So many articles and websites....so little time.

Is it terrible that I sometimes want to use my blog posts just to curate great links?   I've gone far beyond using any browsers ability to organize all of the pages I must revisit.   I think I've even worn out poor Diigo, an app that allows you to organize links an bookmarks.

http://thewritersarchive.tumblr.com/post/51965789306

This blogger actually put up a page of resources.  I'm just linking over to that site.... lazy. Or desperate?


ENJOY

The whirlwind of school

School has started again, and again I revamp my ideas about writing time and getting stuff done. I often plan to do extraordinary things during summer, but then life gets in the way. I didn't get the writing done that I hoped for, despite my Sunday mornings with my writing buddy.

So now, we start the school year and renew and revamp goals!

Merry Christmouse is with the illustrator, and she's doing an amazing job. It's so very cute!!!

Rainbow Tracks (working title) needs to be finished and sent to my writing group, and then my editor.

One of my dear friends from grad school and writing group members is a finalist in a screenplay competition. Another writer has done just as well with two of his scripts, and the third writer actually WORKS in Los Angeles.

So, I have my articles in The Belly Dance Chronicles and my up-coming children's books,  but I feel the need to get my screenplay out there into competitions now.

I'm going to work about one Saturday a month at our school for Saturday school, and maybe that should be a time I could work in weekly.

That's the plan....maybe you should check in with me and keep me accountable on my Saturday mornings.

And a VERY timely post just for me....and the rest of those readers/writers out there

I'm stuck. Even though I'm in the midst of writing two books - everything is plotted!  I just need to get the writing done.


Keep the writing wheels greased:

http://5writers.com/2014/07/26/waiting-for-inspiration/

Linking a GREAT post from Kristen Lamb

I follow Kristen Lamb on Facebook, and today I'm giving you a link to her latest blog posts.  This has so much good stuff in it!  Enjoy.


http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2014/07/24/what-brazilian-jui-jitsu-can-teach-us-about-going-pro-as-authors/

Writing for discovery...and then I ramble

Last week, I sat down with my students to write in my journal along beside them. The prompt was, "Why do you like to write?"  I discovered something about myself. I really enjoy journal and blog writing; I enjoy writing non-fiction.  I don't actually like or enjoy writing fiction, stories. However, I find that I have the skills and the interest in setting myself a CHALLENGE to write fiction. I enjoy the challenge of writing different genres and writing for different media. I just don't actually have stories that burn to get out, that must be told. I often amuse myself with stories, but they are more like mental distractions.

That gem of information came up while journaling with my students. I shared it with them, and it led to a really nice discussion on writers, likes/dislikes, and our insecurities. It brought forth one of our best discussions, and I'm thankful for that moment.  I think the kids needed it, and I plan to  include more time for sharing all of the the feelings we go through as writers.





What kind of writer does it make me if I don't have stories that must be told?






That prompted me to have discussion with my mom about discipline and my lack of it. I told her that not having discipline was one of the great struggles I face. She was surprised. She was sure that I was one of the most disciplined people she knew....if I ever found something I wanted to do, nothing could deter me, nothing could stop me. Yet, I explained that driving passion is not the same as discipline.  I've been in a beauty pageant; I've won many types of competitions; I've successfully completed an Adventure Race; I've raised my daughter as a single mom, and so on. Yet, I reminded my mom of my days practicing piano - there were times when my parents begged me to stop practicing for some peace in the house. There were also days that we fought because I didn't want to practice.

SELF-discipline is that trait that will sit you down to write (or practice an instrument or clean house) when you really don't want to.  Self-discipline will keep you going when you have a million other things you'd love to do or could be doing.  I don't have that.   And when my life throws me a curve (especially lately), I'll simply retreat to my bedroom, distract myself with the internet, and/or nap.

What kind of person does that make me if I don't have self-discipline?

This is the good part... and now I'm merging life coaching on my writing blog... at least I'm not asking myself destructive questions!  Even if I don't have the answers to those questions and I'm still discovering myself, I am asking better questions!

Let me explain:  you can set yourself up for success or failure by the questions you ask yourself.  If you ask yourself, why am I such a failure, your brain WILL answer that question.  Such a negative question will elicit a negative answer.   When you ask yourself better questions, your brain will answer with better answers.

Where do I stand on self-discipline?   I'm still working on it. I've found that I do a much better job when I have a buddy  - when I have a walking buddy, I walk more often. When I have a writing buddy, I write more consistently.  I also work better when I have deadlines.  My writing group is keeping me somewhat disciplined because I have to submit something once a month for review.

And now I loop back to my original thoughts on writing and enjoying it. Maybe I just embrace it all as is and move forward.  I'm still not sure what it means for my writing. Right now, that's ok.

Your thoughts? What do you do to stay disciplined?  Do you actually enjoy all types of writing you do?

Sample of a reverse poem -

I love to show students the reverse poem titled, "The Lost Generation," by Jonathan Reed. To just keep myself creative and sharp, I tried my own version. It's not easily done quickly unless you use Reed's poem closely as a model.  Not a bad little ditty...


I am part of a dying profession
and I refuse to believe that
I can still inspire my students
I realize this may be a shock but
"All students can succeed"
is a lie, and
"Students are lazy."
I will tell my students
They are not the reason for my passion in life
The politicians will know that
I have my priorities straight because
test scores
are more important than
independent thinkers
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Teachers cared
but this will not be true in my time
This is a shallow society
Experts tell me
10 years from now, I will have left the teaching profession
I do not concede that
I will design a lesson full of creativity
Every day forward
Online or packaged programs will be the norm and
no longer can it be said that
my peers and I care about the welfare of our students
It will be evident
that teachers are data analysts
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope
and all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it...

As the World Turns...

My writing life has taken some jumps, dips, stalls, and hard turns. It doesn't stress me too much, as I have another career that provides my income.  And, I've been assured by many writers that this is not uncommon. I've left my publishing house. After one year, they have not been able to publish my book, and I was told to find and pay for my own illustrator.  It wasn't part of the contract, nor of our original discussions, so I told them that it was unacceptable to change the rules after they'd already missed the prime sales for my Christmas story.  I'd already completed a second manuscript as part of a series, and I was beginning my third.

That is not the interesting part of this story. What is interesting is that I posted a status update on Facebook and was contacted (almost immediately) by people in the publishing world and other authors.  Now that I'm in the publishing/writing world, there is a nice network of support.  I have wonderful peers in all types of genre-writing and all stages of their careers.

I'm reminded that people and relationships are a prime success factor for me. They are more important to me than the books.  Integrity and professionalism are the legacy I want to leave.

What do you want to be remembered for?  What do you want as your legacy?