As The Write Stuff wheezes itself into month seven, I’m having trouble focusing. I’ve done a lot of adulting lately (e.g., moving, writing large checks, and talking with my husband endlessly about “house stuff”), which is apparently worse for my creative output than even my negative self-talk. Goal 1: Finish four short stories in 2017…
Category: Writing
Words, Words, Words
Speech 1: The Ice Breaker. The first speech of the Toastmasters Competent Communicator program is about introducing myself to the group, providing a benchmark for my current skill level, and standing and speaking without vomiting or passing out. Mr/Madam Toastmaster, fellow members, and guests. I’ve spent most of my life fighting with the voices in…
The Write Stuff: Halfway Home
I’ve been on The Write Stuff journey for six months. Let’s see how it’s going! Goal 1: Finish four short stories in 2017 Not much official movement since last month. I’ve incorporated most of the edits I got on the third draft of “Beginnings,” but I got a couple bigger pieces of feedback that need…
The Write Stuff: Back in the Game
We’re sliding into summer like a greased pig, and The Write Stuff is back on track. Goal 1: Finish four short stories in 2017 Look at that! We’ve got movement in row four. It felt good to get the second draft of that chapter posted and critiqued. And most of the feedback was pretty nitpicky,…
The Write Stuff: Ugghhhhhh
A third of the year is almost over, and as you can probably tell from the title, The Write Stuff is not going great. I haven’t made progress on any of my four goals since March; I can feel the shame spiral forming. It’s probably because I’ve spread myself too thin. There’s always a cross-stitch…