Tag: Writing

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.

Weekly writing check-in: peering into February

So, I’m already peering into February because I have stories to post.

I spent some time in Photoshop this week, creating the images for each story, and I’ll get those posts scheduled ASAP. I like being able to set and forget, at least as far as having the stories magically appear on the blog. (And it’s not magic; we all know it’s not magic. It still feels that way.)

And February’s stories will truly be all about love, because … why not? We’ll have romantic love, star-crossed love, a bit of unrequited love. You name it, we’ll have it next month.

In actual writing this week, I did some writing on a time travel story and got a notion for a pirate adventure. So. There’s that as well.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day is in September. (Did you know that? I did not.) So maybe I can post the pirate adventure then.

Weekly writing check-in: taking inventory

I spent this week looking at what I wrote last year. Mind you, I didn’t write as much as I wanted to.

Still, I managed eighteen short stories along with a bunch of story starters.

Since I’m committed to doing that 2020 project, I need to make sure I have enough material.

I also excavated some stories I’d forgotten about, some of which will work very nicely for the above-mentioned project.

So … I think I’m good to go. I do need to write some new stories, but I can certainly get through the next few months on what I currently have.

Whew.

Weekly writing check-in: starting 2020 with a sale!

Not only did I kick off the (Love) Stories for 2020 project this week, but I made a sale!

I sold a story to one of my “bucket-list” markets: a flash fiction piece to Daily Science Fiction.

So, yes, that was an excellent way to start the year. More details when I have a publication date.

I’ve been busy offline over this holiday. It’s a good thing I scheduled January’s story posts early. Otherwise, my 2020 project would not have started in 2020 (or at least not right away).

I’m looking forward to doing some new and creative things with my writing this year. Not so much goals and New Year’s resolutions–but I do have plans. I hope to talk about those in the next few weeks or so.

In the meantime, you can go check out the year’s first story: Gretel and Hansel.