Weathering Natural Distractions

I have all the hours of today and tomorrow to write, and what do I do? I listen to the sleet pellets pecking at the windows and check radar to see how long this band of "wintry mix" will last. Overcast days feel cozy and thoughtful to me. And daydreaming overshadows my more industrious nature.

How can I tame this inner rebellion? Or should I go with what is and enjoy the soft day?

Not much of a decision there! Right. I chose the latter. But rather than frustrate my muse, I worked on my "Year-in-the-Life" memoir journal. What's that? you say.

Despite my impassioned teachings about personal journaling, I seldom follow my own advice. (There's an embarrassing admission.) But I've restructured my approach and made a pledge to myself. I shall write a "Year-in-the-Life" memoir covering 366 days (this being Leap Year), being faithful to the project even if I have to play catch-up now and then.

In the process, I've rediscovered all of the benefits which I've espoused to others over the last several years, only more so. Journaling on the computer allows me to put down more words in far less time than handwriting would. Therefore, the entries are longer and more introspective.

And the point is? The point is I can read back over them and gain amazing insights about what makes me tick. What combination of events tends to produce which moods – joy, despondency or sadness? That knowledge will help me build upon the positives and defang the negatives with more confidence. I like that. Rereading the entries also validates the old saw, "This too shall pass." What was terribly painful last Wednesday is no more than a faint memory today.

So when my mood is more contemplative than industrious, I work on my memoir journal – and write a new blog entry along the way.

Happy writing!

Linda ~

Writing Coherence

In writing a book or chapter thereof, there is first a period of scribbling down ideas. Then we transfer the worthiest of those to the keyboard and begin expanding upon them, which is what I've been doing for the two new chapters for the journaling book. The thing the inexperienced writer isn't usually told is that at this point, you still just have a bunch of free-standing ideas, and it takes some time for them to mature. At which time your muse will shift into an organized thought pattern.

Which is what mine has finally done! My lovely, disconnected notes have coalesced forming a coherent if skimpy written chapter. It's greater than an outline, but not yet fully fleshed out. Still, the breath of life is evident in the text. Those of you who have typed this path are familiar with the paradigm shift. But you who are new to the trade may not have experienced it yet. It's a glorious event! The chapter now lives.

This brief posting is to let you beginners know (and remind the veterans) that it takes time for your words to get acquainted with each other. Each time you open the tile to develop and expand upon your ideas will move the piece along toward a cohesive offering.

Be aware, be alert, and then ... be thankful.

~ Linda

The Publishing Ice Jam

Forgive my silence. I didn't mean to be rude. But virtually every aspect of producing the 2nd edition of Many Faces 0f Journaling seemed to get jammed up for a while. (I could call it constipation of the book world, but that would be tacky.) Although such small problems are frustrating, they're not unusual.

Today the ice jam cracked and the work started flowing again.

• The cover artist agreed to take the job, and we talked about the modifications to be made from the old cover, namely locating 3 new "people" photos and changing the background to a light pastel.
  
• I converted my remaining 10-digit ISBN numbers to the new, and ever so improved 13-digit versions. (Just as people have social security numbers rather than names, books have ISBN numbers instead of titles.)
  
• Then ordered the new back cover barcode online, and Walla! I've already received the jpg. file.
  
• Shelley, my account exec extraordinaire at Atlas Book distributors, sent me the forms that must be filled out and returned if this 2nd edition is to appear in their fall catalog (which has to be ready for the Spring BEA exhibit).

All of those efforts had been stymied in one way or another for over a month. With them either taken care of, or at the least on someone else's to-do list, I can get back to writing the two new chapters for the book.

Such publishing chores have to be checked off before the writing can morph into a genuine, printed and bound book.

That's my world at the moment.

May your writing ice jams all give way to the magnificient heat of your writing!

~ Linda