Some observations...

 Lately I've been looking at how I spend my time when it comes to writing and writing-related projects.  I do this with an eye to make some changes that will benefit my struggling career.

For a long time now, my goal has been to write "before bedtime."  While this sounds good in theory, I discovered I was putting off the writing later and later in the evening.  Because of fatigue, it meant I didn't write as much because I was too tired.

There was a time this wasn't an issue.  However, age has crept up on me and I have to accept I am no longer in my twenties or thirties.  While I can still stay up late, there is no guarantee I will have a lot of brain to work with.

I made the decision to switch the goal to writing before dinner instead of bedtime.  This means I still don't have to write first thing in the day (I am still not a morning person) but I do have to produce words in the afternoon, a good time for me to write brainwise.

It's not perfect yet but I'm discovering I write more and like it better when I pull it off.  There may come a time I back the time up some, but I'm trying this for now.

As for the rest, I know I need to set aside time for writing-related work.  That I might be able to do earlier in the day.  The trick is to set a time period I can work with.

For now, I might have to set up the time the night before, depending on my schedule for the following day.  I will try that and see if I get more done.

Hope May started off well for you.  Talk to you later this month!

Hello, Unwelcome Life Roll...

 The past week has been a difficult one.  I don't want to go into gory details, but I will assure you my marriage and health are okay.  But what's happening in my life right now has affected me on numerous levels, and I have been sad a good part of the week.

Fellow writers and I talk about "life rolls."  There are events, good or bad, that seriously impact one's life.  Some life rolls are minor - a cold, or maybe you had a tiff with your spouse.  Some are gigantic - a death in the family, a move, a change in employment.  

My particular life roll isn't minor, but it's not gigantic.  However, it's big enough to have an impact in almost every area in my life.

Including the writing.

For me, writing can be a refuge from bad stuff.  Since the end of June, 2020, I've managed to write at least a few words every day up till now.  At times it has been something to keep me sane in an insane world.  Other times it was something I could fall back on, even when I was grieving or angry.

This time, the writing has been hard.  This particular life roll has taken a lot of space in my brain, and crowded out the words.

I had to put down a project I'd been working on because I just couldn't get into it.  I also need to finish my research for it, and I've struggled to do that as well.

Instead, I'm writing what I'm calling a "therapy story."  The circumstances in the story aren't quite like what I'm going through, but there are similarities.  I'm hoping getting some of the emotions out through my fingertips will help me process them better.

This life roll will eventually sort itself out.  There will be a point I can move past the worst of it and get my focus back.

Until then, I will try to take it one day and one word at a time.

Sending stories out.

 I currently have over one hundred short stories that are gathering digital dust on my hard drive.  I know I need to do something with them.

One possibility is to send them out to markets that buy short fiction.  Note: "buy," not get for free.  Some publications claim that "exposure" is just as good as getting paid.  As for as I know you can't pay for your groceries with exposure.

This sounds simple enough.  And it really isn't hard.  It does take time, and recently I've found myself falling into the (bad) habit of not taking the time out to send stories out.

And yes, usually the answer that comes back is "no."  Sometimes it's a nice "no," as in, "This is really good but we can't use it,"  But one thing you learn quickly in this business is that "no" is a more common answer than "yes" when it comes to selling your short fiction.

I could also bundle my short fiction into collections.  I've done this in the past and am tentatively  planning to release a holiday collection in November.  This also takes time.

I know I can do it.  I have a system to ensure it gets done.  Time to blow the dust off it and get going again.  Those stories aren't going to send themselves.

Wish me luck.