A consequence of relaxation

An unintended consequence of taking a bit of time away from my writing has been that I'm wondering if I want to continue writing.

Let me hasten to say I suspect I *will* continue to pursue publication. I just may do it on a different timeline and in a different manner. I'm finding that the goals I once had are no longer valid for me. I don't have interest in those things: finding an agent or a bigger venue for my books. They just don't interest me. I don't want to promote hither-and-yon about new releases. I want to do some quiet blogging, chatting, and talking about them.

So I'm setting about creating a new set of goals. I'm hoping to have a new idea in mind of where I want to go within a week or two. I'll give myself 2 years to reach the milestones on the list. At the end of 2 years, I'll check again where I am and see if I'm close, if I care, etc.

It's all so very interesting, this publishing ride of mine....

Ignore this space ... it's a test

I'm trying to set up a feed to my Amazon page. Since I've never done this before, I anticipate some trial and error. So you may see a test post here and there.

Ignore me until I say otherwise.  8)

A place overlooked by the world

I'm in Iowa right now, visiting family.

This town is like a microcosm of what America used to be like. People don't lock their cars (or their houses). People know who you are and why you're in town (to visit family). Guys bag your groceries at the grocery store and carry it out for you -- and they wear neckties and white shirts! Everyone is polite, the streets are clean, and it's amazingly low key.

I love this place. I wish I could bottle the essence of this place and keep it with me forever. Seriously. It's a balm to my soul. Which is why I visit as often as I do.

A bullet dodged

I woke up today and my cell phone appeared to be dead.

Puzzling, since it worked last night but this morning...nada. I plugged it in and charged it fully but still no phone. Wouldn't turn on.

So I pried apart the decorative covering I had purchased for it, removed the battery, reinserted, and voila: phone.

Sometimes the simple 'wins' are the best, aren't they? What was going to be a gloomy day spent at the Verizon store, arguing with clerks, has turned into: what should I do with my Sunday now?

Life is sometimes Very Good.

The best laid plans ...

I'm working on a new book and this one was giving me fits -- I just couldn't get the groove on the book.

When that happens, I've found that all I need to do is unconnect from the world for a bit and FOCUS like crazy. If I do that, then I can usually find my way through the morass that's holding me back.

It happened again. I let my mind wander (the best way to focus) and I came up with what I think is an excellent way to tie my secondary character in this book to a previous book. By doing that, I open up a new world of possibilities in how I can have the plot move.

Lack of focus is a good thing sometimes!

A day for ME!

I have an entire weekend of Unplanned Me. This means I have nothing that *has* to get accomplished (oh, there's the usual: laundry; groceries, etc.) But I'm not going anywhere and I'm not on deadline for anything.

How did I spend my Saturday? On Friday, I thought, "What would be fun tomorrow?"

An early morning swim at the gym. Stop at the casino (very early in the a.m.). I love casinos in the early morning. They're quieter, the people there aren't desperate (yet), and there's plenty of chance to wander around and try out different slot machines. I spent an enjoyable 2 hours, frittering away $30 on assorted machines.

Then to the garden center. The best time at a garden center is when it rains, and it was drizzling today. I scored some plants with no one else there to jostle me as I wandered about, under my umbrella. I came home and had the plants in the ground by 10 a.m. Then I cleaned up my little garden shed, had some lunch then talked the Spousal Unit into a movie: Iron Man 2.

I am a sucker for Super Hero movies. I love 'em. IM is very good, too, because Tony Stark is a well-rounded character (annoying sometimes but very 3-dimensional). We had a rollicking good time then went to our favorite sandwich shop for a meal. Back home early enough to watch horse racing on TV (another of my favorite things) and now I can sit down and write.

What a great day of ME things. ME ME ME

We all need these days now and again, days of "what do *I* want to do today". No deadlines to meet, no planes to catch, no trips to take.

You know what ... I may do it again tomorrow!

Why are we here?

It seems like whenever I have time away from thinking about publishing, whenever I come back to it, I wonder why the heck I'm doing this.

I had a hectic but fun weekend with my family last weekend, and publishing was on the periphery of my mind. Now I'm back to my routine and I find myself asking why I do this -- why do I write? why do I attempt to be published? Why do I read reviews, and industry blogs, and author blogs?

I recently read an article about a "Vision Map" -- it's a New Age kind of thing where a person is supposed to cut out pictures of things that give her a visceral reaction. Keep those pictures, and eventually you'll come up with a collage of things that reflect your true inner vision.

I'm starting to think my books are my Vision Map. They reflect themes and topics that intrigued me at the time. If that's so, should I care about sales and placement in lists and reader reaction? If my books are written mainly for me, well, why should I care about anyone else?

One more thing to ponder as I resume my writing cloak and settle back into routine.