About damned time

I got the freaking promotion. Finally. And in spite of writing instead of putting in extra time.

Things are going to change swiftly and drastically here pretty soon. I had best get those stories in before the big holiday promo season starts. Luckily -- and by some miracle -- I don't work the next two days.

I'm going to write my ass off.

Back to Writing Part VII: Observing

It's back.
If you see me in a sea of people and I'm quiet, I'm composing paragraphs about the people around me. If you watch me closely, you might see my lips moving, forming sentences.
My eyes are soaking in every detail -- the way that woman has tied her scarf, the way that nerdy boy wears his socks with sandals.
I sit in that crowd and do my research. Even if people are crushing in to get closer to Stevie Wonder, even if it's pouring rain, even if I've had a few too many drinks and way too many cookies.

Back to Writing Part VI: Editing

So my editor sent some copy back overnight. It had a lot of markups, but it wasn't nearly as bloody as I thought it would be.
Her comments were as great as ever.
Apparently, white briefs are NOT sexy. Also, "she let them have at it" is not a sexy way to end a story. LOL.
And the dreaded Xena FanFic slipped in there somehow. I thought I'd beaten that very, very bad habit out of myself. Guess not. I'm glad she caught it.
I sent it off to be judged. We'll see if it makes the cut. I'm off to the next one.

Back to Writing Part V: Call for Submission

I submitted something. It's not what I normally write. It was a good exercise, like a tough workout after a year of inactivity.

The first four paragraphs were torture, then the rest flowed.

I cut those first paragraphs. We'll see if it worked.

It's a start. I've got nine other leads -- more if I'm willing to push my comfort zone. I feel nervous and satisfied at the same time. It's a strange but exhilarating feeling.

Back to writing Part IV

Something came up.

The writing was starting to go well. As always, however, something else began to interfere in a big way.

It's almost promotion time. The boss lady is quite adamant that I invest extra time at home in my learning to get that next post. So I've been studying and working on presentations. I need this gig in a bad way.

Then I realized that something is always going to come up. This is just a matter of time management. The writing doesn't always have to take a backseat. It just might not get to be the star all the time.

So I've decided to try this: Fit in at least an hour of writing every day. I can sacrifice watching one reality TV show or another, right? Or sleep.

Back to writing Part III

RAIN!! Thank goodness! After 40 consecutive days of 100+ degree heat and no rain, I couldn't be more grateful that it's been raining all morning.

Now I can write. I've got my coffee. The GF is out for an extended walk (14 miles as part of her training for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure). The puppy is curled up on the carpet in front of my desk.

Let the words flow...

Back to writing Part II

It's definitely not easy... First there's finding the time, then the ideas all seem to be lame, and it's too damn quiet in the house. I have a ton of crap on my mind -- little of which has to do with writing.

Luckily, I have discovered a new way to multitask: Turn off the iPod and work out the plot while exercising at the gym. I just need to keep a notebook with me to jot down stuff other than weights and numbers of reps.

I'm off to the gym...