Somehow it’s the middle of April already. I have progressed, and I’m happy with that progress, but it’s been a bit of a blur.
Did you know I’m doing a 10k stream on Saturday?
It’s on YOUTUBE from 10AM (Central US) until I hit 10K. If you’d like to be part of the stream, let me know.
I’m playing catchup in a different way this week, and I’m looking forward to the designated writing time.
I’ve been really busy the past few weeks, so I’m looking forward to the rest and a chance to get back to those projects I’m really excited about. Those would be the courses, short stories, and job hunting.
It can be easy to give up or reschedule your creative time when so much from the outside world is crowding in.
How do you protect your writing time?
I’ve rededicated Tuesday nights and Friday afternoons to my creative work. I want to do more and make more space to grow as an artist. When I can, I will dedicate the full day both days. It’s almost like a week off because the work is so much fun.
Speaking of which, the CREATIVE COLLECTIVE meets again this week. Contact me for the Zoom link.
CURRENT WORD COUNT: 11,246
ppsssssstt…..
Have you read my book?
If not, never fear, I have a PROMO for you. I’m selling my stock (that means order from me directly and pay me shipping) for a reduced price for the entire month of MAY. If you want a paper copy of GOODBYE or LUKE, signed or in bulk, you can purchase them from me for the price of the EBOOK.
That’s roughly 50% off
Let me know how many copies, if and how you want them signed, and where to send them by MAY 31st.
CAMP NANOWRIMO is a little more flexible on the goals front, and I started by saying I would edit my short story collection.
Since then, I’ve changed my mind and decided I need to write more. It’s been several months (last November) since I opened the floodgates and let whatever out. This time I am doing so in a controlled environment, i.e., the format of the stories and the time frame of Camp.
In other words, I’m writing whatever comes to mind as much and as often as possible for the next 30 days.
I do hope I come up with something good. Some of the short stories need to be fleshed out. I hope to add roughly 25k to the manuscript. It’s ok if I don’t make it; the point is to do the thing.
At this point, I’m just noodling on ideas, trying to get 1k words a day. I made it on Day 1 and had zero words Day 2. Day 3 I hit 1500 or so and Day 4 so far has a few hundred.
I’m doing things like coming up with last names, filling out the cast of characters and setting notes, and brainstorming plot points. Some of this may end up in the final manuscript as colorful extras, while most of it is probably destined for the trash heap.
I don’t let that discourage me.
It takes lots and lots of words to make a novel-length manuscript. Not all of them are going to make it.
If you want to write with me, check out my YOUTUBE streams on Tuesday evenings and Friday mornings.
I’m also doing a MUDDY MIDDLE stream on April 15th to write 10k in a day.
All the planning I did so I wouldn’t run out of content, while certainly not for naught, nevertheless does not help me when I just don’t feel like writing.
I hope this weekend will get me in the mood.
What used to be the World Wide Writeathon is now the Storytellers’ Hearth, and it’s happening THIS WEEKEND.
If you want the inside story, check out the STORYTELLERS’ HEARTH. I’ve posted the schedule below.
I’m not hosting this time…too much going on…but I will be in the chats on many, many streams.
I hope to see you there.
I’ll be working on my short story collection…trying to figure out which stories need to be added to or just plain deleted. We shall see. I hope it will be an inspiring weekend around a bunch of other writers who all love doing the same thing I do. The internet makes some pretty amazing things possible.
If that sounds like fun, I hope you will join, but don’t forget I do two live writing streams a week on YOUTUBE.
What are you working on this week and how is your motivation?
The most difficult part of telling a story is deciding where to begin.
“The beginning” is always a safe bet unless you know how long my stories can be.
“Start Somewhere” is another bit of conventional wisdom that I often find just as baffling as it is helpful until I remember that ‘here’ is ‘somewhere’ too.
So. Here it is. And it just so happens that Here feels like (yet another) beginning of sorts. Starting Over.
The most difficult part of starting over is remembering all the ways you screwed up the last (four or five) time(s) you began and trying not to do that again. But screwing up is part of starting anything. It’s part of learning.
So, of all the stories I thought I would tell, it turns out the only cohesive one I’ve got right now is about how I’m trying to start over, trying to screw up, trying to NOT screw up (as much or again), and trying to be ok with a certain amount of screwing up. And it’s not much of a story.
