Begin Again, Again

Are you ready to begin again, again?

I'm trying to be optimistic -- even with my aches and pains and multiple stressors...

That's why I'm so happy to have the Insecure Writing Support Group! I get step away from reality for a bit to think about writing and share new story ideas and hear from my writer friends. Hope you all had happy holidays and are looking forward to beginning again.

Here are a couple of story ideas I fleshed out in my notebooks over the holiday break... totally loving the sci-fantasy!

Space Princess - It's time for a new anti-princess novella. 

Disguised Princess Lai's daring, rebellious space adventure is like a mashup of Guardians of the Galaxy and Flash Gordon! I'm thoroughly enjoying the rough draft.

Wonka 3000 - No groaning. This one came to me in a dream, and I ran with it. 

In the distant future, robots "help" humans with peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, good old London is as dreary as ever--adults are assigned jobs according to their skill set, and children are sent to edu-camps to mold their minds in the "proper" way as their aptitudes are determined and developed. 

Wilhelmina Wonka's parents are highly intelligent scientists who made her a special nano-bot pet. Together, Mina and Oompa get into loads of trouble as they discover the value of chocolate and try to spread happiness to the masses. 

As for my WIPs from this summer, they're just too big and involved for me to get back into over the short breaks. Soon, I may have a lot more time to devote to the craft... For now, I jot down ideas and outlines as well as read, read, read.

BTW, I was honored to be my school's Feature Teacher in December. Here's a link to the article. It was so nice to be highlighted!

Hope you all are writing, or at least thinking about writing!

Look alive in 2025!

Energize!

It's easy to find the energy to do the things you love. If my kids ask me to play a board game, I suddenly get a second wind, even after a day of shopping and cooking and it's probably past my bedtime =D. Or, if an idea sparks, I am energized to write down a whole scene or a new character's backstory. For December's IWSG, I'm brainstorming ways to...

For some things, I have to scrounge up energy to get them done - like housework. I love to write, but sometimes after a long day of work, I don't have the energy to be creative. Responsibilities come first and can wear us out! So here are some things to try to Energize:

• Promise yourself a Reward - You deserve a treat for getting chores done. And a treat doesn't have to be food; it can be just relaxing, watching a favorite show, playing a video game, or strolling through social media--though a little chocolate or a glass of wine are also quite rewarding.
• Alternate - Do a chore, do something fun, do a chore, watch a show, etc. 
• Take a Walk - Exercising can give you energy, seriously =D
• Take a Power Nap - If you're exhausted but still have to finish up some work, a 30 minute lie-down can be quite refreshing

If you have any suggestions for getting energized, please share!

Hope you enjoy the Holidays and all the Festivities that go along with the Season! 

Time to Write!

Time to Write - that phrase has multiple meanings...

It's time to write! Time to get back to the keyboard and let the words flow.

Also,

I can't find time to write! I wish I had time to write! This isn't a good time to write!

All of the above. My life is so busy with responsibilities, writing is low on the priority list. When I do have some extra time, I'm usually not in the mood. It takes a lot of time just to get my mindset back into my WIPs. I had to take a hard break from my summer writing streak when school started. So, I would need a big chunk of time to review my stories and re-invest in the characters and remember where I was headed with the scenes. By that time, something usually comes up to divert me again.

On the other hand, I expect to have more time this month. School has settled down. And my son and his puppy have moved to their new place. It's very quiet without them, and writing could be a good way for me to keep my mind off missing him. Wish me luck!

Where are you in your writing journey? Are you making time to write? How do you get in the mood to write?

In other news, I had a terrific book event in October. I met some great folks (readers & writers), sold some books, and I even did a quick interview! I also have 2 more events in November. Slowly but surely re-entering the book scene.

Thanks for stopping by for the IWSG monthly get together. Check out the link to find out more and get to know more writers!

November is here! 

Snuggle up for cooler weather and shorter days!