For years I’ve faithfully maintained a HootSuite account to make it simpler to post simultaneously to Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, etc. That’s supposed to save time, but lately, it’s become an obligation and more of a nuisance. I’m feeding the machine, but the wheels are stuck in the mud of TMI (too many inputs)! Every evening, while Hub and I watch the news, I peruse dozens of articles about the writing craft to select those I think will be of interest to my readers and schedule them months in advance. Organized, right? You know what? I’m tired of it. There’s just too much damned noise out there. So many of the articles I read are contradictory, self-congratulatory, condescending or repetitive. How much more…
… random observations from my journeys through a well-lived life
Posts from the “What I’m Doing” Category
Where does the time go? My to-do list is longer than ever. The days are getting shorter. We’ll be resetting the clocks and falling back soon. Time to swap closets and haul out the long sleeves. I was thrilled to get a call from a lovely woman from the Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Authors Association telling me my short story, Breaking Morning, was one of seven finalists in their annual writing contest. When I was editing it at the end of June, my grandson and I laughed about deadlines and last-minute decisions. I’m glad I opened that scary door and took a chance discovering what was inside. My entry to Toronto Romance Writers The Catherine contest is still out there somewhere and I…
Categories: What I'm Doing, writing
Last week, I received an email telling me that I’d made it to the first round for the 2016 Catherine Contest sponsored by the Toronto Romance Writers. Boy, did that feel good, especially since most of the comments from judges were so positive. I had a few days to clean up my entry, so I hit the keyboard, edited, added more conflict then sent it off with a much shorter synopsis. Scary, but exciting. I also entered a contest sponsored by the New Jersey Romance Writers. Two weeks ago, I sent in a story to the Canadian Authors Association Vancouver 2016 Story Contest. My creative brain is on fire. I’m on a roll, but time is passing and I have to be. In June I…
Last week, I did a pitch to an agent during a writers’ conference. I’d sweated over preparing my first query letter and honed my first page to what I thought was not cringe-inducing. All bright and eager, I sat myself down in front of the cool, pale agent. On the sign-up page, the conference organizers said she was seeking, “relatable themes that will resonate with books clubs and reading groups”. I thought that’s what I had to offer. Her first words to me were, “What do you want to talk about?” I admit, I gaped as my thoughts raced. I’d expected her to tell me to launch into my synopsis. Instead, she fussed in her pile of papers and took out my two pages.…
Categories: Stuff, What I'm Doing
When I wake up most mornings (or at least 4 times a week) since January 5, 2016, I roll out of bed, wash my face, strap on my gym clothes, pulse rate monitor and FitBit HR, open up my iPad and select a DDP or YRG Yoga workout. Why? Because as I approach my three score and ten, I want to be fitter and healthier than I was before. Maybe I won’t colour the grey hair, but who cares about that? I’m talking quality of life. In ten years, I still want to be able to shoot hoops with my grandchildren and dance like a wild woman at their weddings. A few years ago, I blogged almost every day about my journey to mindfulness…
Categories: Modern life, What I'm Doing
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