On a roll

These past two weeks, my Muse has been extremely generous with her gifts. I've written two new scenes for the novel in progress, NTS; AND I've created several new characters for my territory in Thanea; AND I've come up with a few dieties and the basic ideas of their legends. I'm on a roll and that feels so good!!

I say that I'm serious about my writing, but if that is true then my writing needs to be one of my priorities, don't you agree? And lately I have found the time to put my thoughts to paper. The more I write, the more excited I get about writing and the more ideas I have!! I wonder if this is how it is for everyone?

Writing groups--help or hinderance?

I've been a member of several different writing groups, from online groups, to in-person groups, to groups that are both. The best thing (for me) about a writing group is the inspiration that the members give me.

Watching and listening to other members making writing goals and then achieving them is great for your Muse. I find that my Muse is extremely jealous and competitive. When other writer friends are being prolific, I suddenly have all kinds of ideas for new stories or the continuation of stories already in progress.

My writing group friends also give me lots of good critiques before I send my stories to different markets for consideration.

One of the less positive things I have discovered about writing groups of any kind is lack of participation. Usually I have been in a leadership role of some kind or another in the various groups I have been in. People join groups and then don't participate and I often find myself working overtime to try to find ways to motivate them to write, make goal, or achieve those goals. that can really wear a person down. Also, it is very discouraging.

Fortunately, I happen to be in a group that is several years old and has found a solid core group of committed writers. That makes writing so much more rewarding.

Finally . . . a moment

I decided back in April that I am at a point in my schooling that I need to treat my steno machine like it is my job, so I gave 2 months notice and quit my day job at the end of June.

It has taken me this long to get settled into a good routine so that I finally am making time to write again. I know I'm slow, but, so is my Muse. She just started showing up again this past week. I had finally decided that come hell or high water, I'm writing, with or without the fickle and possibly mythical creature. I think that hurt her feelings a bit and now she is trying to show me what she can do.

I'm happy with that! So I should be back here again on a regular basis.

Welcome Summerlynn Ann Kinch

Summerlynn Ann Kinch arrived a bit earlier than we all expected but mom and baby are fine. I am so excited for the family. What a great adventure they have begun.

Congrats Erin and Stephen!!!

The craziness lately . . .

So the last couple of months have been a bit crazy with me preparing to leave my job of 16 years and conentrate on my studies. This past couple of weeks I have been trying to get a good routine down for working on my machine and getting everything done.

The good news is that while I am still adjusting to my new hours, I have discovered a good time for writing. So I feel like I can begin to be productive again.

I am surrounded by talented writers and they inspire me to want to write and to succeed in finishing my novel. So thanks Erin, Alex, Stephanie, Jamie, Linda, Sandra, Jens, Cat and Michele. Y'all are the greatest!!

Story A Day Contest

I'm so excited this morning. My writing group is starting a Story A Day contest that will run for the next two weeks. I think my Muse's interest has been picqued! I made a list of helpful prompts yesterday and then this morning Stephanie sent out some prompts and now I have TWO ideas for today's story.

I'm so excited to be exited about writing again!!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Inspiration Strikes!!!

Earlier in the year, as an activity at one of the Wrinker meetings, the group created a world and split it into territories. We came up with a general history and people created maps of their lands. I got a large area and got busy setting up my map, crops, jobs for people to do, a bit of history that connects my people to the rest of the world, and a bunch of other stuff.

I'm looking at my maps and I think I've tweaked my Muse's interest. I can feel her looking over my shoulder, and peripherally I think I see some figures behind the veil, waiting to tell their stories!!

So I'm going to stop now, and turn my attention to them and see what happens.

Wish me luck!