Care Giving and the Writer's Life

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TIME is precious. Days pass in the blink of an eye and suddenly you realize the days have turned into months.

Finding time to write becomes last on your list of priorities. However, if writing brings you joy, and if you're reading this blogpost, I suspect it does, then we must write.

I have been in this place. I'd missed my critique group meetings. When I did manage to attend, I had nothing to share. My wonderfully supportive members understood, but encouraged me to write. They know how much writing means to me.

Some caregivers may find that writing down their feelings is cathartic. If this helps to relieve stress or heartache, please do it. 

For me, writing is a wonderful form of escapism. Losing myself in a world of silly, simple, and happy stories helps me to let go of the feelings that tug on my heart throughout the day. As I get lost in my make believe world, I feel my mood lift and my shoulders relax.

Now, I'm getting back into the groove. I take a little time at night, when the day is done to write. I print out my short stories and do some edits while sitting in the doctor's waiting room. Any time I can sneak in a bit of writing or spend time mentally creating, I take it. And it's happening! I've submitted a short story to Chicken Soup for the Soul and I've made the short list. I'm hoping to get the final notice any day now.

I'm finishing the final edits on a little children's story and a YA entry for a contest. Wish me Luck! 🤞

As an added bonus, I'm sharing my stories with my ill Dad and he's loving it!

Big Hugs to all of the caregivers out there 😍

Keep Writing, Keep Smiling, and Keep Submitting

 

 

Hung in there and found NANOWRIMO SUCCESS!

 

National Novel Writing Month is held every November. Participants do their best to write a 50,000 word novel draft in 30 days, throughout the month of November.

People from all over the world participate. I marvel at the thought of thousands and thousands of creatives writing at the same time. Published and unpublished authors creating and hopefully one day sharing their stories with the world. It's amazing.

Once registered, you have the opportunity to connect with other writers to make friends and cheer each other on to the finish. This event includes a Young Writers Program. These are only a few of the fun opportunities offered, but the encouragement throughout the journey including earning colorful badges as you reach milestones, online and in person write-ins, helpful and informational craft articles, etc. keep writers engaged. However, I was busy trying to stay on track and didn't take advantage of many of these opportunities. I did however make two lovely writing friends.

I must admit that if you miss even one day of writing or hit a writers block, it is very difficult to make the time up. But it can be done! Regardless of whether a participant reaches the 50,000 word count by November 30th, participation is a huge accomplishment. You may think it is easy for me to make that comment because I "made" the word count. Yes, this year I did. However, this is my third attempt. I was successful reaching the goal in my first try. I did not meet the goal in my second attempt. I didn't participate for a few years, but 2023, I met the goal. My 50,000 words are a rough, rough, and did I say, rough Draft? The trick to making the word count in 30 days, is to do absolutely no editing. It's imperative to turn off your inner editor during the 30 day challenge. If you are typing and you know you just made a spelling error, don't correct it, just keep typing. If you type a paragraph and feel it's not good and you will absolutely be chopping it, do not go back and delete it or try to correct it. Just keep going. If a scene idea pops into your head but it belongs in the middle of your story and you're only a quarter of the way in, type it anyway. Type it now. (I put asterisks in front of those scene ideas to alert me after the deadline to put that scene where it belongs.) It's important to get it on the page while the idea is fresh in your mind.) There will be plenty of time after November 30th to edit the good and the bad. Anything and everything that pops into your creative mind is worthy of the page. It's all about the word count. The point is to get that story idea out of your head and onto the page.

The holidays 🎅🎉💖🍀 have kept me busy and I did very little editing of my nanowrimo first draft. It's still a mess. I've recently begun sharing first draft chapters with my critique group.

Until next time, Keep Writing, Keep Submitting, and Keep Smiling!