Even more ideas...

Yesterday, I talked about how I had gone hiking and took a photo that would make a great book cover. I already had a story in mind for it. See, I have a story that is based on real life, and one of the scenes that needs to be fleshed out takes place on that actual trail. Therefore, it was logical to me to make that be the cover.

I did show it to one of my friends as being the photo I wanted to use. Her comment about the picture being more like a trail than me second favorite one actually put different ideas into my head. So, now instead of that story, I have an idea for a different type of book that goes in a completely different direction.

I can't stop the overflow of ideas! The problem is, I also just can't seem to finish one of them. If I don't go with the flow with the most current idea, I will lose it. It makes me crazy, but it is the way that my brain works. I also have this problem in which I have a hard time working on anything that takes a long time. I remember taking a painting class with my dad. I was amazed at the beauty of his oil paintings, but found myself getting frustrated that I would have to wait a week or two before I could add on another layer.

Yet, it is still Winter Break, and I am determined to get something done this week. I keep toying with possibly going out again to walk, if it isn't too muddy after all of the rain we had overnight. We shall see what happens...

Have a book cover, but no book...

Another day gone without writing anything. *sigh*

At least I got some gigs posted up at Fiverr. You know, the site where "For $5 I will..." As of right now, I only have gigs up for helping to promote authors. If you're really curious, you can check them out here. Now, I have been plotting these out in my head and signed up for an account at the New Year, so you can see how far behind I am...

Today was the first actual day off for Winter Break, though. After sleeping away most of the weekend, I finally went out hiking for almost two hours. It was damn cold outside! Below 30 degrees actual temperature. With the sun shining and no clouds in the sky, it felt a little warmer than that. As soon as that sun went down, though, BRRRRRRRRRRR.

So, now I am home again, still a little cold and definitely feeling sore after climbing hills and sliding in the snow. No, I didn't write anything. BUT I took some fun pictures, and I think I found one to be a book cover. Some day. And I think I have a new, fun author pic.

I am not going to ruin the surprise, though, and jinx it by posting them here. Sorry. Just know that they exist! ;-)

Tomorrow is another day...

Such a slacker

Ugh, I feel like such a slacker. The whole point of this blog was to keep myself accountable and to keep the writing wheels lubricated. It has been three weeks since my last post.

That sounded a bit like a Catholic confession...

I guess in a way I am confessing. Yes, I suck. I haven't worked on anything in three weeks. This is the curse of my writing existence. If it is an article with a deadline, I am on it. If it is a book that needs to be reviewed, or some other type of post for a book tour, I am on it. But when it comes to my own stuff...

It has also been quite stressful at work these past few weeks. I teach Montessori for ages 3-6. I adore the kids and what I do, but it is exhausting. I also have a lot of kids with some special needs. That has meant a ton of parent meetings, CPSE meetings, evaluations, and now annual review season. All of those things suck up a lot of time after school, plus I need to keep on top of things for the kids. I come home to read a book to review and then eventually conk out.

I am now on Winter Break. This is a lovely phenomenon in Upstate NY where instead of getting a day off for President's Day, you get an entire week. I love it. I don't usually have big plans. So, I decided that this year, I would focus on my WIP (which is plural, by the way).

I had written a short story, that really needs to be fleshed out into a full-blown novella, back in late December. Two beta readers gave their comments on it. I printed out all three versions of that. I also have a few submissions to Chicken Soup for the Soul that are decent stories but need some serious editing. I have my kids' story started and numerous articles that can serve as outlines and foundations for several nonfiction ebooks. I printed out a ton of this stuff before I left work on Friday, as I have no printer and need to touch pen to paper during the creative process.

Yesterday, I even changed my FB avatar to be Snoopy typing away on his computer. I like to do that when I am writing. And then, I proceeded to take a four-hour nap.

Did I mention work has been exhausting?

It's now just after 11:30 AM. My basketball game starts in a half hour. My hockey game starts in an hour. I have eaten brunch. I have coffee. Perhaps now I shall get to work a little bit.