Rediscover Your Library

 I recently started using my local library again.  I'm not sure why I fell out of the habit, because libraries are generally awesome and a good source of books and other materials.

There are books I want to read but not necessarily own.  The library is ideal for those books.  It saves my wallet and my Kindle space.  

Plus, the due date encourages me to make time for reading.  As a write, I need to read.  As a bookworm, I need to read.  I have to remind myself that reading is not "goofing off," it's an important component to my career and my life.

One thing that helps is a web browser extension that will pop up when you look at books on Amazon or other vendors.  The extension will search your local library and see if the book for sale is available in your library.  I find this quite helpful when I'm checking out (see what I did there?) recommended reads.

The extension is free and works with Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.  You can get it here.  Let me know if you find it useful!

A major milestone...

 On June the 2nd I hit 1,800 days of writing in a row.  That means I wrote something every day, whether my column or fiction.  I wrote when sick, when depressed, when life threw me major curves.

That's a lot of days.  It is also a lot of words - according to my calculations, I wrote 1,083,432 words in that time.  Yup.  Over a million.

That is a lot, but it breaks down to about 593 words a day.  That's slightly over two pages.  I can usually crank that out in a half hour or so.  And I'm not a fast typist.

Let's say you only wrote 250 words a day.  For me, that's about fifteen minutes, but let's say it takes you a half hour.  And you do it every day. 

In a week, you'll have written 1,750 words  In a year, 91,000 - the equivalent of a novel and maybe a short story or two.  If you went 1,800 days of writing 250 words a day, you'd write 450,000 - almost half a million.

I tell you this to encourage you that wherever you are in a writing journey, little things add up.  Don't give up - keep plugging away and you will see your efforts grow.  And never underestimate the power of a streak.

Finally, celebrate your wins.  I went to Culver's and got a cheeseburger and a turtle sundae to reward myself for 1,800 days.  Remember - little wins count.   Be proud of them and build on them.

Keep on keeping on!

How are you doing?

 For a lot of people, this year has taken a toll.  The United States appears more divided than ever, and every day the news gives us reasons to be concerned.

If you are an artist of some kind, it might be tempting to say, "what's the point?  How can I focus on my art when it feels like everything is falling apart?"

I feel you.  I do.  I must admit my productivity took a hit the first quarter of the year.  I still wrote very day, but the words weren't as numerous as I would have liked.

But I'm still trying to write.  I plan on getting to publishing and a Kickstarter and all kinds of other things.  Why?  Because we need our art right now.

I need to make art because it is for me in part a coping mechanism when times are difficult.  Sometimes, when I'm struggling with an issue, writing a story about it helps me to figure things out.  It is something I can control (to a certain extent, when the characters let me <g>) and a way I can answer darkness.

And I need to make art for others.  For those who want a few minutes to escape a frustrating reality.  Who want a reason to smile, if only for a brief moment.  People whose psyches need nourishment.

If you are an artist right now, whatever your craft, please keep at it.  Even if it's hard.  Even if you don't think it matters.  Because it does.

Let's be those havens for those who need them now more than ever.

Perspective

 If I were to ask you what you defined as success in your life/career, what would you say?

I was recently challenged to consider this as an assignment for an online workshop I'm taking.  What did I consider a successful writing career?

I named a few things, like making more money, getting more stuff out for people to buy, and doing more publishing-related things.  

When I was done with the list, I admit I felt discouraged.  

Understand that I consider May of 2005 the start of my fiction writing career (my column started June of 1998, about seven years prior).  That means I've been at this almost twenty years.

Somehow I thought I'd be farther along than I am now.  I do not make a great deal of money with my writing.  While I've published a number of novels and short stories, I could be doing more in that area.  

Granted, I was a caregiver to a greater or lesser extent for thirteen of those years.  We have often had young people stay with us while they try to get on their feet so they didn't have to live on the street.  I feel these things are important and do not regret my investment in them.  But it did affect the writing.

When I said this to a fellow writer, she reminded me that I helped people.  She also made me look and see that my writing has had positive effects on readers (Please, if an author's writing has had a positive impact on you, take a minute and let them know. You will make their day).  I had to admit that, yes, my writing had done so.  

My column continues after nearly twenty-seven years.  That means I'm doing something right.  People still read it and comment on it and I truly appreciate all the feedback I get, positive and negative.

And I haven't given up.  Some people would look at all that time and decide writing wasn't for them.  I've been at this long enough to know that when it comes to writing, the true failure isn't rejections or lack of sales - the true failure is to stop writing.  I'm not willing to do that.

