Walter Mitty Reimagined...

I was going to wait to change my theme, etc, until the actual end of the year, but got impatient (and bored).

Goals for the month - currently at 50%, with minor chance of improving that. But I'm doing much better than I thought, considering there was Christmas and my son home for a week, and this week working five days in a row (bleah!).

Actually got some writing completed, though not Covenant's next chapter. There are times (too many) when I think I should just give it up - but I'm too stubborn for that and the really good part is coming. I'm so close to the end! But I got Dragon NaturallySpeaking for Christmas (and a new monitor that doesn't drive my eyes bonkers) so I think that's going to help a lot. Learning curve, of course, but I understand it really isn't that steep. I'm quite excited about it, since I tend to talk and think much faster than I can type! LOL

Anyway, adjusting my monthly goals to reflect what I didn't get done this month, shifting some of January's back to February, etc. Feeling confident that I will catch up, and sooner rather than later. The monthly thing seems to be working better than the weekly (and infinitely better than the daily) so I'm not feeling the guilt/anxiety which was really counter-productive.

Also had a brainstorm the other day about my original works. I've had so many snippets pop up and I suddenly realized that I could, with some manipulation, put them all together into a longer story I've been working on (in spurts) for the last several months. Gives me that little tingly feeling I haven't had for a long time, so I think I may finally be on the right track.

Work is... hellish. Waiting to hear on a couple of online jobs (one as a 'practice' juror for lawyers who want to see if their case is worth taking to court versus settling outside, and another doing transcription work). I'm hoping something comes of those and that I can make enough to at least cut back one day at the store. And, of course, looking for other 'regular' jobs closer to home as well.

The last few months have been difficult. I've been fighting my depression, with varying success, but I'm starting to feel more normal now. Hopefully the new year will see an end to this latest episode and I'll be able to accomplish more. At least now I feel like trying.

A herd of wild turkeys walks nonchalantly down the street...







And yes - they are huge (approximately 2-1/2 - 3 feet tall)

Well, first real winter storm is supposed to hit here starting Saturday afternoon into Saturday night. 5-8 inches of snow expected. I'm supposed to work tomorrow night but unless the storm moves to miss us (which is still a hopeful possibility) I ain't budging.

Guess it was too much to hope we wouldn't get anything until closer to Xmas...

Last night we had 27.5 hours of work. 3 people. 8 hour day.

Yeah.

That didn't include the two pallets of pics (replacement product). So add another hour and a half.

I'll let you know when my brain and body meet up again...

Having stopped logging in/posting to one writers' forum, and joined a couple others, I've discovered one thing - writers tend, at least in these communities, to have an overblown sense of their own importance. Now, that's not to say that all are like that. There are a great many who are sincerely and truly helpful and open-minded. But there are far too many who, either from being members of these communities for eons or from already having an overabundance of self-worth, think their advice is golden. That if they state an opinion, it should be taken as fact. That if you don't do what they say, or if you dare to disagree, you're stupid. And I won't even get started on the self-publishing "gurus"...  (until another post :D)

I've also realized that there are a lot of writers who refuse, absolutely, to listen to any of the advice given, good or bad. Now, having been a beta, I already knew that occurred in the fanfic world. There are prima donnas out there who think because they've got groupies that their writing is perfect. I guess I was naive thinking it didn't happen in the 'real world'. And at the other end of the spectrum are those writers who want people to tell them how to write - everything from basic grammar to how the story should evolve (ie, "Write my story for me!"). It amazes (and frustrates) me that these people waste the time of forum-goers asking questions they could (and should) find the answers to themselves (What - you didn't know there were grammar books out there? Or articles online?) If one is confused about the information found, that's when the forums should be utilized - but really. "When do I use a comma?" WTF?

Connected to that is my discovery that there is very little about writing per se that I haven't already learned. Publishing is a different story, of course, but writing... yeah. Now, I realize that that statement sounds every bit as egotistical as those I just complained about. But writing is a craft - and of that aspect, I am very confident. What few grammar questions I have typically turn out to be matters of style and 'currency' - things that are not rules so much as how one 'authority' prefers things versus another 'authority'. But I definitely know how to string together a coherent sentence, how to form dialogue, how to weave a story together so it holds the reader's interest - with the given regarding that last item that everyone improves the more they write.

