It’s been a long couple of weeks

Believe it or not, I’ve actually been doing some writing in the last few months. Just not here.

But I’m excited to be devoting a couple of days a week to my own writing projects. And I’ve been working on sharpening my skills when it comes to writing fiction. For the last few years, about the only time I’ve been able to eke out has been in November for NaNoWriMo — National Novel Writing Month. But I haven’t been able to manage the follow-up time to edit my rough first drafts.

Now I’m hiring myself as a part-time novelist, potentially starving artist. I figure the continuing need to make some money will help motivate me to stay on track.. Fingers crossed.

In the meantime, I’m still (well, more like finally) trying to figure out how to incorporate my book reviews into this blog. And I do like sharing tips from other writers, so I hope to write a few posts on that topic up from time to time.

I also plan to set some weekly goals. This week I’ll be preparing for a local writing day with my writing group and some friends. About a dozen of us will be set up in a lake-side lodge for a binge writing spree. I know which novel I want to work on, so my goal this week is to plan some scenes.

A bientôt! 

Hoping for wisdom

Photos by Sharon

I joined a writing group called OWLS a while back, but that’s now really why I’ve decided I need them around my house. I’m hoping to deter critters from feeling at home on my back deck.

If I’m lucky, they may also convey a little wisdom on me and my writing.

Fingers crossed.

But for the time being, at least I like looking at them.

Almost OJT

I went to the Writer’s Police Academy this year. I wish I had time to talk about what a great experience it was. Meeting people who actually work in law enforcement and public safety without having a reporter’s notebook between us was a great experience. Almost “on the job” training.

And I got to shoot some guns. Which wasn’t nearly as scary as pretending to shoot a gun in the video training simulation that police cadets actually use.

But I don’t have time to go into detail. It will have to be enough to say I learned a lot that will, I hope, make my novels better.