Confront what you fear ... then kill it
A writer called Stef Penney has bravely conquered her agoraphobia and won a major literary prize.
I find this particularly inspiring because I also have literary ambitions, and suffer from an even more debilitating condition: angoraphobia.
It's a long story I won't go into here, but it all started long ago when I was accidentally locked in a room for several hours with a moulting mouser. The epic bout of hayfever this precipitated left me shattered for weeks. In adulthood my repeated run-ins with Derek Sapphire's attack-moggy Jocelyn have exacerbated the condition. Now, if I get within ten yards of a feline my whole system goes into shock. I don't sneeze; I just freeze completely, staring into space, jaw open. Suppose you could call it "catatonia" ...
I'd like to emulate the courageous Penney and "move on", then plumb the experience to create a great work of art. But how? I've thought of counselling. But that takes too long. I'd prefer to be much more proactive. That's why I've bought some balls of wool. And a Glock.
Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty ...
