1. I am surrounded by deadlines and none of them have to do with fiction, well, unless you count the class I am taking starting Monday in which it appears the teacher is actually expecting a lot of hard work from us. This will be good for me even as deadlines close in one me like those walls in a bad sci-fi movie that threaten to squish me.
2. I met a new plant friend today, from the local native plant listserve. She came over to see what plants in my garden looked like in the dead heat of a California summer and we ended up talking for two lovely hours. It was wonderful to see my garden through her eyes, mistakes and all, and just to talk about native plants. What pleased me especially is that we walked from the front courtyard, down dogwood ally, to the glider in the backyard and it felt like a natural stopping point. Then we wandered the path the rest of the way until we reach the corner of the patio, my favorite spot. And it felt right, like the seating areas were in the right places.
3. The more I work on Flyboy the less I feel like I know what I am doing. Every sentence sounds boring and trite and the plot sounds too convoluted or maybe just way too busy and all my people feel the same. I hate this part of the writing business. I know to just plod on through and that’s what I’m doing and I need to remember that I go through this phase with every book but it doesn’t make it any easier.
4. I remember in my 20s when my kids were young and I could balance a multitude of projects at the same time. In my 50s now I realize I can’t do that anymore. It makes me crazy and then nothing gets done. It’s hard sometimes with all the internet noise, hearing what so many people are doing, especially the younger ones, but I need to let that go and recognize in this stage of my life less really is more.
5. I am still planning on starting a local writer’s meet-up. Really.
3. I’m right there with you. Plodding through.
4. I so relate! I can’t balance like I used to either and I’m learning to adjust priorities.
5. Have fun!
Yes, what is it with the balancing thing? I used to wobble back and forth but didn’t feel so out of control. I thought it would get easier once the kids were out on their own but I’m worse than before.
It’s getting harder for me to strike a healthy balance between need- and want-to-do, as well. The spirit is willing, but…well, you know the rest. š
Plod (and plot) away…FLYBOY will take wing before you know it!
Yes, I don’t know what the answer is on the balance thing. Sigh.
I appreciate your support of Flyboy.
I hear ya.
No easy answers anywhere, are there?
So glad about the plant friend. We need people for all our communities.
And boy do I know that plod feeling–you’re right, it’s miserable. And has to be done.
Well the plant friend was nice for the day but I don’t know that it is a repeat thing, ya know? But you’re right. We need people for all our communities.
Plod. Plod. Plod.
And you are off in Chicago right now and I am thinking good thoughts for you.
It’s soooooooo easy to compare ourselves to others in this business.
I’m constantly reminding myself it’s okay to be me and to write what I write.
Here’s hoping you and FlyBoy fly.
Yes, I do way way way too much comparing. Hard habit to break but I am trying.
Susan, I could’ve written exactly what you said in number 3. I’m TRYING to write my first novel in verse. I’ve always stuck to stand alone poems and other short works so this is a challenge I often think of giving up on. Will anyone ever want to read it IF I can find a publisher IF I can ever finish it? Now school is about to start up again, and I feel like I haven’t accomplished all that I hoped to.
By the way, Hugging the Rock is fantastic. I’ve recommended it to several of my middle school students, and they loved it too! You did it then, you’ll do it again. I’m cheering for for: Write, Susan, Write!
You mentioned an online writing course. Do you mind sharing more about that? I love taking writing classes, and I think it would help me to get involved in one. Linda from WriteTime.
Thank you, Linda, for the kind words about Hugging the Rock. I appreciate the vote of confidence.
Good luck on your own novel in verse! Word by word, you can get there.
Oh I took a great class from Penn Writers with Nancy Martin on writing the character driven book and I am taking one now from Jordan Rosenfeld on scenes. I’ll do a post about both of them. I am finding them very good for me indeed!
Oh me too–I’m plodding along in the middle and doubting everything…ack!
Good luck with the class.
Plod. Doubt. Plod. Doubt.
If it were a dance it would not be pretty.
Well I am going to pick a day and just post in a few places, the writers group, bookstores, etc, that I will be there. I just need pick something like the second Thursday or something like that.