Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Posts Tagged ‘Updates’
Hey everyone!
If you’re just discovering me at my new .com, welcome. As you can tell (if you can read), I’m all about writing. Love it, can’t get enough of it. I’ve had a writing blog of some type for the last four years and have finally gotten my own place to bring it all together.
I won’t be posting a whole lot here yet until I get the fine details ironed out with WordPress, templates, graphics…all the good stuff…but be sure to check out my older posts either in the sidebar or at http://www.writer-in-progress.blogspot.com.
Hope to be up and running by April 1st (no fooling!) In the meantime, pour a cup of coffee and read on!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Even the best-laid plans…
My post last Friday, the one about goals, was supposed to be my own way to kick off my new plan for posting here on the blog. I love my blog and missed posting over the holidays, so I worked out all kinds of post topics, ideas & such so I could make it worth your time to read (after all, who wants to read a boring blog?!).
Unfortunately, life’s had another idea in mind. My brother, whom I refer to often as my baby brother (hey, he’s 7 years younger…he’ll always be the baby!) has been in pretty serious condition for the past three weeks. It started with a bout of pneumonia but has worsened into a host of other, more serious problems. As a result, I’ve spent a majority of my free time with him and the parents at the hospital and the blog has taken a back seat. I’m still meeting my other deadlines but haven’t had a chance to get all my blogging plans in place like I’d hoped…yet.
I’ve still got the plans, but not the time. I’m grateful you’re here to read and hope to get things up and moving again soon, but in the meantime, thanks so much for your patience and positive thoughts (if you’re following me from Twitter or Facebook).
In the meantime, get back to the writing 
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Aren’t You Lucky I’m a Pack rat..
I’ve struggled with being a pack rat for most of my life. Not to the extent that I have to move out of my house from balls of string or rubber bands I’ve collected, and not as bad as one of the ladies I saw on Oprah who couldn’t open her front door, but I’m still known to collect bits and pieces of “stuff” that I really don’t need.
I have actually become less of a pack rat in the real world since discovering feng shui, but that hasn’t changed my online habits of keeping all kinds of websites, newsletters, links and other “stuff” related to writing. I have a folder set up for that purpose with my email server, and I just realized it has about 250 links and articles for writers that I’ve been keeping to share with you all…and I haven’t.
So in the name of decluttering, I’m going through them, re-evaluating their usefulness, and I’ll be posting them here off and on. (Usually during my lunch period as I really miss blogging and have had no time to do it lately). Hopefully you’ll find something helpful, useful or insightful. I’ll always include the referring source so you can check out that as well (so many good writing newsletters and ezines out there).
Always feel free to share…the only thing better than helping ourselves is helping others. And happy writing
Beth
Monday, March 31, 2008
Back in the saddle…
Not that I ever *was* in the saddle, mind you. Or stayed there for long…but I digress…
Back from spring break. Been back, actually. Returned Saturday evening. That time lapse from out west to back east gets harder each time. I was up til 11 last night and barely slept a wink before the alarm jarred me again at 5. Ack!
How has your writing been coming? I find that with the transition from winter into spring, I come out with more energy and focus–and that ideas for articles spring forth like crocuses (crocusii??) from the cold ground to get me going again. I love it!
This spring is no different so far. Last night in my sleepless state, I had no less than eleven fabulous (aren’t they always fabulous?!) magazine article ideas come to me. I scratched them down with the goal of sending out six queries this week. That’s about one a day with a day off (or four in one day and two in another..lol). I’m a weird bird in that I *LOVE LOVE LOVE* to write queries. Go figure. They’re sometimes more exciting than the article! (ok, maybe not). But they’re where my ideas turn into something solid…I love the process.
What about you? Is spring putting the pep back in your writing step? I’d love to hear about it. How about we have a Comment Contest for April? For each (relevant, not just drive-by) comment you post, I’ll put your name in a drawing for some fabulous writer’s prize (I’m guessing a book). Use the commenting to your advantage–update us on your blog, your writing or your creative life, ask writing questions or share some writing insight. Writers love reading…give us something to check out!
On that note, I’m heading back to my query challenge. I also set quarterly goals (April-June) of having six new deadlines to add to my calendar between now and June, so I’d better get cracking…
Happy Writing–and commenting!
Beth
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Almost off….
I’m half a day away from leaving on spring break. This year, I’m headed to a place in Arizona I fell in love with two years ago in the Sonoran desert.
None too soon, either. I haven’t been posting much due to a plethora (I’ve never used that word before in conversation lol) of issues on the home, job and family fronts. I’m hoping this time away (with sunshine, lord knows we don’t get enough of that in Ohio) brings me back refreshed. I’ve already got a headstart in having done some good fiction writing these last two days.
I promise more regular posts when I get back. In the meantime, check out a new blog or two in the sidebar or visit the archives for mighty good writing advice.
Happy writing!
Beth
Thursday, March 20, 2008
sometimes….
….life interferes with the plans we’ve made.
Without getting into a huge post, let’s just say that life’s dealt me five interesting cards lately–and I don’t remember how to play poker.
It’s upsetting but not devastating. What’s most upsetting is that it’s interfered with my writing. Even though I have the bones of a fiction project I’ve been working on and they were coming together nicely, I’m struggling with the motivation to do anything further. Normally rife with ideas, my brain isn’t cooperating, just slugging along. And the unending rain we’ve had here in Ohio this past week hasn’t helped, either.
Today I feel a little better: I forgot about a deadline (tomorrow, I think) for an article on networking, so I sat down a few minutes ago without a solitary idea in my head and ended up with an outline that not only will guide my article but breathed a little life back into my creativity. You writers know what I mean: that little warm smile you feel inside when your words come to life on the page.
Even if I can’t control the events unfolding around me, I can write. I will write. It will keep me sane…well, as close as we can expect, anyway.
I’ll let you know when the article is done (hopefully tonight since it’s due tomorrow…lol)
happy writing…
Beth
It's pretty simple, really. I'm a writer who loves writing about writing, and sharing all the tricks of the trade with other writers. And when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing. I have a hunch you know what I mean :)