Weekly Writing Check In – Page 5

Weekly writing check-in: Good luck, always

I’m pleased to report that I did go on that final walk of 2020 last Sunday. On that walk, I discovered this token in the spot where I’ve found so many other of my rock “friends” this year.

It made me doubly glad I opted for that walk.

This week, I’ve been working on the last two stories for the 2020 project. Did you know that the last Friday in 2020 falls on Christmas day? This is something I’ve known from before the start of the year, and my mind has been churning, trying to conjure up a Christmas story.

I think I have one, albeit one with pirates. (Because nothing rings in the Holidays quite like a band of pirates.)

That leaves me with one story left to write. I actually have a start on it. I just don’t know how it ends.

And I really wish it were nice enough so I could go walking and ponder that.

Weekly writing check-in: this week was the longest month

On Friday, I went to fill out my timecard for work, and I stared at the date: November 2 for a good thirty seconds, confused.

Wasn’t the 2nd weeks ago, at the very least?

Apparently not.

Anyway, the week started with this gorgeous sunset on Monday evening.

And since the week ended on such a grand note, and we only have one more day left of pretend September, I’m going to skip the writing update and go take one last walk for 2020.

See you next week.

Weekly writing check-in: Happy (belated) Halloween

I spent this week working on the last two stories for the 2020 project (and so far, I’m really enjoying myself). I woke up early this morning (thanks to the time change) and spent some hours at my writing desk while the moon was setting. It was lovely.

I managed to not waste a lot of time with either sky replacement or neural filters in Photoshop. I am quite proud of my restraint.

Otherwise, I’m looking forward to this week’s weather (70 degrees on Friday!) but not the following week (more snow!).

Weekly writing check-in: thunder only happens when it’s snowing

So, it went from cold to the middle of winter. On Monday, we ended up with +6 inches of snow. Thursday, we had that odd Minnesota concoction of snow showers with thunder. Then the sky was all orange for a bit.

This week, I was busy with the 2020 project. I have all but two stories scheduled, so I think it’s safe to say I’m in the home stretch. As of right now, the full compilation has 101,000 words. (That’s a lot of words.)

I also had a little fun with a one-off project (more about that on Monday).

In time-sink news, Photoshop has released neural filters and sky replacement. I give you the backyard, Van Gogh style.

I predict many hours wasted.

Weekly writing check-in: farewell, autumn

I started the week with this gorgeous girl right here. It wasn’t warm, but it certainly wasn’t cold.

Yet.

By the end of the week, I was pulling out my winter parka to walk the dogs. And my poor maple has lost most of her leaves. She’s looking chilly these days.

This week, I spent most of my time getting stories proofed and posted. I have all of November’s scheduled, and I’m into early December. I want them all up and ready to go before WordPress closes that back door to the classic editor (which I’m tying in now, quite happily, thank you very much).

So that’s my goal for the next week or two. Stories scheduled. Then I’ll deal with the new WordPress editor.

Weekly writing check-in: a little less distracted

A little less distracted this week. In fact, I’ve made it my mission not to get caught up in the doom-scrolling and such. That being said, I do like staying informed, and I love long-form journalism. So, there’s a balance to maintain.

I spent my writing part of the week working on stories and images, although I’m still giving the new WordPress editor the side-eye.

For now, I create a draft post with a title, save it, and then access it via the WordPress admin console. Voilà! Classic editor restored.

Sometimes it’s the little things.

Weekly writing check-in: distracted and frustrated

It’s been a distracting week, hasn’t it? I think we’ve had about three months’ worth of news packed into seven days.

This is to say that I’ve been distracted this week. Really, I think many of us have been distracted this week.

I have been working on stories. But now I’m frustrated. I’m working on scheduling some more for the rest of the year when WordPress starts insisting I use the new editor interface.

I loathe the new editor interface. Loathe. It.

I get it. I work for a software company. You got to update the user interface once in a while.

Still.

I simply loathe it.

So I’m either going to have to learn how to use it or find a way to switch back. I’ve been Googling. I’m not the only one who’s unhappy.

Edited to add: It seems I can start a post in the new editor, save it, and then reopen it in the classic view. I’m still not happy.

Weekly writing check-in: fabulous fall

Sadly, it seems that our fox has left us. I keep checking the backyard, but he hasn’t made an appearance this week.

On the other hand, our maple has been putting on quite the show. So, there’s that.

This week in writing, I’ve been going over the remaining Fridays in 2020, and I think, think, I have a story for each one. I spent this week/weekend working on images and editing and getting the first couple of stories for October posted.

This always takes longer than I think it will. Even so, I’m pleased with my progress and really pleased I can see a story for each upcoming Friday.

Weekly writing check-in: the return of the marvelous Mr. Fox

Way back in 2013/2014, we had a family of foxes that would visit from time to time, no doubt enjoying the all-you-can-eat buffet that is our backyard. (Woods on both sides and a pond straight back–lots of good eating.)

Then, they vanished.

Until yesterday. Yesterday, we had a fox in the backyard! He’s a gorgeous fellow (yes, I’m assuming here). The cell phone pic through the dirty window does not do him justice.

We’re wondering if he’s one of the kits from before, come to stake out some new territory. He’s skittish. There’s no sneaking out on the back deck without alerting him.

This morning, I caught him frolicking with a deer.

No, really. He was. Yes, I know. Pics or it didn’t happen. I wasn’t quick enough.

I don’t know if he’s just passing through or if he’ll stick around for a while. Either way, I can’t tell you how pleased I am that he’s here.

In actual writing news, I’ve been working on stories for the 2020 project. I’d like to get them all scheduled in the next couple of weeks. We’ll see if that actually happens. I’ve also been doing several admin type tasks that I should have completed earlier in the year, but you know, pandemic.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to sneak over to the window to see if there’s a fox in the backyard.

Weekly writing check-in: not to belabor the point

So, last week, I took a four-day weekend. This led me to think of last Sunday as my “second Saturday.” It also led me to forget about blogging, because, hey, it was Saturday, not Sunday.

Ahem.

Then on Monday, which was my “second Sunday,” I again forgot about checking in until I’d shut everything down for the day (and there’s no coming back from that).

I did spend that weekend and this one doing lots of behind the scenes sort of work. I’m casting a wary eye toward October because I don’t have stories scheduled as of yet. I’m not sure I have any that are ready to go.

This is nervous-making.

It’s getting too dark to walk in the mornings, but I ran into this guy on today’s walk.