Follow up to Belated Sunday Meditation Post

Today I woke up and wrote.

This afternoon, I wrote a short fic between classes.

It feels awesome when I make my word worth something and respect myself and my writing.

And now, off to study so I can write even more.

Belated Sunday Meditation: Consistently Persistent

Missed my Sunday meditation...but this does apply in that vein. Belated then it is.

I'm currently a reentry student in college and I have to say, this semester is more intense than I factored. Not the work but the sheer amount of writing is more than I expected. It makes me want to write creatively just to balance all the dry stuff. Since my last post, I've found myself waking up early to write then getting sidetracked by the impending exam, essay or book report . This happens even when I have amply prepared for them but I start second guessing myself. As a result, I'm not prioritizing my passion. How rude I am to myself for doing this?

Thankfully, this past weekend I participated with talented, awesome friends in a quarterly 24-hour Short Story Contest at Writer's Weekly. I've never done something like that before and I really liked it. It was fun even if I now keep thinking of all the things I could have done to improve my submission. But I submitted something I liked, believe can be enjoyed by others and says something. It felt good. It was fun especially sharing the pressure to get it submitted, ideas and general challenges with talented friends (who I think have a FANTASTIC shot at winning the top prizes). Thank you, if you guys are reading this. It was a great experience and you had a lot to do with that too.

Really, I refuse to allow those assignments to continue to get in my way, though I acknowledge they are a priority too. I just have to relax. Lack of sleep right now is probably not helping me either. But I know how good I feel working at one of my passions and I can't continue to improve or get where I'm going if I don't respect my time. Everyone (you know, the mysterious "they") says that one part of writing is persistence and another is consistency. I'm persistent, no doubt. I need to get more consistency. Tomorrow, I wake up and exam or not I write an hour and return to my center again. I also need to submit to my writer's group. That will be good for me too.

I'm going to participate in National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo in November of this year. I can't wait. Last year I "won" and wrote a 50k novel in 30 days. Please note, I did not provide an adjective such as great, fantastic or in the realm of publishing before the word novel in that last sentence. But I did meet the goal, gain a lot of self confidence and have fun. This year, I'm going to attempt to do it again, but this time write something with the intention to submit it for publishing. If you want to buddy up for encouragement, commiseration and general goofy hi-jinks, please let me know.

Right now, I'm going to have some tea and get some sleep. Then I'm going to wake up and do some fantastic writing. How about you?

Scattered Distracted Writing Thoughts

I have had a hard time with my writing discipline as workload is currently very demanding, so I'm doing minimal effort. But I'm making an effort and writing something, every day. That counts right? Not as lengthy but I'm writing exercising my brain.

And now inspiration strikes as the thunder growls above my head and shakes the house. Quite a way for Mother Nature to announce darn your calendar, Fall is here. Sure, it's probably nothing compared to the East Coast storms, but still it rattles the house and makes the air smell earthy, damp and clean.

There's got to be something I can do with thunder right? That's a good prompt.

Ok work to do... and writing

Sunday Writing Meditation: Hauntings and Sparks

I've been haunted all weekend by a phrase. Phrases can act as writing and/or story prompts for me, certain phrases demand that I write them down and let them feed on my imagination. I'll have slips of phrases that bounce around my head and if I try to ignore them they turn incessant and insistent. Some of the phrases probably aren't all that clever or extraordinary beyond the fascination my mind holds for them. Other times they seem to come from me or conversations with friends, loved ones even overhead by two strangers (strangers can offer some of the best phrases empty of any context but what I create.) Occasionally song lyrics will provide them, too. But from whatever origin, they repeat in my mind and become something more than their original intention. They become sparks to a story. The phrase becomes either the opening words, the plot, the climax, the first indication of a new character's birth. They spark.

Now I love when sparks happen, when I'm feeling sparked inside. The way inspiration slides over my thoughts, warms my confidence. That feeling whenever things are flowing or clicking, when all the words pouring out smoothly like they have always been within me and were just waiting for me to release them. When the story and context feel right. At those moments I feel I am doing what I should be doing and all is right with the world. Harmonious. I love being haunted by words and phrases - it's pleasure.

But I can't let myself get hung up on needing to feel this way in order to write. Because in later review what I actually write during that time may not be all that great (though often it could become better and possibly damn good). The writing's fate lies in my persistence to continue and in the rewrite(s). I must remember not to believe the haunting feeling born from a phrase and coupled with that everything-I-write-is-brilliant feeling while I'm sparked represents the entirety of my ability to write well. My writing comes from more than just random flashes of inspiration. It just takes flight from the flashes.

After all, it's what happens after the spark fades, when I'm pushing through to the other side where my real reward lies, I suspect. That is where the writer in me is tempered. So that's my Sunday meditation: Be haunted, use the spark and enjoy it but don't be discouraged when the feeling fades away. Push through.

I'm going to go write and have some brunch, in the reverse order. What will you do?

Writer: Madeleine L'Engle 11/29/18 - 9/6/2007

Here is a writer who sparked so many at such young ages (myself included). She has always been an inspiration and hero for me. It's no small thing to say A Wrinkle in Time completely changed me. It also opened my eyes to what stories can be if you refuse to let yourself be limited by other's perceptions. So many wonderful lessons. Such a passionate strong writing voice. A quote by her:

"In my dreams, I never have an age," she said. "I never write for any age group in mind. When people do, they tend to be tolerant and condescending and they don't write as well as they can write.

"When you underestimate your audience, you're cutting yourself off from your best work."

What a lovely legacy. I'm glad she was able to share it with so many.

The Other World Descends While I Meet More Writers

Since my last post my non-writing world has arrived, so I missed sharing my Sunday meditation. At this point, it likely would have been a shell-shocked meditation about how much essay writing I've got to do this semester in college. Am I in for a loooong four months. Should be fun in there...somewhere.

Attended my first writer's group meeting tonight (Thank you Richard!). Based on my perusal of "How to tell if the writing group you are attending is awesome or not" articles then just listening/watching the participants, I have to say my first impression is that I like this group. I'm not just saying that because some of them may trip here and find me (hello and welcome if you do). What I really liked about them is how they communicated and supported each other. The fact they offered each other constructive criticism, supported by reasons then offered pertinent suggestions of how to improve that were validated or clarified as opinion. They ended critiques with something positive said or reinforced, which I think is very humane and crucial regardless if one is tough-skinned or not. From the writing excerpts that I read in various stages of development, they've got passion and true sparks. There are some talented writers in this group and the levels of expertise appears to vary from new, intermediate and established. They appear to acknowledge and appreciate growth at any level.

I didn't meet all the members so I'm sure there must be some who speak with a sandpaper tongue rather than a silver one. That is probably a good thing as I'm a fan of balance. Personal preferences should probably be noted too, but they gave an impression that they are serious about wanting to write and grow. Another key point - passionate about writing and reading. We'll see how the next few meetings go and what happens when I submit my first piece for review. Hmm, more milestones ahead for me!

My organization plan is in slow mode as I take another week to get my non-writing world rhythms worked out (is that a good alliteration or just a funky tongue twister?) I'm still writing four days each week, I'm just not worrying about my personal quotas or counts yet. I'm focused on freewrites, a couple flash fics and enjoying writing fun stuff. Maybe its not quite as much as I want to be doing toward plan, but I'm writing consistently so I'm happy.

I'm going to get some rest so that I can wake up early and do some freewriting before the other world descends again. What will you do during your day to feel good or get closer to your writing goals?