[Life] Updates and Accountability
I meant to be more active here. And I need to be — but still figuring some content things out.
It’s been just over a month now since the “DRP”. So far everyone is playing the deal straight. We’ll see how long that lasts.
The challenge has been getting the new routines down. Figuring out the creative writer thing (AGAIN) and finishing up some last commitments tied to the Day Job. I co-taught a Public Information Officer class to end a certification program for regional folks. A couple of folks actually asked if I would come back for that. The answer was an easy YES. I’m still getting paid, and I made a commitment to those professional, wasn’t going to abandon those folks. It was a good class.
Something I have learned about myself. When it comes to teaching a process – math, how to do something in a software, etc. – I am a bad teacher. It’s faster and easier to just do it myself than to try to explain it. The last time I did that virtually, it was virtual and I nearly broke my mouse trying to get the person driving the screen to move where I needed them to. BUT…if I’m facilitating a discussion, just imparting knowledge and best practice? I can do that all day long and enjoy it. (It’s completely exhausting, and how do people ACTUALLY do that all day long every day???
This week, though seems to have clicked into place for what I’ve been intending to do all along. Creative stuff in the mornings. Other things in the afternoons/evenings. Have I landed on ONE project to work to completion? No. Have I been writing and working on multiple projects? Yes, I have, which still means word counts and forward momentum. Along with doing “Business of Writing”.
To that end, I’ll be participating in Scrappy’s SpecFic Symposium on the University of North Texas campus on April 26. The event is free but seating is limited.
It’s been an adjustment, which is obviously not COMPLETELY ingrained in muscle memory, but it feels good. I’m also reading more, which is also a pleasant change. With all the STUFF going on around us, it’s nice to be able to step away from doom scrolling or mindlessly playing a game on my tablet and focus on a good narrative. I want to shout out all the authors out there writing cozy, silly, just plain FUN fiction (and throwing some deeper things in there) the need is great and you’re stepping up to fill the need. I applaud you and hope to see you in the ranks again very soon. I have some short stories in the pipelines and working on some longer things.
It’s happening!