This is hard. Everything I’m starting, everything I’m remembering, doing my best, and trying to give myself grace when my best is not good enough—it’s all hard.
I keep telling myself it will get easier. Some of it. Maybe all of it. Until then, this is what I’ve got.
It’s my BIRTHDAY month and the beginning of spring when I start to feel better and more hopeful about life. It’s the lead-up to Easter and the end of Lent. Everything is blooming and beautiful, the weather has started to warm, and everything is just looking up.
That’s enough to celebrate right now. The fact that I am here and that I keep on keeping on. If you’re in the same boat, LET ME KNOW, and we can encourage each other.
Speaking of Encouragement…
Have you voted on the CREATIVE COLLECTIVE time? If not, that’s ok. Here’s a link to the FORM.
I can’t wait to get started with you. See you soon.
I’m still struggling, but I am celebrating creativity this month and hoping you’ll join me.
What is creativity, and how do we use it?
I believe we are all creative beings, but some of us are gifted creatively in ways others are not. We have unlimited creative possibilities, but we may be weaker in certain more practical areas, such as accountability.
This is what I’m striving to achieve: A community where we can benefit each other by working together.
Let me know your strengths and what you’re trying to achieve
Let me know your weaknesses and where you’d like to improve.
This is a completely free opportunity to join a collective of other creators.
If it’s not depressing for you, feel free to scroll to the cool story at the bottom.
For the rest of you, I feel you.
It’s not about being alone or even the hyperawareness of being alone. It’s the FOMO of another, better life. Any life that isn’t yours. Here’s the thing: if you continue looking outward, you will continue to want more.
When you see all those couples getting dressed up, going out, eating expensive meals, or basking in their flowers or jewelry on social media, remember this: it’s all an act.
We all pose to record a perfect moment, even if it’s anything but. We all go through the motions to make ourselves feel better, whether we should or not.
This year, let’s make a change. Instead of focusing outward on what other people are doing, let’s turn our love inward.
It’s just one day, after all.
Maybe buy yourself flowers or chocolate or a great big teddy bear. Whatever your little heart desires.
You can also treat yourself to 50% off my new courses.
Let’s make this holiday not about being with someone or being alone. Let’s make it about sharing love and encouragement with everyone.
This is to the best of my ability to recall, with a quick search on Google to make sure I wasn’t completely off base.
St. Valentine was in prison, probably the equivalent of death row, for crimes unknown (maybe marrying people, maybe spreading Christianity). He was housed in the dungeon. Whatever he had done was so bad they put this guy UNDER the jail.
The children that played on the streets would drop in letters of encouragement, which is where the tradition of valentine’s cards comes from. It could also be true that he was sending love notes from prison (from your Valentine), but from what I know of martyrs, I doubt that’s why he’s remembered.
Here’s my point:
What used to be about encouragement, even in the face of death, has become a lover’s play day. It’s not bad to celebrate Valentine’s day, and if anything, I think your loved ones should be celebrated more often, not less. This is not stomping on V day; this is a note of encouragement from me to you, whether you have a significant other or not: love yourself.
Take care of yourself. Treat yourself. Woo yourself. Whatever it means to you: Love yourself.
They listened to me (mostly), and I was not called a fraud. Here are my takeaways from the retreat:
I’m thankful (but we could all be more so) for the creative gift I have been given, and I will take on the responsibility of sharing it with the world.
I will toss fear and comparison to the curb because they do not serve me.
I will create space for my dreams and continue to dream the impossible
When we make space for creativity, creativity shows up for us. I’m living proof it’s true.
So whether you want to start a new writing routine or not, whether you consider yourself a creative or not, if you have a dream, it’s time to put it in front of your face and breathe life into it.
I’m so blessed I get to do what I love every day. Don’t you want to say the same?
If you’re thinking now is the time to start something, then CONTACT ME about beta testing my courses.
I have 3
LIVING WRITE is all about getting your routine under control. Whether you have some writing time or a lot of writing time, we will get you some space to create. Don’t think you’re exempt if you’re not a writer. Creative people of all stripes need a routine.
SKILL SCHOOL is grammar basics for writers. Even if you’re a seasoned writer, you may not know which rules you’re breaking (or how to do so with confidence). Beginner and Advanced writers welcome.
ENVISION is about creating a vision board and getting your dreams on paper. In order to create the life you love, you have to make space in some key areas. I help you eliminate the clutter and focus on the dream.
litewings.ink 