The Write Stuff

I've posted more than once about times I don't write when I should; about reading more about writing than I actually write sometimes.  So now I should let you know that I do write often enough to attain a modicum of success occasionally.

I'm very pleased that I've been offered the chance to write a column for ChristianWeek news magazine on a regular basis for a year.  I wrote a couple of columns for them recently and I guess they were the write stuff to meet their needs, because just yesterday I was offered a chance to take over the column on a regular basis until the next annual review of assignments and columns.  Of course, I accepted with pleasure.

A writer needs credentials, proof that she can meet deadlines, understand the market, and produce the copy that publications need.  I already write two columns on a weekly basis for my local newspaper; writing for ChristianWeek is a significant addition to my portfolio. 

And if I manage my time well, I'll continue to make progress with the novel.  It's coming along slowly but I have hopes of finishing it and getting it out there for my readers.  Hopefully, it will find a home in the category of "the write stuff" as well.

 And so it turns out that, despite how often I waste time when I could be writing, I am writing enough to make a little mark in the literary world.

Why Don't I Write?

Oh joy; I have an unexpected day off work.  I'm caught up with most chores and all my regular writing deadlines and I even have supper started for later.  Now I'm finally free to work on my novel.

So, why am I writing a blog post (apart from the fact that it's a commitment I've undertaken and should be considered a deadline also because you, my readers, can't be blamed for giving up on me if I don't post in a timely fashion)?  And just before I began this post, why did I check my email, read the on-line news (again), and play three games of Solitaire?

 I do know that I have the tendency to procrastinate, but it's usually related to things I don't care to do.  I'm supposedly keen to work on the novel and get the first draft finished so I can get started on revision and even look at ways to publish.  And I know that if I can just get myself started I will get involved and enjoy every minute of my process.  So why do I do absolutely everything else I can think of to avoid starting?  I have some theories:

1. I'm unsure that the novel is any good and that makes it harder to plant my bottom in this chair and stay here until I'm engaged in it.  That's about my lack of confidence.

2. I'm afraid that no one will want to read it ... oh, that's about lack of confidence, too.

3. It's not in the "modern" style, and I wonder if I'll find a market for it.  After all, the aim of writing is to communicate with readers, so I do want it to be read.  And, considering how much effort has to go into this project, I'd like to make a little money at it, too.  But who's going to want to buy it?  Oh... lack of confidence again!

4. The novel is already beginning to feel like my "baby" and I'm anxious about sharing it with the rest of the world because they might abuse it and ... okay, I think I'm heading for lack of confidence again.

I could go on but I can already see that it all comes down to the same thing.  So, maybe I'm writing ( and procrastinating) for the wrong reasons.  Maybe I should make an effort to set all those future possibilities aside and write merely because I want to, because I like writing, because I have something to say, and because I want to see what happens next to my characters.

 Maybe I just talked myself into it.  Okay, I have to go write now!
  

An Ounce of Prevention...

What a storm we had on the weekend!  Mother Nature threw everything she had at us hurling 20 centimeters of snow in 60 to 70 kilometer an hour winds. And the end result was winter beauty and hours of snow-clearing work for "the squire."

Here's the "before" shot.

 This time we were well prepared for the lengthy power failure that usually accompanies such a weather event here at the end of my country mile.  We are surrounded by so many tall trees that it seems almost inevitable that at least one, and usually several, will come down on a power line.  So, on Friday we filled pails with water for manually flushing the toilets, had clean drinking water in the fridge, cooked extra food, got out the flashlights and candles, and then ...

And the "after" shot

No power failure!  Hours of snow-clearing work, indeed, but no power failure. I can hardly believe it.  What I do believe, however, is that if we'd said, "Nah, it won't happen again," and ignored the need for preparations, we'd likely have broken our previous 28 hour record for time without power.  Go figure!

Just Checking In...

Ahhh ... the weekend is nearly here.  For me, after four extra-long days of work, the weekend is already here.  I had a day of case consultations planned at head office in the city for tomorrow but it was cancelled because of an approaching winter storm.  I feel like a teenager who just realized that she's getting a snow-day off school tomorrow.  And so I don't really mind the idea of a storm too much.

The view out my sun room window the day after the October, 2012 storm.

The only trouble is the last time we had a winter storm, we ended up with twenty-eight hours of no power, no phone access, no Internet and many of our trees  breaking from the high winds and the weight of all the wet snow on the pines' top branches.  Of course, on my country mile, losing power isn't all that unusual, as many weather events can bring down trees and all our power lines are all near trees.  But twenty-eight hours was a little much.

Worst of all was having no way to flush toilets (need power for the pump) and dealing with those needs for twenty-eight hours.  This storm happened in early October, so it was unseasonably early and caught us off-guard.  This time we are a little more prepared and have some strategies ready for doing things differently.  But bathroom issues are .... still bathroom issues.

So, I'm all ready for a storm-bound weekend but I'm really hoping we won't lose power, mainly so that we won't have to do the alternative bathroom arrangements again.  And, ideally, I need enough power to do some work on the computer, if I'm going to live up to my resolution of writing 5000 words a week.  But I guess it wouldn't be too terrible to have to spend a whole weekend reading, writing the old-fashioned way, playing games, and relaxing.

I Resolve...

Happy New Year to all my readers.  Here's wishing you success, prosperity, and the desire to share your good fortune with others in 2013.

And so it has begun ... a brand new year.  The year is all of one week old and I wonder how many people have already given up on their New Year's resolutions.  I know I haven't ... simply because I chose them only yesterday.

I've been reading a little about resolutions lately and much of the material suggests that January 1st is not the best day to choose the ways we we're going to improve ourselves or change the way we live.  The reason is that we're likely to have celebrated a little too enthusiastically the night before, or have eaten or drunk too much in the whole of the holiday season and on January 1 we're often overwhelmed with guilt and the strong desire to undo the effects as soon as possible.  And so we're likely to choose unreasonable and unattainable goals that we can't possibly sustain for any length of time.

After a few days reflection and recuperation from any holiday excesses, we're much more likely to choose changes that we can sustain over time, especially if we're wanting to change habits that impact our physical health.  On January  1 we might say, "I must diet, exercise an hour every day, and lose twenty pounds as soon as possible."  A week later the chances are greater that we'll be able to say, "I want to eat healthier, exercise more, and feel better ... and I have a plan for how I'll do it."

So I waited and pondered and waited and pondered some more and finally I made my choices:

1. I  resolve to get back on the diet that worked for me last year so that I can feel as healthy as I did then when I was eating such healthy foods.

2. I resolve to exercise a little more this year because I deserve to have a stronger body.

3. I resolve to write more, at least 5000 words a week, and to seek out more markets for my work.

4. I resolve to work harder at my job with a view to working fewer (but longer) days each week, so that I can have more time to write and read and do the things I never seem to have enough time for, like spending time with friends and family.

5. I resolve to forgive myself and start again when I fail to live up to these resolutions because I know that it takes time to change habits and I'm worth the effort.

Resolutions are, of course, only the first step and are only as good as the actions we take to follow through on them.  I've done one day and so far ... so good.