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Apologies

Hello! It’s been a while since I did a post. A lot longer than it should have been if I am honest. Shit happens though.

After spending most of April sick with various things, I’ve struggled to get back on top of things. My energy has been an all time low, and my moods have been wonky to boot, too. It wasn’t helped by the continually rainy weather, and the lack of time the day seems to hold. My growing to-do list was the final straw on this camel’s back.

So….

Today, Andrew and I cleaned the house from top to bottom. Fur covered everything as did dust, and dirty paw/foot prints, too. I guess that’s what happens when you drop the ball on cleaning, and your husband has no idea how to do it without you.

It got done though!

The slump I’ve been in is slowly dissipating, and getting the house all sorted was exactly what I needed to get back on top. However, I wouldn’t have been able to do it this weekend if my sister hadn’t helped me start working out again. Doing yoga every day, and holding each other accountable, has been the cherry on top. I’m sore from it, but progress is pain!

Tomorrow, we’ll be doing a few other things in the backyard in time for true spring/summer to arrive! Putting up some solar lights for ambience (and functionality so our dogs don’t get sprayed by skunks), and prepping the veggie garden. We’ll empty some of the pots of the old plants from last year since pick up of yard work stuff is this week.

The big thing I’m excited about though, is this Tuesday! My reader is done double checking my new sections of my book, and I can start editing/revising it again! YAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!

Full disclosure, she finished it last weekend, but multiple appointments for my mom, husband, and myself kept me from getting started on it. (Plus the aforementioned slump). But I’m starting it this week and I can’t wait!

Tonight, I’m treating myself to a girls’ night in with my mom, a friend, and my future sister-in-law! I might even have a true drink! Who knows?!

Anyways, I’m feeling more energetic, happy, and just in general better so hopefully I’ll be posting more!

Take care of yourselves!

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Reading: All I’m Doing Today

Since I’ve finished my book for the moment, I’m taking the day ‘off’, and going to read. I haven’t done much reading and it is definitely essential if you want to write. So… I need to catch up on it.

Honestly, I might take a break or two from reading and knit or draw. Perhaps find an interesting writing prompt and attempt a short story. Who knows?

What I do know is, my book is on pause before I reread it and check the new details/sections/etc that I added. Better to do that when it isn’t so fresh in the mind. (Damn autocorrect in our brains!) Reading someone else’s work should help me get my own story out of my mind for when I need to check it again, too.

The background noise will be rotation of almost pure silence, a black cat frequently meowing, and snoring, dreaming dogs. Perhaps some music at points, too!

That”s all for today! Hope you guys are running towards your goals and achieving them too!

A writer is a reader who is moved to emulation. ~ Saul Bellow

 

Writing Schedule: My Attempt

After some hard googling, looking at examples, and a firm talk to myself…. I think I have created a workable writing schedule for myself! It will probably adapt as I figure out what works best for me, but this is a good starting point.

Here is what it looks like:

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I have four hours of solid writing time, three hours reading, two hours exercise including rest and snack, and one hour TV watching. I’ve built in relax time too (which is usually TV watching, too, but can be doing stuff around the house).

Since we spent the weekend away with Andrew’s family, I didn’t start this Monday or even today. I am going to push myself to abandon my dream land and get a start on the day bright and early. It may seem like 4am is a very early time (it fricken is), but it will help my husband get to work earlier. That will help us both out.

Realistically, if I get bit by the writing bug and NEED to keep writing (known to happen), I will do so. If I wake up at 2:30am needing to work on my book (has happened, too) then I will do so. My writing and reading trump (almost) everything else and will be given priority.

However since I have been having issues incorporating both into my day to day life, this should force me into high gear on both. It will also give me things to write about for my blog since I plan on focusing on writing and reading on here, too. (Other topics may be touched upon now and then, but not weekly).

Wish me luck, followers!

Forging Ahead: Alarm Clocks and My Word Count

Managed to get up at 5am again, but I will admit I hit the snooze button once. Like most people these days (I think), I use my cellphone as my alarm clock, and utilize the most annoying songs to wake up to: Meow Mix and I’m a Gummy Bear, respectively. While they wake me, they don’t force me to get up, and thus I downloaded an alarm app.

It has been… a work in progress.

It’s called Zelda Alarm (I do love The Legend of Zelda games), and I can choose songs from the various games to use. I currently use Deku Nuts Palace from Majora’s Mask, and it wakes me up even when I’m past the exhausted point. It makes me press keys to replicate the six note ocarina songs, forcing cognitive functioning right away.

My only complaint is it only seems to have two songs, and I’d love for that to change soon! But if you struggle to get up like I do, it has helped (plus putting my phone further from my immediate reach).

