So what am I doing about actually getting round to writing? Well not much. I am considering doing an on-line/remote course. I do find that these help me get writing again and maybe it's the push I need.
The one I was considering is this one http://newyorkwritersworkshop.com/newest-nyww-online-course-beginnings2, which was recommended by a certain marine animal's blog. Of course she uses her real name nowadays, but, in general, her advice shouldn't be ignored.
I can't do the Skype version (well I could but I wouldn't get much sleep), but they do have the recorded version. I'm in 2 minds at the moment as it's still a lot of money. Time to weigh the benefits versus costs. I'm too tired to make the decision straight away. I might make the right one, but it's better to wait until I'm fully conscious so I judge things a little better.
I just re-read that last statement and am wondering how true it really is...
Still I have a few days off work next week and an opportunity to buy some shoes. I've had a strong desire to buy shoes for a few weeks now and have resisted. But I think it's time my resolve crumbled and I experience that fleeting moment of ecstasy, before the pain of having to actually walk in the shoes cuts in.
None of this has anything to do with writing. Time to take a nap.
Friday, 27 April 2012
Thursday, 26 April 2012
No writing
but I did make 2 marble bags for the children and I planted out the tomato, paprika and aubergine plants. By planting out, I mean I put them in larger pots in the greenhouse and set up the bamboo poles for the tomato plants. The plants aren't actually attached to the poles yet, but they will be.
We've just had the back garden redone and we moved the greenhouse. In fact we halved the size of the greenhouse and moved it so that it is against the girls' playhouse. We literally cut the greenhouse in half using metal cutters. Don't you just love thin aluminium framed greenhouses. And the girls' playhouse is the former brick hen house that dates from the twenties. It was in a dreadful state, but after clearing it out, rebuilding the back wall, plastering inside, painting the inside, completely renovating the roof (it was basically removed and replaced) and actually installing glass in the windows, it makes a large playhouse.
Anyway none of this has to do with writing, but it does have to do with doing things. I had broken the habit of doing things, not just at the weekend, but during the weekday evenings. I used to sit in my chair watching TV or reading from when I got home until I went to bed. I'm starting to change that. Little by little, I'm being to do things again. I might even finish the dress I'm making in the next month. I have to do the button holes at some point, and it's been a long time since I made one. I'm terrified.
Tomorrow I have an exam, so today I'm studying. There will be no other writing today. I was going to say no writing, but I just wrote not just this post, and another one for a different blog, so I have written today. Back to the studying. I have to pass.
We've just had the back garden redone and we moved the greenhouse. In fact we halved the size of the greenhouse and moved it so that it is against the girls' playhouse. We literally cut the greenhouse in half using metal cutters. Don't you just love thin aluminium framed greenhouses. And the girls' playhouse is the former brick hen house that dates from the twenties. It was in a dreadful state, but after clearing it out, rebuilding the back wall, plastering inside, painting the inside, completely renovating the roof (it was basically removed and replaced) and actually installing glass in the windows, it makes a large playhouse.
Anyway none of this has to do with writing, but it does have to do with doing things. I had broken the habit of doing things, not just at the weekend, but during the weekday evenings. I used to sit in my chair watching TV or reading from when I got home until I went to bed. I'm starting to change that. Little by little, I'm being to do things again. I might even finish the dress I'm making in the next month. I have to do the button holes at some point, and it's been a long time since I made one. I'm terrified.
Tomorrow I have an exam, so today I'm studying. There will be no other writing today. I was going to say no writing, but I just wrote not just this post, and another one for a different blog, so I have written today. Back to the studying. I have to pass.
Monday, 23 April 2012
Posting
I did mean to post at the weekend, but it never happened. I spent my entire Saturday running errands and Sunday recovering from Saturday. I did start to clean up my desktop computer. This isn't helping, because I have to check/try out everything before I delete it...I wouldn't want to get rid of something important.
OK, so I'm just wasting time, which is never a good idea. I am making some progress, but it's slow and not very steady. I did do other things too. Like finishing off the second arm of the dress I'm making and tacking both arms in place.
I am going to start doing things in the evening too. I need to make a simple, draw-string bag, which should only take one evening to complete and will make someone very happy. That's scheduled for tonight. I have no idea if we have any string in, but the rest I can do.
