Category: Weekly Writing Check In

Weekly writing check-in: of wolves and viruses

So, this past week started off with a nice surprise. My flash fiction piece, Crying Wolf, was the Monday story over at Daily Science Fiction.

Then Wednesday happened. I woke up with all the classic symptoms of the coronavirus. On April Fools’ Day. Because, why not?

I’m much better. My chest is still tight, my lungs hurt a bit, and I’m short of breath. However, I’m not having weird, random pain in my lungs. I sneezed on Wednesday, and it felt like someone lit a match in my chest cavity.

I’m taking it slow, being careful, alert to any possible secondary infections. I wasn’t sick enough for the hospital, so for now, I have no idea whether it was the coronavirus or just some other random virus that decided to mess with my week. I wish I knew. Once I’m symptom-free, if I’m immune, I could go into the community and volunteer. But, of course, I don’t know for sure.

So. Not a lot of writing. I have been able to read, so that’s been a nice respite.

Be well, everyone.

Weekly writing check-in: Taking my own advice

So I took my own advice from last week and shut down all my social media/distracting websites (there’s always that one site …) and took a deep dive into Photoshop.

I worked through two tutorials. The first was to create an illustrated cover using stock illustrations.

For this cover, I reused the butterfly image I had (see Friday’s free fiction) and the background. The only new element is the illustration of the girl’s face.

I put my name on this one, even though I have no story idea whatsoever. Maybe someday I will, and then hey, look! I have a cover!

Also, I often misspell butterfly as butteryfly. Pretty sure I didn’t do that here.

Then yesterday, I worked through another tutorial. The objective of this one was to create a sweet romance cover.

It’s definitely a romance, and a sweet one at that. How do you tell? They’re smiling, and they have all their clothes on.

This probably has more of a romantic comedy vibe, but I think it meets the requirements. (It’s not like I’m being graded or anything, so …)

You’ll notice it’s also penned by Callie Robb. Callie is my imaginary author friend for whom I design book covers. She’s way more prolific than I am. I’d be jealous, except none of us here believe she has a rich inner life.

Weekly writing check-in: strange days, indeed

As you might imagine, it was a strange week for everyone. I did a bit of Photoshop work and got a Friday story scheduled and … that’s about it.

Here’s the thing. You might be super creative during this time. In which case, go you! You might not. In which case, go you! Do what you need to during this time, whether that’s binge-watching or binge-cleaning, along with keeping yourself and others as safe as possible.

Some random things that you might find helpful:

  • Judicious social media blocking. There are many app and social media blockers. I use Freedom. Keep yourself from reneging on your promise NOT to check social media (and avoid the inevitable guilt spiral). Seriously. It works.
  • Free Shakespeare plays from the Globe Theatre.
  • Free stories from Audible (for littles to teens).
  • Writing in a time of crisis:

Weekly writing check-in: interesting times

What a difference a week makes, no? Schools here are closing, I’m planning to work from home, and my story work this week went out the window.

However, I did get a little bit done. Not only that, but I spent yesterday publishing a large print version of Straying from the Path. It’s already up on Amazon (because they’re speedy like that).

It was surprisingly absorbing and relaxing, and something I’ll probably be doing over the next few weeks here.

And now I’m off to FaceTime a Girl Scout meeting.

 

 

Weekly writing check-in: Y-A-W-N

Oddly enough, I’m not that tired this morning (although, ask me tomorrow how I feel …). I’ve realized I’m at the age where any time change throws me off my stride.

Spring forward? Fall back? Meh. It’s all the same to me.

I worked on a nonfiction query/article this week and did a little bit of story work. My biggest accomplishment was pulling the taxes together (I want to add “like a boss” to the end of that). Off they go to the accountant this week.

I’m also doing a bit of pre-planning for a possible Season Four of Coffee and Ghosts. We’ll see how that goes, but so far, I’m feeling optimistic.

Also? It’s going to be 60 degrees here today! In March! In Minnesota! I’m scheduling at least one walk.

Weekly writing check-in: March, in like a lion (cub)

It is seriously nice here for the start of March. Mind you, we could be getting a lot of snow at some point (it is March in Minnesota after all).

Still, it’s 41 degrees, we’re forgetting to wear our coats, and someone just jogged by wearing shorts.

In writing news, this week, I worked on some new short stories, started an outline for an article, and took a second look at the stories for April.

Weekly writing check-in: (low-key) adventure time

So, I missed last week due to some (low-key) adventure. My Girl Scout Troop will be graduating this spring, and between now and then, we need to spend all the cookie money they’ve earned.

In fact, we’re not even selling cookies this year. Even after this trip, we still have money to burn. (And yes, that sound you hear is my sigh of relief.)

What we did do is book a lovely house on a lake a couple of hours north. And somehow, everyone was able to attend. It did not blizzard on us. And I think/hope a good time was had by all.

We did jigsaw puzzles and snowshoed on the lake, baked cookies in the Italian kitchen and watched movies.

We also caught a gorgeous sunrise over the lake.

In writing news, I somehow (somehow!) managed to schedule all of the stories for March. I have April’s selected. Looking into May, I’m going to need to write a few new ones here pretty soon.

All in all, not a bad week.

Weekly writing check-in: winter wonderland

So much for spring.

Today we have a classic Minnesota sort of day: lots of snow overnight and this morning, only to clear off with brilliant blue skies in the afternoon–like none of it ever happened.

This week, I worked on the stories for March. I’m going with a theme (more or less) for each month. First, I thought of March madness. Then I considered in like a lion(ess). I’m still not sure what I’ll do.

However, I do know what I plan to do with this snowy Sunday. I have a mystery to finish reading. And it’s the perfect day for that.

Weekly writing check-in: Hello February!

Well, hello there, February! It’s nice to see your (currently) 41 degrees here. Yes, it’s going to get colder again. But for now?

Spring!

In writing-related things, I worked on some stories for March and did some new project brainstorming. It’s all very hush-hush for now. I don’t want to talk too much about it until it’s there in my head and possibly on paper.

And that’s about it for this last week of January.

Weekly writing check-in: a few of my favorite (writerly) things

When it comes to writing tools, I’m low-tech, perhaps surprisingly so, considering I work for a software company.

I’ve tried various applications, and mind you, I wouldn’t format anything without Vellum these days.

But … when it comes to actually writing?

I love notebooks and pens, in particular:

  • Legal pads
  • Composition notebooks
  • Sugarcane based, spiral-bound notebooks
  • Uni-ball Vision Elite pens in blue/black

Yes, it’s a very specific list, is it not?

I do write in Microsoft Word most of the time, especially when my fingers can’t keep up with my thoughts. But I’ll often write entire flash fiction pieces or start a short story in a notebook instead. Sometimes the story is coming to me in pen speed rather than pixel speed.

So, this week, after peering into February, I started looking at March, along with stories for August and September. Ideally, I’d get all the stories scheduled so I can move onto this other notion I have brewing.