MY MONTHLY POST RE WRITING

Apparently I will now write a post at least once a month. It isn’t that I don’t think about writing for my blog, it’s that I’m busy writing other things. So far this year, I have completed a full length play, a twenty-minute one act play, have conducted an eight-week writing workshop (this Saturday is the last session), and started a new editing job for a publishing company. I have done a few small editing jobs for friends, reviewed my novel-in-progress in order to get back into it, and made a list of essay topics. Somewhere along the way I decided I should start writing essays.

I’ve applied for a scholarship in order to take an online class on mystery writing, I’m currently taking an online class on Scrivener, I took a webinar on resume writing, and I’ve got my garden ready for spring.

Oh, and I’ve finished my spring house cleaning. That alone took me two full days. Afterwards, I gave away a carload of household items and books that were taking up valuable space in my tiny abode. 

I’ve signed up for April NaNoWriMo camp. I’ve committed to writing 10,000 words in April. My personal plan is to use those words on my WIP, though that is not following the rules, so won’t be official. In November, I followed all the rules, and won NaNoWriMo by writing more than 50,000 words on a new novel that I started on November 1. I will finish that novel this year sometime before 12/31/13. Meanwhile, I have to complete the one I was working on before I dropped it to do NaNoWriMo in November. 

I’m glad I’m learning Scrivener. I’ve been using it for awhile, without knowing all its bells and whistles. In fact, without even knowing how to use its word counter. Scrivener is software for writers of all types, which suits me to a tee. It is great for novels, screenplays, stageplays and more. Also for self-publishing. It is great for publishing because you can instantly publish for paperback format, then turn around and publish your ms for ebook format. What a great tool. But I needed a class. So I waited and watched for Gwen Hernandez (who wrote the book Scrivener for Dummies) to announce her online course, and signed up promptly. The 4 week course is only $40, and worth every cent. Scrivener itself is only $49. I got the free promo first and used that to make sure I’d be interested, and when I ran into a problem sent an email for help. I got great help, which of course convinced me to buy the software. I regret nothing.

I am going on a week’s writing retreat from Sunday to Sunday. I’ve been offered a house in the Columbia Gorge, and I’m taking it. I will not have access to tv, but will have slow wifi for email. My phone works there as well. The first days will no doubt be taken up by my getting used to the space and puttering around, going for walks, taking naps and reading. No matter how eager I am to “get writing” I have learned that this is my pattern. Then I will start writing. I will abandon my usual pattern. I will write, walk, nap, read and sleep at odd hours. I will stare into space a lot. I will read books that I find in the house instead of those I bring along. I’ll probably cry. (I don’t know why. I won’t know until it happens, then it will make perfect sense.)

I’ll come home having written way more than I thought possible, or perhaps nothing at all. Either way, life will go on.

April is Poetry Month. I may write a poem a day in addition to my other 10,000 words. You?