20 Fears to Overcome (by this writer)

1. I will get to Vermont residency in two weeks and not be able to write.

2. I will get to Vermont and not know what to write.

3. I will spend all this time and money for a trip that will yield nothing.

4. I will be laughed at by the other artists for being a fraud because I haven't been published yet.

5. I won't be able to handle the cold. Watching TITANIC last night didn't help.

6. I will sleep too much.

7. I will meet too many interesting people and be distracted.

8. I won't make any friends.

9. I won't be able to remember everyone's names. This will be embarrassing and stressful every time I leave my room.

10. I won't leave my room.

11. The bed will be uncomfortable (though this might cancel out #6).

12. I will worry about the puppy staying three miles down the road with a surrogate mom, and not be able to write.

13. I will not have enough warm clothing or footwear, causing me to have to go shopping instead of writing.

14. Whatever I do manage to write will be garbage that I could have just as easily written at home.

15. My computer will stop working (I'm considering taking two).

16. I will get lost in the woods and no one will notice because they're artists on residency.

17. I will get lost in the woods and be found by people who live in the woods.

18. I will get lost in the woods and not be found by anyone and freeze to death.

19. I will not be able to handle driving in the snow and ice.

20. I won't like the food.