IWSG: January2020!

2020!!! Wow! Ready or not, it's a new decade. Will we be blogging still in the next decade? Who knows. But for 2020, IWSG group is still the best there is. Started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, this group offers support and assistance to new and veteran writers. Find the entire list here and don't forget to check out the guidelines for next week's Twitter pitch opportunity.

This month's optional question: What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just "know" suddenly you wanted to write?

My 9th grade English teacher had us read The Hobbit. Then she lent me her own copies of Lord of the Rings. I was hooked on fantasy, but I wasn't really thinking about being a writer at all. I'd always loved reading and continued into adulthood and parenthood though there were years I was so busy I barely opened a book for pleasure. Almost thirty years after that dedicated and inspiring teacher turned me onto Tolkien, I created my own fantasy novel. Once I started writing, I knew I would never quit. As a busy mother, teacher, and coach, knowing I would be a writer didn't suddenly come to me. It was a plan. A plan for me to have some time for what I wanted. Usually that time was 10 PM to midnight, but it was mine.

Writing Business
I've been stuck. The space opera romance I've been working on just isn't flowing. I like my characters and know where the story is going, but I can't seem to sit down and write it. I brooded on it for most of the last four months and then decided I needed to set it aside for now. Instead of writing new stuff, I pulled out the manuscript of First Dragon, the first book in my second fantasy series that was previously published by a small press that went out of business. I'm determined to get that book back in print this year as well as the second book which has been through two rounds of editing by the now defunct publisher. Only a few independent publishers will consider a book that has been previously published. I'm making a list and checking it twice.

Entertainment
How good is The Witcher? Really, really good. I've watched it three times. The first one left me confused until near the last two episodes. The story is told along multiple timelines and it took me two viewings to totally figure it out. Then I watched the third time just to enjoy the Witcher's interactions with others. So much humor I missed at first though it is a dark, violent show.  I wasn't over-the-moon thrilled with the fourth season of The Expanse but it was okay. Hoping season 5 is better. The Bone Collector is a new show premiering on Friday. I'm going to check it out. Criminal Minds returns tonight for its last season. It's a creepy how, I'm going to watch anyway.

Happy New Year to you all. Our holidays were fun and stress-free. I'm grateful everyday that our children all get along with each other and us. They love spending time together. As they get older and busier, those times become more precious and appreciated. 

"May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp, and peace in your heart." Inuit proverb

I'm a long time member of RWA. If you've heard about anything going on with that largest of writers' organization, you'll understand how incredible it all is. Members like me who have only casually paid attention to the leadership don't even know what to think. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. That's all I have to say about it.

We've had our first real snow and I'll be taking my daughter sled riding today. And she wants to build a snowman just like Olaf. Yes, we're there already. Frozen has entered her understanding of the world. LOL

Have you watched The Witcher? Were your holidays pleasant? Are you enjoying any snow? Participating in the Twitter pitch?

Better New Year

Welcome 2014 and I wish all of you a better 2014 than 2013. If 2013 was a good year for you, then I hope this one is even better. For some 2013 was the year of challenge and adversity, perhaps disappointment. To you I say Happy, Better New Year.

Last year for the A to Z challenge, my theme was based on all the things I intended to do once I left my day job and became a full time writer. An entire list of goals to make myself a better, more prolific and more profitable writer. After four months of being a full time writer I have some general reflections on what I thought were great ideas.

Firstly, I love being at home and writing every day. The only days I haven't written in the past four months have been days I was traveling. I love having that cup of coffee or hot tea at my elbow. I like wearing my fuzzy socks and slippers to my job and getting the laundry done in between scenes. It's wonderful.

But I've also found I put a lot of pressure on myself to keep up with promotion and social media. When I had the old day job, I knew I didn't have enough time to spend hours on that side of the writing life. But now I should have the time and always feel like I should be doing more. More Facebook, more Twitter, more blogging and more, more everything. It sucks a little joy from the writing experience. But a few days ago I was enjoying browsing at the bookstore, flipping through some writer magazines, when I realized how much I enjoyed the unhurried moments like that one. And I discovered my New Year's resolution.

I'm not marking down a number of pages, novels or short stories that I'm going to write. I'm not going to vow a certain amount of blogging or other social media. Instead, this year I'm going to find my comfort zone. I'm going to avoid any stress or frustration with how much social media work I do or how much promotion I get done. I'm going to be myself and not try to make myself into some media wizard. I'll take time to enjoy the stack of jigsaw puzzles I have been longing to indulge in. I'll try some of those recipes I've found on Pinterest. I'll work on my cross-stitch that I find so rewarding. I will work out most days. I'm going to find that balance between my writing job and the rest of my life. I will never live up to all the goals I set down last April in A to Z. And I think it will make my 2014 a Happy Better New Year.

Are you setting goals for next year? Was 2013 good for you? Don't forget that IWSG will post next Wednesday instead of today.

Futhark Chronicles Have Arrived!

Happy New Year! This year is special to me as my very first fantasy novel has been released. The Keepers of Sulbreth, Book# 1 of The Futhark Chronicles, is now available in all bookstores choosing to carry it and on Amazon and other online retail stores.

This first book in an epic fantasy introduces readers to the island kingdom of Futhark and all the complex characters involved in, what else, saving the world. That is what epic fantasy is about, saving the world from evil and sometimes from ourselves.

It's so difficult resisting the temptation to check those Amazon numbers constantly. One number I have enjoyed peeking in on at the number of copies in stock. Not that I know the exact number but at least twice now Amazon has posted their little red-lettered warning that only a few are left and more are on their way. Hopefully that doesn't mean they only had two to begin with!

So I hope this new year brings moments of peace when people can stop worrying about war and money for a short time and relax with a good book (mine, please). I wish for work for all those capable so they have money to buy books and the hours to enjoy them.