G is for Gorgons
THE GORGONES (or Gorgons) were three powerful, winged daemons named Medousa (Medusa), Sthenno and Euryale. Of the three sisters only Medousa was mortal, and so it was her head which King Polydektes of Seriphos commanded the young hero Perseus to fetch. He accomplished this with the help of the gods who equipped him with a reflective shield, curved sword, winged boots and helm of invisibility.
What are the writer’s Gorgons and what equipment does she carry with her to fight them off with? Here are my Gorgons and what I go into battle against them with.
Medusa is rejection. I have a heavy shield, thick armor, big butt-kicking boots, a large sword that makes cool swishing noises, many swear words in different languages, a wall to hit my head against, rose-colored glasses to see things in a different light, rationalizations that I can toss over my shoulder like grenades, and two dogs who don’t know anything about talent or the ability to write but who love me just the same.
Sthenno is doubt. My belief in myself is all I need to defeat her. And a large stick with spikes on the end. And someone to slip pizza under my door when I’m in self-doubt hell. And a reminder that I write because I have to. And a reminder that therapy is supposed to help with this kind of thing.
Euryale is success. To defeat her, I am armed with my wife and son who have told me again and again it is their job to make sure my head does not get so big it won’t fit in the room with the rest of me. I have my t-shirts from Shenandoah Joes Coffee Shop which say, “It’s all about the Joe,” on one side and “Joemamma,” on the other. And finally, I have a kind, friendly, good voice inside the right side of my head which whispers quietly to me reminding me to enjoy every moment that I can. Seriously. This is the good part. Right?
Lunievicz 
Yours is the second Gorgon post for G! I love your picture of the three. The snakes gave me the shudders, yet the figures were amazing.
Thanks for stopping in at the Write Game to leave a Goddess comment. It was lovely to hear about your grandmother and your wife.–true Goddesses.
April 7, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Wonderful analogy, Joe.
April 7, 2012 at 3:18 pm
i read a book called Smythology in it are the Gorgons except for they’ve converted to Kabala…pretty entertaining. lovely post!
April 8, 2012 at 9:54 am
A great philosophy. I’ll employ your tips today.
April 9, 2012 at 6:46 am
What a good post!
I think that your gorgons are similar to mine, BUT admit I’d never quite thought of rejection, doubt, and success, in quite that light. 🙂 Great analogy.
Wait, the two dogs? Sometimes they are the gorgons,here. When I am in deep concentration–writing, and the air suddenly clouds with, well… Suffice it to say, I keep cans of spray airfreshener handy.
I hope that every writer has that kind and friendly voice of success, inside, talking to them, encouraging them, making up for the voice of doubt. Doubt is a blabbermouth and not always nice.
Excellent read.
April 9, 2012 at 4:58 pm