I’ve been blogging for years. Writing has been a struggle right from the get go. Self-published writers have lots to learn. Almost too much to learn. I’ve come a long way in the past five years. Between learning how to format books, distribute, and market, I’ve been also learning more about the craft of writing. Sometimes I think the learning process has slowed me down. I have to think more about what I need to say. I care about how it comes out. The grammar has to be just so.
I remember how I got started with writing. My first time was when I was in third grade. I made this cute little picture book that even my parents were impressed with. The story was The Poor Cucumber. (lol) It makes me laugh to think about how silly that story was, but it was a story none the less. I even drew stick figures for the pictures on the pages. I think I was eight years old then.
The next time I gave a stab at writing was in my senior year. I had to do this term paper for Biology on the social behavior of ants. I dug up so much information it sparked a story. I don’t remember the title of it. But I did write the first four chapters of it before setting it aside with my hopes dashed away by my parents. I had told them that I wanted to be a writer after high school. They thought it was a waste of time and energy. Needless to say, I didn’t finish that story. I think it fell into someone else’s hands and ten years later, a similar story came about. My story was very much like Bugs Life.
If it had been my story that sparked that Pixar movie, then I feel honored to have my idea stolen. Maybe someday, karma will come back around with a reward on my end.
After publishing five books over the past five years, I was hit by writers block. I believe it is due to fear of not being able to write something decent. Not being able to write anything much longer than a novella. Not going deep enough with character development. When I joined RWA, I began trying to change all that by going to workshops and conferences and taking the online workshops too.
Health also has a way of getting in the way of writing. My recent episode put me in the hospital for three days after having major surgery. I’m looking forward to going back to work next week.
Pets can make you stop writing too. My writing mascot, Keelaa, she has the tendency to come along with a tug rope expecting me to play at any given moment. She has this little sound or grunt she makes that comes across as though she just said, “Mum.”
My family used to bother me too, but they don’t do that quite so much anymore. Must be because I’ve moved to an office where most of my writing is done.
Now that I’m coming back around again, since my recovery from surgery, I want to make a new push of getting the flow of words going. What better way to do so than with blogging on schedule. I did this before with ROW80. (Which I still do take part in.) But I want more blogging in my schedule.
ROW80 takes part 2 times a week. On Sunday and Wednesday. I propose to blog on an additional schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays with my own blog hop. You’re welcome to join. We can cheer each other on while getting our words flowing once again.
Making the words Flow
http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=258369
Linky list for blog hop
Writers hold each other accountable and help support each other to make the words begin to flow.
Linda Nelson 