Of course none of this has anything to do with writing, but it is progress. If I can start doing more things, I will start finding time for writing too. At the moment I find ways of not doing anything, therefore I feel less guilty about not writing. If I'm doing stuff, I'll end up writing again. At least that's what I think will happen...
OK, so I'm just wasting time, which is never a good idea. I am making some progress, but it's slow and not very steady. I did do other things too. Like finishing off the second arm of the dress I'm making and tacking both arms in place.
I am going to start doing things in the evening too. I need to make a simple, draw-string bag, which should only take one evening to complete and will make someone very happy. That's scheduled for tonight. I have no idea if we have any string in, but the rest I can do.
Of course none of this has anything to do with writing, but it is progress. If I can start doing more things, I will start finding time for writing too. At the moment I find ways of not doing anything, therefore I feel less guilty about not writing. If I'm doing stuff, I'll end up writing again. At least that's what I think will happen...
Friday, 20 April 2012
It's hard
I have been ready to submit my short story for some time now, but I just haven't been able to press the send button. I thought that this would be the easy part. The story is written and re-written and review and edited. Somehow I just can't do it.
I'm worried it will be accepted. Sounds weird I know, you're supposed to worry about being rejected, but if it's accepted that means I really can write. I no longer have an excuse not to take my writing seriously, because someone else out there agrees there's something good in what I write.
Stupid isn't it.
However I've also made a few decisions. First I want to quit my job. I'm not going to do it immediately, but I will start looking at other jobs and opportunities. I'm not sure a full-time, nine-to-five job is really for me anymore, though the paycheck comes in very handy. So I'm also going to look at alternative ways of earning money.
Like through writing or translation or maybe a web shop, which has nothing to do with the previous two options, but it is considerably different from anything I do now. Of course this means I need to start pressing the submit button. I feel sick at the thought, but the sooner I do so, the sooner I'll know if it's a viable option or not.
If it isn't, then I still write and take part in NaNoWriMo. I'm not going to stop. I'll probably even still submit, if I get over my fear, every now and then, but I'll concentrate on other ways to make a living. And, yes, I need to earn money.
We've been a to income family for a long time now and we chose that route deliberately. We love old houses, so we bought one. But it takes a lot of time and money, however we have no intention of selling up to buy something modern and easy to maintain, that just isn't us. Old house and old cars are our passion and I just have to find another way to pay for them.
My job isn't such that I have to quit either for my health or sanity, but I'm just not enjoying it as much as I should be and I have no enthusiasm, which is beginning to show. I know it's time to move on. So now is the time to put effort into the writing and submitting process as well as look at other avenues. Maybe I'll get lucky and find the perfect job...
I'm worried it will be accepted. Sounds weird I know, you're supposed to worry about being rejected, but if it's accepted that means I really can write. I no longer have an excuse not to take my writing seriously, because someone else out there agrees there's something good in what I write.
Stupid isn't it.
However I've also made a few decisions. First I want to quit my job. I'm not going to do it immediately, but I will start looking at other jobs and opportunities. I'm not sure a full-time, nine-to-five job is really for me anymore, though the paycheck comes in very handy. So I'm also going to look at alternative ways of earning money.
Like through writing or translation or maybe a web shop, which has nothing to do with the previous two options, but it is considerably different from anything I do now. Of course this means I need to start pressing the submit button. I feel sick at the thought, but the sooner I do so, the sooner I'll know if it's a viable option or not.
If it isn't, then I still write and take part in NaNoWriMo. I'm not going to stop. I'll probably even still submit, if I get over my fear, every now and then, but I'll concentrate on other ways to make a living. And, yes, I need to earn money.
We've been a to income family for a long time now and we chose that route deliberately. We love old houses, so we bought one. But it takes a lot of time and money, however we have no intention of selling up to buy something modern and easy to maintain, that just isn't us. Old house and old cars are our passion and I just have to find another way to pay for them.
My job isn't such that I have to quit either for my health or sanity, but I'm just not enjoying it as much as I should be and I have no enthusiasm, which is beginning to show. I know it's time to move on. So now is the time to put effort into the writing and submitting process as well as look at other avenues. Maybe I'll get lucky and find the perfect job...
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