So, if you look at your life and think you've failed, maybe you just need a different perspective.  Ask a friend about it.  It might be you've been more successful than you realize.

Oops...

 I have been having a few rough days due to the not-so-small issue of lacking one of my medications.

I was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD as an adult a number of years go (I'm a little uncertain if we found I had the hyperactive part of it, but I know I have the rest).  This meant going on some medication that is tightly controlled.

I ran out of this medication at the end of last week.  I didn't notice it until I went to set up my pillbox for the week.  It explained some things - lack of focus and wanting to sleep a lot.  But I had to get it filled.

My regular pharmacy is constantly out of the medication, so, armed with a paper script, I had Don take it to another pharmacy for me today.  The pharmacy called me after a bit, informing me that they were no longer accepting prescriptions from my particular doctor.  The reasons why weren't clearly expressed, and I plan to let my doctor know there's a problem.

So we tried yet another pharmacy.  This one has delayed the prescription due to - wait for it - insurance issues.  They will get a call tomorrow asking what is going on.

In the meantime, I'm having to function and get things done.  When you've been on a medication as long as I have, you grow dependent on it. It's hard for me to get things done right now.  This includes writing stuff.

I'm thankful for my 1500+ day writing streak.  That will get me to the computer and get words made tonight.  They may not be many, but they will happen.

So if I strike you as flakier than usual recently, just put it down to lack of medication.  But I'm sure I'll be fine - oo, look!  Squirrel!

Greetings post-Milton

 I live in Central Florida.  We got a piece of Milton earlier this month.  The picture below is of the drainage ditch in front of our house during all the rain that he dumped on us:

Despite the wind and rain and all that water, we came through relatively unscathed.  We only lost power for 24 hours and aside from knocked over trash cans and a couple of pieces of roof shingle we suffered no damage.

I even wrote while the power was out, maintaining my streak.  I used my phone for a hotspot (I save my documents to a cloud) and wrote enough to keep my streak going, mindful of the fact the laptop was running on battery power.

I'm praying we have no more storms to deal with this year.  This one was plenty.

Hoping you stay safe as well.  And that nothing is preventing you pursuing your passions.

I am blessed...

 As a writer who still has much to learn and many more words to write, I am blessed by the people around me who not only pay lip service to this venture, but actively support it.

Ask a writer how important it is to have a positive support system, and you'll probably be told it can make or break a writer.  Without support on the home front, it can be difficult to start or maintain a career.  If you keep getting negative input from those you are closest to, getting to the keyboard can be that much harder.

I'm fortunate to have people like my husband Don, who will ask me before he goes to bed if I've written my words for the day yet and will urge me to get to my office if I haven't.  He reads what I place in front of him and doesn't imply I'm a failure because I'm still not making a whole lot of money yet.  When I am discouraged, he will remind me that this is a marathon and to do what I know to do.

He even invests in my workshops and conventions because they are part of the learning process and the business of writing.  He's my personal cheerleader and I'm grateful to have him in my life.

My friends want me to succeed and cheer me on to get going and write more stuff for them to read.  I appreciate them and their patience.

Hopefully you have an excellent support system as you go after your passion.  I hope there are people in your life cheering you on and encouraging you to pursue your dreams.  May that be as true for you as it is for me.

A Lovely Compliment

 Most writers I know, myself included, love to hear from readers.  Telling us they liked something we've written and put out there is almost guaranteed to bring a smile to our faces.

Earlier this week, a friend of mine approached me following Bible Study.  She blamed me for her not getting much sleep the night before, because she was up reading one of my books, The Silent Witness.

I grinned like an idiot and didn't apologize.  

Readers, statements like this can make a writer's day.  It can be a ray of sunshine on days the words fight us.  When we question our abilities.  When it just overall seems hard.

If you know a writer, find something nice to say about their work.  Even a quick text saying, "I love your stuff" will do.

Trust me, we appreciate it more than you know.

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!

Keeping on keeping on...

 There is a lot going on in my life right now.  Sometimes it feels like too much.  I didn't even realize how much I was dealing with until my counselor pointed it out.

I'm behind in things I want to accomplish on the writing front.  I need to get caught up on some publishing matters, plus work on a Kickstarter I want to do hopefully next month.

I'm still writing and keeping up my daily streak of at least 250 words.  Every little bit helps, so each day is a small victory, even if I get nothing else done that day.

