Hello 2017!

I realized the other day that I met my husband and we went on our first date in January 18 years ago.

15 years ago we were married.

14 years ago I had my first child.

12 years ago I graduated from college.

10 years ago I had my second child.

9 years ago I started writing and blogging and whining about my life.

5 years ago I finally got a job that used my degree and completed classes to keep it that way.

3 years ago my favorite writing site was taken down and replaced by another that is still getting up on it's feet. The writing friends I had slowly moved on with their lives as I moved on with mine.

It's time now to reverse the slow decline from this most precious part of me. I write because I am a writer.


My goals for 2017 include blogging more.

I'm going to work on fixing my Smashwords ebooks, working on my author pages on various sites, and streamlining my brand/platform.

It's a new year; the perfect time to learn more about the business of writing, myself through my writing, and renew bonds with old writing friends as well as make new ones. 

July Writing Challenge

It is July Novel Writing Month! Did you know? JulNoWriMo

I am taking this challenge to write 50,000 words in July. That's 1,667 words a day. More if I take a break on the 4th for Independence day, and the 5th for another celebration of Independence day. Single spaced, that's about 3 pages, even with dialogue.

In a WriMo, anything goes. Even if the writing is complete crap, count the words and move on. Word vomit can be cleaned up later. The goal is the finish line. The goal is to write The End and to like what you have done.

My last two posts on my writing resolutions and what holds me back are going to help fuel me through this.

Plus, it's my summer break and I am determined to reawaken my passion for writing and love what I do every day.

My first Writing Resolution was to finish what I start. I have started this writing challenge, and I will finish it! I'm sure it will fuel me to more blog posts, more time spent editing, and more projects finished. Then I can focus on accomplishing my next two writing goals. (Getting critiques and marketing)

As far as turning my stumbling blocks into stepping stones, I am tackling them in reverse order. I am no longer burdened for time (number 3). I have a story that I have outlined to be my muse (number 2). All I lack is a writing partner.

In this case, I take a sort of "If you build it, they will come" approach...

If I keep writing, blogging, and critiquing others, I will find a writing buddy. I will find a muse. If I go where the writers hang out, I will find somebody who is willing to take on my questions, inane ramblings, and enthusiasm for my story and reciprocate with advice, ideas, and laughter.

For now, though, it is back to the work-in-progress.

Writing Resolutions 2014

As far as my Writing Resolutions for this year, I have decided upon a few.

1. Finish what I start.

I have way too many little starts. Little starts are good. But finishing a story feels soooo good. I also have starts on editing multiple projects. Those need finished this year. I know this will take some more planning to be executed, however at this time, without knowing how demanding on my evening hours life and work will be, I feel good leaving this flexible.

2. Trade critiques with another writer.

I know how valuable this is. I won a writing competition because I had others critique my work and I listened to them to make it awesome. I am not ready to trade critiques this month, but I will do it when I feel ready. I will most likely go back to Critique Circle and begin working there.

3. Increase Marketing Platform

I'm not sure how or when I will work on this goal. I have to catch back up on the whole ebook market and look at my image (non-existant) and decide what I can do about it myself. Mostly, it is going to be to write and get things out there. Have things to promote.

NOTE:
I just updated my Sample Writing page here on the blog. Go ahead, click it. You will find the current project I am working on: expanding the ficly series based on a dream I had into something longer.

I am proud of what I have so far, but I am at a place where I need some outlining to flesh out my ideas into motives, morals, and the fibers that make up a good story. I don't even have many character names yet. They don't have past secrets, well, not that they have shown me yet. I have not yet fabricated the tangled webs that will piece together the story into an epic adventure.

They say if you can dream it...