Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Writing is working and working is discipline...




It's not been easy getting back into writing habits after a long break. Not only was I on a fantastic trip for ten days and I have to have the discipline to create and keep to a writing schedule, it's also the smaller version of a break down I get once in a while due to my difficult path.

The path being a writing career.



It's difficult to feel like what I'm doing is the right thing, that I'm good at it and it will all pay off, when there are no signs of it going anywhere or any kind of encouragement. I did write an advertised article that I got paid for and was on the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press -- which was awesome! I didn't get a byline and it wasn't the kind of thing I wanted to get paid to write and I'm not sure I even consider it published, but I DID get paid and it was the highest ranked article they ran in the series. But that kind of encouragement only lasts so long. The company currently doesn't need anything written and therefore, no writers. 
My new beats headphones, a bright, fun pink, has gotten me into music while working in a way I haven't been into in a long time and it's fantastic! Helps from outside distractions as well.

I post pretty pictures of things that inspire and motivate me in order to double the inspiration and motivation. Sometimes it works! I've at least been editing more and I'm nearly done with my novella! Not sure what I'll do with it though... probably self publish it as a kindle once I submit and get rejected by Kindle Singles. 



Sometimes a change of scenery helps. There's a fantastic new coffee shop that opened in my town. It's big, open, a lot of tables to choose from and a lot of natural light. Not to mention some great cups of coffee! Here is a dirty chai. It's a chai with two shots of espresso and it's my new favorite drink, especially for autumn. The scenery and fancy drink helped me get a lot of editing done!

 A few things I read that help me feel inspired in certain ways. Bella Grace is a beautiful magazine (if you can call it that, it's more like a book) filled with people's narratives, essays, quotes and even writing prompts to enjoy life, be in the moment, notice the small things, that life is beautiful and full of magic. I submitted a piece to them, thinking it was not only a perjfect thing for me to read (I have three issues now) but that it's so me that it would be perfect for me to write for, too. Well, they didn't publish my piece.

It's hard to take rejection, especially from something you like, admire and feel inspired by so much. I'll keep reading it, keep being inspired by it, and I'll keep submitting to it as well.

There's also Womankind, also my third volume. It's different than Bella Grace. It can be a bit too feminist for me, but there are also some great articles about all sorts. This is an autumn/Halloween issue full of bats and caves and haunted castles! Totally inspiring.

I'm reading The Martian, which has had a LOT of hype, and so far I'm enjoying it. It's not inspriing in the way that I can take it to my own writing, but it's nice to read something not YA or complete fantasy sprinkled with angst romance. I've been having a seriousl problem reading 75% of a novel and then putting it down and starting a new book! I really need to finish my books. I have so many to read. So I'll finish this then I'll go back and finish all my mostly down novels. All whilst editing my own stories and starting new ones and maybe I can still get published in some way this year.

This is my year! It has to be.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

England 2015! Part 1

I've been back for a week now. I have been in a little denial and facing post-England depression, (I also suffer from post-Christmas depression and I post-Potter depression, it's a thing for me). That is why I haven't posted pictures here. I've been stalling to compile the entire event, the pain of going through all the amazing things we did and saw and know I'm no longer there... Oh here I go getting sad again. But also, it was amazing and I want to share it!

Let's just jump right in!

We got there Friday after a terrible series of events. Our flight left an hour late in Detroit due to thunderstorms, we had to sit it out on the runway and when we finally did take off, we had such terrible turbulence a woman actually screamed. It did not lift anyone's spirits. To make matters worse, we were only served drinks (and I mean drinks) once and our row was repeatedly forgotten for food, food, trash, trash, food, trash, drinks. It was ridiculous. When I asked the man if he would please give me the breakfast snack after just giving to the row behind us and the row in front of us he was all "Why are you yelling at me?" and I said "I'm not? We're on a plane and it's loud? GIVE ME FOOD."

We were another thirty minutes late due to flying around more storms and when we got to Amsterdam we had a total of 15 minutes to make it to our next flight. They made a little announcement on the plane to please let those hurrying to their next flight leave first, but not one gave a shit. Thanks everyone!

Once we got off the plane we ran to our next flight and made it just in time. They were beginning to board. K and I were able to pee at the bathroom right next to the gate then walked from there to the the plane. What happened next you asked? I'm sure you guessed it. With out large flight being so late and us barely making it to the next flight, can you guess what didn't make it? Our luggage!

When we arrived in Newcastle we all had a sinking suspicion, and it wasn't as if customs were friendly and we were finally in a good mood. We waited until they began turning the lights off in the baggage claim. Sigh. Off we go to the giant line for missing luggage where we were finally dealing with a pleasant person who took care of everything and assured us not only was something really really wrong with so many people missing their luggage, but also we would have it within a day or two.

It was hard to move on. I had already been in those clothes (sweats, mind you) for too long and I faced going the rest of the day in them. And then, then they didn't show up until the end of Saturday!

Let's get to the fun stuff.

Just a small bit of Morpeth... Along the river Wansbeck (I love all names)

On the Steppys! Husband with the face, me looking over my shoulder, brother and his girlfriend up ahead.



Lindisfarne on Holy Island!





Same day we were off to Bamburgh!





North Sea at Bamburgh Castle








Next day we were off to Dunstanburgh! Here we ware clamoring on the rocks of Craster




Dunstanburgh!











In Craster...



To The Botanist!