Here's hoping you are enjoying victories, however small, each day.

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.

Spinning plates

 Lately I feel as if I'm spinning a number of plates in my life.  They're all on poles and I have to keep them spinning lest they fall and break.  There are a number of them so I'm currently rushing around,  trying to keep them all going without dropping one.

In the writing department, I'm struggling with low word counts (I do write at least 250 words each day - my streak is over 1100 days right now).  I'm working to get my column collection done so I can send it to mt waiting backers.  I'm in the middle of a short story and I'm stuck because I can't figure something out.  Oh, and I'm taking a six-week course on writing that I'm enjoying and learning from but, like everything else, it takes time.

In real life, I've been working with a new (to me) diet and exercise plan.  So far, in about 2 months, I've dropped twenty pounds.  I'm pleased with it but it takes up time and brain space to keep up with.  Another couple of plates to spin.

And, in general, I lead a full life.  I teach a Ladies Bible Class on Tuesday mornings.  I teach four and five-year-old kids during Wednesday night Bible Study.  My husband and I try to match our schedules so we can spend time together and work on our relationship on a daily basis.  And there's running the household with all that entails.

Just typing that out makes me sigh.

I'm trying to, as a friend put it, "give myself grace."  I'm accepting I'm not perfect and doing the best I can under the circumstances.  So far my head is still above water.  I'm meeting my obligations and working on solutions.

What do you do when it seems you have a lot to do?  How do you keep YOUR plates spinning?

Fall is here...

 ...unless you live in Central Florida, where today it was in the mid-eighties and fall has not yet made an appearance.  When it finally does, it may well be a blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of thing.  Summers are long around here, part of the price we pay for being able to go outdoors in February and not freeze our noses off.

Last post I said I needed to send out stories.  Last week I managed to get three sent out before a looming September 30th midnight deadline.  I have no idea how these stories will fare at the markets I sent them off to.  But time will tell.

I am currently finishing up a short story I will submit to an anthology magazine called Thrill Ride.  Below is a picture of me holding the latest issue, called "No W.W.M. (White Western Males)".  My story "One More Time" tells the story of a former female hacker dying of breast cancer who is persuaded to do a final job.

You can click here to see where to purchase your own copy.

I've still been writing every day but September seemed to be a light month for that.  But now we have a new month and I'm looking forward to getting words done and out.

Talk to you in a couple of weeks.  Hope you have cool weather to enjoy.

Where Did July Go?

 I am having trouble believing we are now in August.  July went by way too quickly.

Two events in July: 

At the beginning of the month I attended Shore Leave in Maryland.  As always, a wonderful time checking in with fellow wordsmiths and meeting new people.  This year I brought books for the first time to sell, and actually sold two (that may not look like a lot but believe me it's better than zero).

At the end of the month Don and I took a trip to South Carolina to see grandbabies.  Lavinia, who is five, is set to begin kindergarten this month.  Again I ask, where did the time go?  

It was a wonderful visit despite the air conditioning in the house going out near the end of it.  We all took it in stride and still enjoyed the precious time we had with the family.

I have no trips scheduled for the next few months and I hope to use that time to catch up on stuff.  Believe me, there is plenty to catch up on!

Hope you had a great July.  Let's see what August has in store for us.

Blew Past a Couple of Milestones...

 At the end of June I hit two milestones and forgot to mention them.

First, "Laura's Look" is officially 25 years old.  That's a lot of columns and a lot of patience and grace from the Highlands News-Sun.  My thanks to them for continuing to run it.

I'm working on a special way to celebrate this 25th year.  Stay tuned for more information.  For now, if you'd like to read the earliest columns, you can pick up "Laura's Look: 1998-2000" at Amazon:

The second milestone has to do with my writing every day.  At the end of June I passed the three year mark.  That's three years of putting word down every single day, with no breaks.  I'm kind of proud of that streak and hope to continue it for some time to come.

I'm hoping to share some big news at the beginning of August.  Stay cool, stay safe, and I'll see you then.

The First Half of the Year is Done...

 Where did the time go?  It feels like the past six months have flown by without stopping to catch its breath.  Yet here we are, the beginning of July.

Looking at my writing stats for the year so far, I managed to eke out 100,484 words.  That number could be better - I wanted to be at 150,000 by now - but it's still a respectable number for me.

Notice I said, "for me."  Not for you, not for Stephen King, not for any other writer.  Comparing myself to others on this and other aspects of writing would simply make me crazy and discouraged.  

