I have been a lazy when it comes to writing. During the summer, I turned cable off and signed up for Netflix in hopes that an episode or two of my favorite TV shows on DVD would be a nice reward for writing. Well, as it turns out, Netflix is a distraction.

I came up with another plan this last week; I decided to take up knitting again after a 25 year hiatus. My plan is to write an hour per day, and then watch Netflix while I knit. Right now, I am working on a scarf for Don. My next project will be a sweater for me. Maybe I’ll knit a beanie and slippers. So far, the knitting plan has been more successful than the Netflix plan. I like rewards for writing. I just need to stick to the reward system.

Some would say I am blocked. I don’t believe this because when I sit down to write I actually put sentences on the paper that make sense and move the piece forward (like now). My problem is that I would rather be doing something else, because that other activity is never as difficult as writing.

Writing is hard work. Not writing is easy. But, if I don’t write then I won’t be able to submit for publication. I have been published at least six times- four poems in magazines years ago, and two short stories in the last year. But, these publications only happened because I wrote, edited, and submitted. In addition, I maintain my blog and my website, and writing is about 90% of my day job.

I need to treat my writing like a second job. When I work at my paralegal job, I am in my office working away except for breaks and lunch. I try to stay focused and shut out distractions. There is no reason that I should not be doing the same things for my writing.

Happy writing to all…and happy Thanksgiving!

Don and I have been busy with family events this last month. A few weeks ago, we drove to Paradise, California for his cousin’s fiftieth wedding anniversary. Once we reached Paradise, we were shocked at the devastation of the fires from earlier in the year. Many people lost their homes.

Don’s family is quite a large crowd spread throughout California, and they all try to keep in touch with one another. Thus, while many of the Sonoma County family had traveled to attend the party, so had family and friends from other areas. The evening was filled with music, laughter and a lot of dancing. Don’s cousin, Betty, is married to Louie, who has made his living playing Saxophone. Louie was on stage quite a bit with the band, even at one time playing two Saxes, one out of each side of his mouth. Don even joined and played his mandolin, and piped in with a few songs of his own.

This last weekend, Don’s nephew, Brandon, got married. Brandon’s mother, Shari, officiated the ceremony. Brandon was a handsome groom, and Carolina’s could not have been more radiant. The ceremony was beautiful, and the dinner and dancing afterward a blast! Since both Brandon and Carolina are young, I expected some current rock and roll at the dance. Instead, we danced the night away to 70’s and 80’s music where one song blended right into another!! I was pleasantly surprised when Staying Alive blared from the speakers, as the Bee Gees was one of my favorite bands when I was younger.

On the writing front, these last few weeks I have been making excuses not to sit down and write. No, I don’t have what is commonly known as writer’s block. Not a bit. I am just finding other things to do instead of writing. Okay, the last six days I have had that awful cold/cough thing that has been going around. Today was the worst. When I called into work today, the first thing the receptionist said was, “Uh, oh, it got you didn’t you?” Yep, the bug got me full force today. But, after sleeping it off and taking the cough medicine the doctor prescribed, this evening I can truly report the worst is over.

This weekend, I am off to see Grandpa. I told Grandpa lunch is on me- he picks, I pay. I have no doubt he will chose Taco Bell, his favorite place. Don is gone to LA during this week for some gigs and then to Phoenix for the Folk Alliance Annual Conference. His band, The Hot Frittatas, will be the main showcase this year.

I really do plan to get some writing done now that I am feeling better. Actually, the around five hundred words that I am writing now count as writing. Thus, I have found writing more important than the something else I have been replacing writing with- if that makes sense.

Happy writing all!

This last month, I have been working on a different kind of writing. As if I don’t already have enough to do, I have created a website titled Write Like It Is. If you ask me why, I will say, “I don’t know. I just wanted to see if I could create my own site.”

The whole thing started out as a site for construction defect paralegals. My profession is specialized, often interesting, sometimes broad and most of the time pretty much the same thing day after day. I love being a construction defect paralegal. But, about halfway through my free membership at Homestead, I decided I didn’t love it enough to give all of my hard work away.

Alas, it took me less than a week to concoct my writing website. It contains a pen loft where writers of all levels get serious, a library stacked to the brim with resources, and a playroom filled with fun toys. I even share a bit of my own writing there.

I posted awhile back that one of my stories was posted in a local anthology. Yesterday was the launch party for Vintage Voices where many of us read our publications. I have not read anything I have written in front of an audience for about two years. Yesterday, I read my story in front of about 20-25 people. I received many great comments from the audience, which made my day. In my community, we have some awesome writers. I am proud to be part of such a literary community.

Now, it’s late and time for me to turn in. Please visit my website! http://www.writelikeitis.com

These last few weeks have been busy and productive. One of my favorite magazines is Glimmer Train because its stories are well written and entertaining. Many of the stories are written by authors who have not been published before, and the magazine thrives on submissions to their monthly contests. I met my goal of writing a story titled specifically for Glimmer Train and submitted it in their open contest for September. It is about a woman who comes to terms with a childhood event that has shaped her for life. Of course, as any writer does, I am hoping for the grand prize. I will hear back in late December if my story becomes one of their winners.

A well known editor and author over at the Writer’s Digest website writes often to “submit it and forget it.” This is a hard lesson for me to learn. I submitted a short story to Ellery Queen in late June but have not heard back. Their response time is four months. It could be good news that I have not heard back, though. Perhaps they are considering my story.

Next weekend is the Old Time Bluegrass Festival at Anderson Marsh State Park in Clearlake, California. Don is one of the people who helped to create this festival with the goal of raising money for local schools. Besides the many smaller things he does for the festival, he is the musical director who brings in all the talent. I am glad he includes himself on the list of performers at the Bluegrass Festival because he is a very talented musician. This will be my third year of volunteering at the Festival, and I am pretty excited.

I am currently creating a website for construction defect paralegals. My first order of business is to provide links to Internet resources that construction paralegals use every day. However, I hope my website will also be useful to new paralegal graduates who are considering working in this field. I work with some amazing people who have taught me much, and I want to be able to give back to others what has been gifted to me. I am a true believer that we must share what we learn.

I hope you all have a great writing life…see you next time!

Some exciting things have been happening in my writing life. The Sonoma County Book Fair is next month. It is an all day free event for writers. The Redwood Writer’s club has a booth and there is a variety of speakers every hour. I have been thinking about whether to volunteer an hour of my time or just to attend the event. Since this is my first year, I am leaning toward going for all the writing food I can swallow. There will always be future years to volunteer.

A few months ago, one of my short stories was accepted for publication in Vintage Voices, a local anthology. On September 27, there will be a launch party for the book with a chance to read our story and sign copies of the books. I am not big on the limelight, but I will probably go to the event and put myself out there as much as I can. It is good practice and motivation for someday when I publish my novel.

Recently, I have decided to turn off cable. I am tired of the Reality TV now and not being able to catch shows I like because they are on too late at night. I hate that a portion of a serial or movie goes ten minutes followed by eight minutes of commercial. I have decided to replace cable with Netflix. All show, no commercials and much cheaper. I feel like I am getting what I paid for. I can watch what I want when I want with no commercials, as well as view old favorites such as Mission Impossible (the series).

Now that I do not have cable, I find that I have more time to do other things, such as writing. Today I completed edit number one of a short story I will be submitting to Glimmer Train, one of my favorite magazines. Once I have that story out there, I will continue working on my novel and start another short story. My goal is to increase my writing time from an hour to an hour and a half each day. When I have reached my goal, the rest of the time is mine.

Well, until next time- happy reading and writing to all!