Yikes! August is Over...

I can't believe August is ending today. Where did the time go?

So, what is everyone else up to? I've cried on your shoulders (a lot) lately, now it's your turn. What projects are you working on? What writing problems have you run into? And, if you're not a writer, what's life doing to you right now? 

My personal life has been difficult lately. I'd love to hear about your problems, it'll make my problems sound less difficult.

Anyway, sorry I haven't been around much this month. Writing has been taking a backseat to my personal life. I'm always apologizing for that, but I wanted to get on here and tell you I'M NOT DEAD, I swear. Just hibernating, or licking my wounds, if you like.

Thanks so much for all those who take the time to read this, and holler at me with any news you may have on YOUR problems, I'd love to do an article with some ideas on how to fix 'em.

Writing quote of the day:

"Most things good for writing are bad for life. “May your life be not very good material” is a blessing I offer students." —Lorrie Moore

Have a great day and happy writing!

Out of Balance -- Life and Writing

My life tends to be either very calm and boring, or very exciting and chaotic. Rarely do I make it to a nice, even middle.

When is it, do you think, that I do the most writing? Of course, it's when life is calm and boring. Whenever life gets chaotic, I don't have the time or health to write. Am I alone in that horrible trait: allowing your writing to fall to the wayside?

I believe that the truly successful writers are those who don't allow their writing to ever fall by the wayside. If only I could be one of them. Somehow, I have to find a way to make do with what I was given. This time, I'm determined to finish this book and get it published. But...my writing WILL fall away into unimportance when life gets hectic again.

I'd like to take this time to thank all those who took the time to encourage me to continue writing (I still shudder when I think of that Twilight/Harry Potter crossover fan-fiction) and to tell you I have gotten some writing done. Just not as much as I would wish. But progress is progress, right?

However, I have another plea. Am I the only one who finds the act of writing easy, but the work of writing hard? Once I sit down and write, the words flow like magic. It's the sitting down and writing that I have such trouble with. Sometimes, I am not mentally able to handle the work of it. Other times, I'm not physically able to sit in the chair for long hours. More often than not, I'm distracted by other problems. Does anyone know of a way to get work done every day, no matter what? To force myself to work?

My life is out of balance. Whenever my writing is doing well, my life sucks. Whenever my life is doing well, my writing sucks. Is there ever a way to make the see-saw level out?

Thanks for listening, and for any advice you may care to offer. Here's our beautiful writing quote of the day:

"Capture your reader, let him not depart, from dull beginnings that refuse to start." -- Horace

Happy writing!

Past Due

So, as many of you know, I had a tentative writing goal of finishing my first draft by July 31.

I did not succeed.

My next goal is for September 15, 2011. At that time, I desperately want that first draft complete. While it is true I have a third goal, a goal that absolutely MUST be met, set for December 31 of this year, it would be nice if I could make it by September 15.

Only problem? That's a little more than a month away and I am not even half-way through the first draft. I know I can do it, if I set my mind to it, but it won't be easy. Because of that fear of failure and the difficulty I am facing, I have a request of all of you who are kind enough to be reading this.

Can you give me your support?

I need you to needle me a bit, push me to get this work done. Even now, the current chapter I'm working on (oh, the depressing facts; it's Chapter 4) lies open on my computer. I just haven't written anything in it today. Or yesterday. Or the day before that. If I have any hope of meeting my next deadline, I'm going to need all the help I can get.

 

Writing quote of the day:

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." William James

Happy writing all and thanks for all your help!

Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of Fire! (Blog on Fire Award)

I have wonderful news! The beautiful, talented, and wonderfully kind artist's charm awarded me with the Blog on Fire award shortly before my recent short sabbatical from blogging. Thank you so much, Anna! I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to say anything, but life has been seriously crazy.

Plus, I went to the library. In fact, you'll find that many of my unscheduled sabbaticals from blogging stem from having visited the library. I truly love books that much.

Anyway, I have seven things about me to tell you again:

1.) I hate the smell and taste of alcohol. Even though I'm old enough to drink, legally, I haven't found many drinks that I like. Plenty I can tolerate, but none that I may enjoy.

2.) I love to sing and dance and act.

3.) I have a quite beautiful and powerful singing voice. Unfortunately, it fails me quite often on stage or in public. I have issues with being on stage as myself.

4.) I have acted parts in 2 plays, both musicals, and done spectacularly. My stage fright vanishes when I pretend to be a different person on stage.

5.) I dance okay. Not good or well, but okay. At least, my dancing isn't an embarrassment.

6.) I am allergic to the smell of cigarettes. They make my childhood asthma act up, and I feel as though I can't breathe whenever I'm around the smoke.

7.) I am a MAJOR procrastinator. I can procrastinate with the best of 'em, let me tell you.

And, as for the 5 people I'm passing it on to:

1.) Alice at Alice's Bucket List

2.) J. M. Dow at Obscurity and Competence

3.) Hazel at Pablo's Angel

4.) Stephanie at To Write a Better Story

5.) 3red at Everyday Adventures

Now, time for our writing quote:

"And all writing is creating or spinning dreams for other people so they won't have to bother doing it themselves." Beth Henley

 

Have a great day, and happy writing! Tune in next time for more of an update on my writing life.