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Apr 12

Finding Balance

This week I’ve been thinking a lot about balance. As I said earlier, I went to the doctor and she encouraged me to get back to exercising now that I am almost fully recovered from surgery. I want to fit that in again, along with fiction writing and my regular stuff. But I’ve also been thinking about other aspects of my life that I’ve let fall to the wayside. There are friendships I don’t put enough time into, travel I’d like to do, spirituality I’d like to explore more, and a whole host of other aspects.

About 15 years ago, I heard Tom Wolfe speak about the writing life. He said one of the best things a writer could do was go out and live a life. Don’t just sit around and write. Go out and see the world. I remember him saying that. He felt that writers had become too insular, where they were only writing about themselves as writers and nothing more. A dangerous, slippery slope I hope one day to never fall down.

A full life, full of mundane and exciting stuff is what we should all aim for. I’m striving for that now. Not an easy thing. Sometimes I feel like I’m pulled in so many directions and other times I feel like the dullest person in the room. Maybe the answer is that I need to do what I can each day to feel like I’m living my best life. Some days that’s going to be binge watching TV. Other days it will be squeezing in a workout and one thousand words of new fiction. And some will be spending time with the family/friends. I don’t have to do everything everyday.

I have to focus on doing my best each day and keeping things interesting.

Apr 11

Finding the Time

Cherry trees have blossomed.

One thing posting everyday has taught me — I have time to write. Sometimes it feels like I have zero time. My day job has drained me, or I have plans that take me away from my desk all day. Most days, however, I have a few minutes to write.

Went to the doctor this week and she encouraged me to get back into regular exercise. I thought, When is that going to happen? After work, no that is writing time. It’s going to be first thing in the morning for now. Maybe later I’ll change them. I used to be a “write first thing in the morning and workout in the evening” person. We’ll see. I can always change if I think the routine isn’t working.

In the past, people have always said, “When I have time, I’ll write.”

I always respond with, “You’ll never have time to write. You have to make time.”

But you knew that didn’t you (if you are a fellow writer)? Now I’m learning that I have to make time for everything else. Heck, even my grand plan to watch all of the GOT episodes before the season premiere on Sunday went awry. Last Sunday, as I started, I didn’t realize that Killing Eve was having a marathon. So GOT went on the back burner, Sandra Oh needed me now. And that day I still had to fit in a blog post, writing, reading more my friend’s novel, and grocery shopping. And some folks have way, way more responsibilities than me (like kids or aging parents). We do the best we can by making time for the important stuff.

And this month long challenge reminded me that I do consider my writing important. That I can carve out time to write (even a few paragraphs a day) among the craziness of life. This is important to me and I can make time for it. Everyday.

Apr 10

A Little Experiment

One of my goals this year was to grow my blog viewership. So I’m trying a little experiment this month and posting every day. Some of my regular readers probably noticed this already. I went from barely posting once a month (if that) to posting everyday. So far, I’ve made it.

I did this not just to gain more followers, but also to challenge myself write more. Way, way back in 2001-2002, I wrote a column for an on-line site and posted twice a month. It was fun, but I left because 1)no pay and 2) took me away from my fiction. After a few years, I missed it and then I started this blog. While I kept writing here in spurts, I do want to get more regular. Hence, the challenge.

I know for sure this won’t be a regular, everyday thing. But I’m thinking in May I may scale back to twice a week. But for now I’m going to keep publishing a new post everyday in April. (Yes even when GOT and Endgame are released. I may write them early and schedule the post.)

 

 

 

 

Apr 9

Poetry Month 2019

April is National Poetry Month. As a writer, I think there is no better inspiration than reading or hearing some poetry before you write. It doesn’t have to be everyday. Once in a while will do. As I’ve said, I write bad poems, so no submitting for me. However, I still like being around poets and their writing.

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to attend the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival in Newark, NJ. Wow, so fun. I sat through so many readings from some of the best poets like Billy Collins, Kay Ryan, and Rita Dove. My mom was with me and snagged some autographs too. (I wasn’t so lucky. I went to see other poets read instead. Although I did snag Rita Dove signature when she came to the National Book Festival.) One of the best moments? Seeing all the people attending. If you think poetry is dead, go to a big festival with nothing but poets. They come out of the woodwork for these things. Sure it’s not like some other big writers, but the crowd was impressive.

So this month, take some time to enjoy some poetry. Go to a reading at your local bookseller, or write a couple of bad poems yourself. Either way, appreciate the art form and what it does for you.

Happy Reading!

Apr 8

The Stories We Tell

I’ve been thinking a lot about storytelling. I think it is because my novel hit a wall and I realized I have to rethink the story. I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’ve been trying different versions to see what works. So far I haven’t found anything I like.

I have other short stories that I’ve started and not finished. I could work on them too. Like I said before, one of my goals is to write 6 new short stories this year (along with a novel). So far I’ve finished one. We’re into the fourth month of the year, so I need to get going. I don’t want to wake up and it’s November and I haven’t done anything.

Watching TV sometimes help. As some critics have said, we are in a golden age of TV. (Anyone else ready for the final season of Game of Thrones?) There are so many shows on TV and different ways of telling a story. Last night was the season premiere of Killing Eve and I love the storytelling on that show. It unfolds with these unbelievable circumstances, but their actions are completely in tune with each character. I just love it. My guilty pleasure.Also I find more plot driven shows, help me see a beginning, middle and end. Seeing how the writers lead the viewers on an arch is becoming helpful.

I’ve also been rereading myths. Why do some people become heroes and others become villains? What makes them good? Why does the audience care about them?

These are all the questions I’ve been exploring to help me write. My main character in my novel has conflict, but I’m not sure why she is doing what she is doing. I don’t understand her motivation. I guess I don’t know her well enough. You’d think after years, I would know more. Just goes to show that characters are always changing and surprising you.

One thing is for sure. The more I think about this in my writing, the better my writing is going to get. I’m not much of a spontaneous writer. I always leave some room for surprise, but I don’t like to just write and see where it goes. Nope. Not that kind of writer. I like to know my stories well. I’ll memorize the passages and live in the character’s heads for a while. Then I can write the story, their story, the way it should be.

Apr 7

Rejections are Humming Along

I currently have 78 rejections with a few more currently out. I think I may hit 100 this year.

Four years ago I embarked on a 100 rejection challenge. I slacked off last year and didn’t really submit, but now that I’m back at it, I’m racking them up. To some this may seem like an act of self torture, but writers will understand. Racking up the rejections means you’re putting yourself and your work out there. Rejections mean you are trying. It means you are creating and asking the world to see you.

Also, submitting increases your chances of getting published. You won’t be published if you don’t submit. Can’t see your bylines if you don’t let the editors know about your work.

Put yourself out there. Submit. And rack up the rejections.

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