I am going to try to push it some the second half of the year.  While I have trips planned, none are of the magnitude of the Hawaiian cruise.  I can goose the writing a little bit and get more done.

As far as the publishing side of things, I've gotten out a short story collection and two novels, one of which is book 5 of a series I cowrite with fellow author Azure Avians.  I'm sort of on track with this, wanting to get seven things published this year.  I'm currently working on a project for another column collection and have a couple of books I'd like to get published before the end of the year.

What goals do you have looking at the rest of 2023?

By the way, I will be attending Shore Leave in Hunt Valley, Maryland this upcoming weekend.  Below is my schedule for the panels I will participate in.  If you're in the area, I'd love to see you.

Finding My Groove

 One bad thing about being on vacation for almost two weeks is I've lost my writing groove.  While I managed to write every day, it continued to be less than five hundred words more often than not.

It didn't help this week I got two pieces of bad news that impacted my mood and writing.  One night I started to cry from fatigue and sadness.  I had people to get me through it, and I did eke out a few words that night.  

I also have a number of things I need to get done.  It's sometimes hard to pick what to do from all the choices.  I hope I can pick one and focus - just a matter of which one.

Let me finish this blog post by wishing all dads a Happy Father's Day.  Wish I could call my dad and talk to him.  Make sure you call yours.

Getting Rid of "Only"

 In some ways, February was a challenging month.  It was busy, I started the month with a nasty cough (thank you, pine pollen), and in general wasn't feeling at the top of my game.

My column still went out every week.  I still wrote every day, even if it wasn't a lot.  In the end I wrote 12,226 words in February.

Talking with a couple of fellow writers, I bemoaned that I'd "only" written around twelve thousand words.

Carolyn, one of the writers, encouraged me to change my thinking.  She framed it like this: despite having a difficult month, I succeeded in writing over twelve thousand words.

That gave me pause.  Looking at it that way, it wasn't a failure on my part, but something to celebrate.  Feeling good about the writing increases the chance I'll do it.  

"Only" was a weight that held me back from what I'd truly accomplished.

So, despite a difficult month, I wrote every day, my column went out every week, and I wrote over twelve thousand words.  (I also have a book out to my copyeditor - look for Death on the Air later this month)

If you, like me, find yourself saying, "I only did..." see if you can reframe it.  Turn it into a positive.

You'll be amazed at how it helps your attitude.

A Workout in Vegas

 So last week I found myself in Las Vegas, Nevada, attending a Fantasy Caper writing workshop taught by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, who as a bestselling author knows a thing or three thousand about writing that kind of a story.

Along with nine other writers, I attended lectures, wrote exercises and a short story, and let me tell you - it wasn't easy.  This is a difficult subgenre to write well, a lesson we all quickly learned as we struggled with bringing enough description into our exercises and stories.

Understand that all the writers attending (myself included) are not bad writers.  Kris made a point of repeating that fact over and over.  This is hard, she said.  It's a new thing you're learning.

Writing a fantasy caper is like trying to walk, chew gum, juggle, skip rope, and yodel - all at the same tine.  There are a lot of different things going on in such a story, and you need to be on top of all of them.

I have my notes and assignments.  I look forward to adding this tool to my writer's toolbox.

Some of you are probably asking, "But did she have fun?"

Why, yes, yes I did.  I got to spend time with friends I hadn't seen in real life for a bit.  I got to write, something that I enjoy.  But, in case you're wondering, I didn't gamble.  For one thing, there was no time.  For another, I needed my money for meals, which were expensive, though overall good quality.

I'm back home and nearly caught up on sleep.  It was a great time working out my writing muscles.  I hope I will be able to attend another one in the future.

A Milestone Reached

 This is being posted late because I wanted to do my daily writing first.  Why was that important?

Today was a special day.  Today marked the 900th day in a row of writing for me.

That's 900 days of getting at least a few words down.  That's doing it despite fatigue, sickness, and grief.  That's squeezing it in when I've been busy and burning the midnight oil to finish a project.

It feels good to hit it.  For me, a streak is incredibly motivating.  The longer it goes, the harder it is to break.  I can look at the march of stars on my calendar and see that every day, I accomplished this one thing.

Will it last forever?  Who knows?  So far, Covid hasn't stopped it, a death in the family hasn't stopped it, my lack of discipline hasn't stopped it.  I'm not saying it can't be stopped.  But so far, it's healthy.

My next goal?  1,000 days, of course.  

What motivates you in your passion?