?