Getting Back on Track

It's been some weeks since I last worked on my manuscript. What blocked me? Me! I got too tired or too busy to find the time to sit down and create.

Yes, I was taking care of my son after his surgery. However, that didn't stop me from working, There were many occasions I could find to slip away for an hour or so to set up my computer and get down to business.

The change happened when even that schedule was interrupted when we went to Tennessee. Staying in a hotel room with 4 adults, and all my son's medical paraphernalia cluttering any flat surface, it was hard to work. Also, we were at a conference, so there were many people we knew and visited with. Needless to say, I was very busy, just not on my manuscript.

Once we arrived home, it's been difficult to get back to normal. Only home two weeks, and was off again for a post-surgical visit in Delaware. Have been home a week now, and really need to get back to my manuscript. It's nagging me and making me cranky. (Of course, if you call me on that, I'll deny everything! :D)

So, to get started, I put myself on the roster for reader at TWRP. I do need to finish that prelim tonight! After that, I'll bring a notebook with me tomorrow when I take my daughter to Stonybrook near Dansville for a few hours with her friend. I can insert a few chapters to my working story. It's taken a different direction right now, so I need to see where it's going to take me.

Here I am again

First off, yes I've been writing, but slowly and sporadically. My story has turned this way and that, but I have maintain my original idea, just my characters have become younger and younger. Throughout this process I have found my voice, my thoughts and myself... now I must write my story. I'm going back to what I found works through the Warrior Writer by Bob Mayer. Starting August 2nd, I am dedicating 1000 words per day to myself. I know I can do it, have done it. Now is retraining myself to do it.

The only person I can truly let down is myself, this time it won't happen. Time carved out is hard when balancing family, kids and life, especially when there is no cash flow, but when it is something that your passionate about, it comes down to just doing it. So here it goes, five months into my journey of writing a successful novel has come down to six months. Six months to have it query and submission ready. At least I know the story line, the characters, the quirks, now I must write the day to day words. I must be a warrior writer. I have my goal, the process. It's on me to get it accomplished.

I know I have say it time and time again, but this time. I will finish this book, Sometimes a Witch. 

Some accepted truths just need to be looked at differently.

A linguistics professor was lecturing to his class one day. "In English," he said, "a double negative forms a positive. In some languages though, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However," he pointed out, "there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative."

A voice from the back of the room piped up "Yeah, right."

To Share or Not to Share

Recently was reminded of the fragility of peace on open public forums. I posted a new profile picture with the lyrics of a song as the caption. Was it unfitting for someone my age? I didn't think so.

We have to remember when we participate in such public forums everything we post, whether it be pictures, links or words, it's there for all to see and comment on. One negative comment was posted and all my other 'friends' jumped all over the person. So NOT the intention of posting the picture.

So what has this meant to me? Do I need to think more carefully about what I'm going to post? Maybe. Is this incident serious enough to really worry about? I don't know. I'm upset my friends are at odds over it, but the act itself was an innocent way of celebrating my weight loss and being able to be happy to have pictures of myself seen again.

I would like to know your opinion. Should we be more careful of what we post, or am I'm worrying over nothing?

Home Sweet Home

Those words never meant more to me than they do now. I've been away from home almost as long as I was two years ago, but it will be even longer when we head off to a conference. What does this mean to me?

All those little things I was able to do without preparation are a luxury right now. Everything I do has to be scheduled around strut turns, medication times and mobility availability. Taking everyday life for granted is no more. The care and attention my son, Stephen, needs is more important than anything frivolous, unnecessary trip or errand I want to take.

That's right. I said 'want.' All those little trips to Walmart, Goodwill or the mall were essentially frivolous. There was nothing I really needed, or wanted even, to necessitate the frequent trips. They were all reasons to get out of the house.

I've been 'out-of-the-house' for over a month and will be out for another ten days or so. Yes, we do come home today, but only for 24-36 hours. Then it's load up the car for four people to stay in a hotel for ten days, travel for fourteen days. There's no room in the van now for two of us, with the wheelchair and all the paraphernalia we've accumulated to care for Stephen in the last month.

I miss my meetings, my friends, even work. I miss work because it gave me a place to be without family, yet still be out in the world for a more constructive purpose. This summer will be less enjoyable without being able to do all this, unless I learn to accept my life as it is now and embrace all the quality moments with my family.