2020 is going down in history for many things but one of the most frustrating is the rain. After a spring of quarantine and isolation, summer arrived late. So far one week in July was warm and sunny, and 5 days in August. With September less than a week away, leaves are yellow and falling to the ground in defiance of the green grass. Add the Mountain Ash berries are hanging bright red, ready for winter to come. We have already gotten down to freezing a couple of nights… Really?
Early in my novel writing process, I stumbled over this question as it defines me. Now this is my personal opinion only, and as always, our past forms our perceptions and images.
I feel everyone is or can be a writer. Pick up a pen, pencil or keyboard and start putting down words, and, poof, you are a writer. What you write does not matter. Poetry, personal notes, fiction stories (short or novel size), nonfiction pieces – it doesn’t matter. You are writing, and hence, a writer.
Now, author is a different story. In my world, you are not an author until you have been published. Any publishing process counts, even self publishing or an article in a newspaper. Letters to the editor, advertisements, listings etc. do not count as being an author, lol. I strive to become an author. It is a point of “arriving” for me. I know I will have gotten there when my novel is published. Yes, ebook publishing does count too.
How about you? Author or a writer?
Yes those words are nouns I use all the time to describe myself. I love to plan out my month, week, day… But, I hate to see or follow too many plans. Yup, my 4 year old self regularly stamps her foot and says “I don’t want to”. Anyone seen the dust on my furniture? Yea, planned to dust many times. Hahaha
So, I have developed goals for the month and week, and I record actual appointments in my planner. From there, I journal my days and frequently list my done tasks so I can check them off. Yea, I guess that is cheating, but it feels good.
So when I decided to resurrect my blog, I sat down and started to write out plans, ideas, and goals. Now to temper those lofty goals to manageable and sustainable actions. So, once a week will be a update on my life, my personal changes etc. Then once a week will be my author topics where I share resources, write-ins, authors I follow, YouTube channels, etc. I also plan on throwing out my writing stumbling blocks looking for some advice.
I hope you hang in there with me. I would love to follow you in your process during these times.
Borrowed from Facebook
Noone can deny that this year has incurred change for everyone. The entire world has had to adjust to the new normal (that seems to continue to change daily). After 5 years away from this blog, I have chosen now to resurrect my writing space. Welcome.
I hope to make this a place where you can come to share my joy and my sadness. I plan on writing at least weekly, however, since I have found renewed inspiration in my fiction writing, I hope to visit you here more often than that. No promises so no disappointments, right?
For an old gal (67), I am in good health and living a simple life in the small city of Quesnel, BC. From May to October, my husband and I “glamp” in Hixon at Canyon Creek Campground. We are fortunate to have 2 of our 4 children living in Quesnel, and the other 2 in Alberta – a day’s drive away. Life is good.
I will keep this post short and hope you will follow me on my path through the last half of 2020.
I was inspired by Molly Roberts – HerSpeak on YouTube and Facebook to consider the celebration of Samhain. She encouraged her followers to use the twelve days before December 21 (the winter solstice – shortest day) to explore their creativity and consider the down time of the year. This is a brief summary, but if you want to learn more of the history behind the 12 Ghosts of Yule, here is one of many possible: The Gothic Embrace: http://gothicembrace.blogspot.ca/2013/12/yule-and-ghosts-of-past.html
So here is my take on plans for the 12 Days of Yule, starting on December 9th, 2017.
I plan on focusing on spirit. I will use my creativity to write, journal or draw the thoughts that come to mind with each day’s prompt.
I will use Molly Roberts’ hashtag #12days of yule to track my days.
If I fall behind, I will do a catch up if I get in the spirit.
Quick and easy.
So most people make resolutions and goals on January 1st each year. As I have aged I have found that my birthday marks a special time for me. Considering next year will be the big “65″, I am making my intentions for the next 12 months now.
Writing Intentions:
Heading forward into November NaNoWriMo with dedication to finish my 2014 novel.
October – research plot change options
Personal Development:
Financial Planning:
Loved ones:
So this is just the general ideas of a very happy 64 year old on her birthday. Dinner with family, drinks and time with plans for a renovated office space, and that makes for great birthday celebration. Thanks for joining me.
TRUTH #2: You are an extension and expression of God. Everything God is, you are. Everything God is not, you are not. God is love and only love, and so are you.
How I feel about that today:
I need to keep reminding myself of this. There are times of insecurity when I wonder if I have value – these are the times I tend to turn away from God. In my heart I know I am pure love. I feel I can live his life of love now, more than any other time in my life. As a Grandma, I feel stronger and more confident in my true nature. I feel I have less to prove and more to share. I feel more at peace every day. My peace is coming from inside of me, instead of from a Church or minister’s sermon. I look for synchronicity every day, an indication that I am walking my true path.
TRUTH #1: ONLY GOD IS REAL. All separation is illusion.
How I feel about that today:
Strangely, I have never doubted that God is real or that He exists for me. As a child, I loved Sunday School and was very upset when my family stopped attending church when I was 12. I have always felt I could go to God, and sit at His feet and love and be loved. When heartsick or feeling battered by life, I could picture myself at His feet in adoration. I could feel His hand stroking my head, and feel His love soothe me.
Although I moved away from man’s church at different times in my life, I never felt that God wasn’t there for me. I felt guilty from time to time, that I appeared to turn my back on Him. But I knew He was there, and still is – loving me as I am. Why – because I am a part of Him and He is a part of me.
Friday used to be TGIF days when I worked, but now that I am retired, why do Fridays feel so special? I go for walks every day at the campsite (still there most days till October 1). I am busy with my sewing, journaling, drawing, etc. But somehow Thursday comes around and my heart speeds up thinking, “Tomorrow is Friday. Oh boy!”
Will this feeling ever stop? Like the first week of September is “back to school” days. I went to Staples and bought new supplies for me for “school”. LOL. Yup, I bought some new notebooks, pens, pencils, a new pencil case. And, I was super excited all through my shopping. When I realized that my daughter felt the same way I did, knew I couldn’t steal a grandchild and go shopping, like I used to do. Now mu daughter does that fun shopping. But I did ok this year.
So maybe when I turn 65, I won’t feel the Friday rush, and the back to school excitement. Or maybe I am just always going to love the excitement of the end of the week and the beginning of the school year. Oh well. I do enjoy the ride.
My Creative Life
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