Make-It Monday - New Directions

Fall marks a return for many to school, to a regular work schedule, and to the activities enjoyed in cooler weather. For me, that means it's back to martial arts and to a more rigorous and disciplined writing schedule.

It was nice to see my writer's group tonight. We talked about how everyone's summers went and what their goals for the year are including what each of us might work on during National Novel Writing Month in November.

One of the things we often ponder and discuss is how best to support each other, because that is a key reason for bothering with a writer's group. Not that it's the only reason, but it does help define group direction. There are all sorts of writing groups. Some push each other to reach their goals. Some just read and offer feedback. Some just get together to be around other humans.

Many writers find just having regular contact with other writers can be helpful for inspiration and for touching base with other people who get it.

Get what?

The life of a writer has many layers to it. So many people don't understand that writing isn't just a hobby for many, but a calling. Many of us couldn't stop writing if we wanted to. The pen beckons us to lay down the words as our characters lead us into discussions we might never have had with anyone otherwise. We take everything in around us and bleed onto the pages, screens, and anywhere else we can put the words because they will cut themselves out if we try to ignore them.

All this to say that I've always found fall brings a sort of fresh start. It's a time to figure out whether or not the direction I was heading is right for me at this time in my professional and personal life. I spent a lot of last year worrying about what time to publish my blog posts and trying to blog everyday because some articles said I should. Well, I'm done with what articles say I should do. I'm just going to write posts when it makes sense for me to. Lately I've felt like blogging has been cutting into my writing time and I think it's far more important for me to get some projects finished and out into the world for people to enjoy than to blather on about something just to remind people I exist. At least, I hope they'll enjoy them...

So expect that I will be busy getting things done.

Things like:

• Rewriting Crisis.


• Polishing The Rat Race and submitting it to contests.


• Completing The Blood Waitress Club (first draft).


• Finishing edits and submitting The Page & The Magician to publishers.


• Shopping Puppy Chow around.


• Writing screenplay #2.


• Working on some collaborations.


• Learning about song writing.

What I'm not going to work on at this time:

• Doing more with martial arts beyond practicing, teaching, and enjoying it.


• Doing more with my blog because being a professional blogger isn't my goal.

More on where I'm at with this blog right now:

• Make-It Monday is one of my favourite posts to write.


• Theatrical Tuesday was fun now and then, but I really don't enjoy writing reviews, so I'm going to use it for talking about specific experiences like working on movie sets or when I do background extra work and the like.


• Warrior Wednesday I like, but I struggle to find the time for it and I'd rather be doing martial arts than writing a blog about it.


• I miss Thoughtful Thursday, so I might bring it back.


• Frisky Friday hasn't been happening because I feel like too many moments are too precious to share with the world.


• Symphonic Saturday has become scarce because I've had no time to work on my music recently.

I haven't fully figured out the blog stuff, but I expect I will soon. It will be a lesser priority than all my other writing regardless.

R~