On to a different subject now, I was pretty tired after yesterday’s shoveling, and my word count was under half of the day before it. My word count was 551, but at least its something, right? Small steps are just as important as the big ones. Lack of sleep and winter were not my friends, and I forgive myself for it.

Today, I forge ahead despite yesterday’s failings.

I do need some advice, if any are willing to share. What are ways you take breaks from writing  (or whatever activity, chore, etc) that don’t keep you from returning to writing (or whatever activity, chore, etc)?

Usually, I find a show with short episodes, and try to just watch one which equals a 20-minute break. It’s easy to keep on point at the start, but once I get into the show, I’d rather watch it than write (sadly). I worry reading will end up the same way, too, and playing games on my phone does get me quite off track.

Part of me wants to try just walking on the treadmill for a period of time, but I think I will get bored of doing that, so I’m open to suggestions!

A Sad Face

For the past few days, I have been obsessed with drawing a pair of interesting eyes, and the other day I toyed around a bit. I love my eye (minus the eyelashes), and I gave it a home on a female face. Lips, nose, hair, the lot.

Now it isn’t finished. I am probably going to keep playing around with it, maybe add colour. Ultimately I don’t know exactly what its final form will be, but I know I will enjoy getting it there.

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I am sure my proportions are off, but I’m trying. That’s gotta count for something, right?

Along side this, I am trying to figure out a logo for my blog, which I am thinking will include water colours.

Still writing though I need to grow in that arena, somehow. Take a step back from poems, and try a short story? Or something. We’ll see where my mind takes me.

It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default. ~ J. K. Rowling

 

P.S. While I am still reading A Game of Thrones, I have picked up a self-help book (yeah, I know) called The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. Andrew said I needed it, and I guess we’ll see if he’s right.

2019: My Year of Change

It is the start of a new year, and I felt I should share some things. Make myself accountable to myself and the eyes of others.

To start with, I shared my book with a few individuals, and I am waiting on one to finish the last twelve chapters before getting her notes. I have received very good feedback, and believe most of it will improve my book. They definitely will add more thrills to the story line, and chances to connect with the characters. *fingers crossed*

I have to say it is great to be writing on here everyday (almost), and working more on my manuscript. Also, picking up books, and actually reading the amount I used to has been great too. I hope to query more literary agents in 2019 while both writing and reading to grow myself and my ‘craft’. Over the past few weeks, I have accumulated a variety of works by different authors to challenge myself in that regard.

January is always an interesting month for me, I find. Not only is it the changing of the year and the beginning of new dawns, but it is also my birth month. I will be turning 27 in eighteen days, and I have struggled with my age for a few years now. Growing baby pressure (from family and myself), a need to move from the house my husband and I have outgrown, and the fact that I feel I am stepping backwards in life make it tough to think “age is just a number.”

However, I am GOING to change that thinking this year. Too often I let the voices of others outweigh my own, and it isn’t fair to me or to them. They don’t get to see who I truly am, and I torture myself to fit their molds. I may be loud, boisterous, and absolutely abnormal, but there is nothing wrong with that or me. I may be crude, overly honest, and share too much about myself (before I get to know you), but that is who I am. I am not going to be ashamed or apologize for it anymore.

This year, I am going to fight for a healthy me, in mind, spirit, and body. I am going to continue pursuing my dreams of being a writer, and make it happen. This is the time to put energy towards projects, and make them a reality! I have no one to blame, but myself if it doesn’t come true, after all.

I know plenty of people are posting this kind of ‘shit’, but it is a way to air out the old and grasp the new we want for ourselves. Rejoice in who you are now, and make the changes you need to to be happy. That is what we owe ourselves and those who spend time with us. Denying our truths not only denies others our true spirits, but an amazing freedom we all have the right to experience in our lives.

So, to be one of those people, here is the sum of my resolutions for 2019:

  1. Eat better and exercise to become a happier, less negativity person
  2. Read more (outside the box), and write more (outside the box)
  3. Keep trying to get representation for my manuscript (also look into self publishing)
  4. Keep active on my blog, and learn from those on here
  5. Craft more too!

I know resolutions can be cheesy, and many die before the end of January, but this year is gonna be my bitch! (To put it bluntly). There’s a fire in me, and I am fanning the flames, and keeping it burning!

I hope this year is everything you want/need it to be! Remember, treat yourself and others kindly!

Just write everyday of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers. ~ Ray Bradbury

 

P.S. I am going to be listening to High Hopes by Panic! at the Disco on my rougher days to keep myself inspired. Any songs you think would benefit me on low energy, depressing, or just tragic days, share them! I will also takes motivating/inspire/truthful quotes, too!