Category: Writing

Weekly writing check-in: chocolate eggs and sunshine

Now we have some sunshine. It’s lovely out there, a far cry from last weekend. And we still have chocolate eggs, so there’s that as well.

I’ve been pondering my 2020 story project. I had the notion for it back in November of 2019, and I was all:

Sure! Let’s do this!

After all, I have a back catalog of stories that aren’t doing anything, plus I figured I could fill in any gaps during the year. I scheduled several weeks in advance and all was good.

Then 2020 actually happened.

I have one story in the queue for next Friday. And that’s it.

Mind you, I still have stories I can post. Some are … weird. I’m not talking trunk stories. These have been published, but they’re still a little, shall we say, quirky. I’m thinking the theme for May should be oddities and ends and just call it done.

In other news, I’m nearly done with my article. I want to do a “listening proof” (text-to-speech) before I send it out. I highly recommend this as a way of proofing your own work.

Weekly writing check-in: chocolate eggs and snow

We have some chocolate eggs here, and we have snow. This is a Minnesota thing.

It’s more surprising when it doesn’t snow on Easter.

I’m feeling better this week. I can string sentences together, and I think I’m mostly caught up at work.

I also did some writing!

About five years ago, back in early March*, I sent out a query for an article. I promptly forgot about it, got sick, and sometime in that foggy in between, got an acceptance.

They’d like the actual article, please.

I spent time this week drafting that. I’ll let it rest for the week, revise and edit next weekend, and then send it on its way.

On today’s agenda, after a little writing, I think I’ll consume some of those chocolate eggs and get in a couple hours of reading.

*It feels like five years ago, anyway.

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: 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.