Now, when ones talks about methodology, my preferences are no better - and no worse - than anyone else's. What works for me works for me and may or may not work for someone else. And that's what separates me from the blowhards above. I recognize that each writer needs their own style and their own methods for completing a book.

So, I'm finding myself glancing through the various communities, reading with half-interest those newbie questions about how to write, shaking my head at the "You have to do it this way" replies, and noting those who offer suggestions versus commands (ie, who recognize the individuality of the writer). Otherwise...

What it all boils down to is this: I started looking at various writing communities because I thought they could teach me things about writing. I was wrong. There's very little a seasoned writer can learn about writing on these forums. There is, however, a lot one can learn about publishing and when I am to the point of actively pursuing that (ie, when my first book is completed), I shall certainly be going to these various forums to glean whatever knowledge and insights I can. But I shall do it with one caveat - not everyone really knows what the hell they're talking about. Even the published authors. Those who are in the publishing business - agents and publishers - certainly need to be listened to. But even those need a grain of salt, as one will inevitably find they contradict each other. But reading their advice, and finding that which seems to be a consensus (or at least, makes more sense), will be invaluable when I start querying for my book. And there will be a few individuals (again, see above) to whom I will listen with more than just mild interest, and those to whom I will not listen at all.

So, I will be spending a lot less time on these communities and a lot more time actually writing. Because that's really all that's important.

Didn't go to work last night. Went to bed about noon, feeling fine. Woke up about 5:30 sicker than a dog. No idea why - something I ate, too many Advil, flu bug - whatever. Slept on the couch the rest of the night, just in case, and got up about 6. So far, just feel totally exhausted and have a massive headache (so my screen s down in brightness and huge in fonts).

Sometimes I think my body is just trying to give up on me...

Officially on medical leave for the next few days. I was trying to pull a pallet out of the freezer last night (just after midnight this morning, actually) and landed flat on my back. The floor is always frosty, and we all have had near misses, but this one took me by surprise. One second I've got the pallet moving, next thing I know I'm looking up from the floor. Landed on my tailbone, and it hurt so damn bad I couldn't get up. The other guy in frozen came in a few minutes later, thank God, and then I had to have a couple of the managers help me up. Then a trip to the emergency room to make sure nothing was broken - thankfully just a very very nasty bruising. Drove myself home - never realized how painful it can be to shift gears, or how many fucking bumps there are on that highway. Hurts to walk, hurts to stand, hurts to sit, hurts to lay down... even with the painkillers.

Damn.

Chapter 73 of Covenant is UP!

Will have the monthyly update for the Directory up on the first, btw.

Now, if only I had a wee bit of brandy in the house to celebrate... lol

So here's my list (as per Becky Black beckyblack.wordpress.com/ and Teresa Morgan teresa-morgan.blogspot.com/)

( Heroes )

Well, weather continues to be typical Minnesota. A day or so of bearable (heat and humidity) surrounded by several days of ungodly heat and humidity. Today is one of the latter - 85 degrees and you feel soaked just sitting. At least there's a bit of a breeze.

Got notified that I've won my first Early Reviewer book from LibraryThing. It's an ebook, though, and I have yet to figure out what format. Guess I'll find out when I get it and hopefully can download a free ereader for the pc to suit it. Refuse to buy one, software or otherwise. Just can't see spending that kind of money and then having to buy the books on top of it. Not when I can get online books in PDF or from the library in print. Yeah, I know - cheapskate is my middle name. ;)

Have another idea for a short story to submit to Glimmer Train. Problem is the ending is almost cliché, but I can either work to make it more macabre or go in the opposite direction. The whole thing may be a little too macabre for them anyway, but what the hell, right?

Anyway... off to do laundry. Too humid to hang it out so have to visit the laundromat's dryers. :(