The Last Leg of a Great Trek up the Writing Mountain

I have to say I have enjoyed this journey far more than the paperwork mountain (a trek I am very used to)! It has been almost 12 hours since my final day of writing began – I don’t mean final, final, – just those pieces and submissions due for the 28th February. Here I am typing away about the last leg when I actually should be bouncing up the mountainside like a mountain goat, in the other window where my work is.

Just taking 5, I managed 4 hours editing, 6 submissions and 1 post here this morning before work. I then managed freedom by 5:30 – I have spent the best part of an hour writing and have now got 2 submissions (4 poems) to complete.
I was beaten by the Short Story, there simply wasn’t enough story.
That’s the reason people say WRITE FROM WHERE/WHAT YOU KNOW! (Yes, I am shouting it – to myself though so I don’t end up in this position again next month!) I researched and interviewed people who were in positions of knowledge but there was never enough story to stretch it into a 4 figure word count. Guess I will save it for a flash. All is not lost. Unlike many writers I don’t throw away dead works. Thank goodness they are all on a tiny memorystick nowadays. My rooms are all filled with files and paper.
(I think I’d need to employ someone in a full-time position to make it otherwise… I’d rather buy shoes.)

Right I’m rambling, must get off and finish the poetry.
I am very happy with this writing month (minus several started and unfinished pieces), even those can be forgiven.

Message to you all;
Be gentle on yourself.
Forgive yourself.
Sometimes it writes and sometimes it doesn’t.

I think Writing is like a child or animal, unpredictable even when trained. I am amazed where my mind can write me and other days I think it has lost itself completely.
I’m sure you have all been there.

Off to trek the last great leg x

Taking Stock – February 2013

Wow! What a whirlwind month, never before have I felt the true impact of February being 2-3days shorter than the rest of the year! It seems only yesterday when the beginning of the month was shining with all it’s new possibilities.
Most of the writing I have managed this month has fallen in this last week (which isn’t quite over although now it is March), I knew this would be the case as I’ve had extremely busy weeks with work and had booked a travelling adventure (otherwise known as a mini-break holiday with friends) mid month. It is no wonder I feel exhausted.

The last day of February was ‘Poetry Day’, I wrote, edited, proofed 10 poems for 3 different submissions. This filled me with a little trepidation as I am a poet and have the dream of writing my own collection/book of poems. I know how many are needed for a title and I now know a daily limit would be 3 to 4 poems. I have a back catalogue, however as I haven’t written for 6 years and age wise belonged to a younger generation when I last wrote I am finding that reading with a critical eye, old material may not make it through. I know I have a few gems amongst the angst and coal darkness of youth, not enough for a whole book though.

I am still loving working as a freelance writer again and wouldn’t change the hours I have poured into it so far for anything. (Although looking around this place, I need to spend more time in March packing and completing DIY fixes to get my place on the Market fast!) Writing fills me with the positive energy you find when you finally connect at soul-level to doing what you were born to do. I have known this since I was 13, why I have pushed against it for so long who knows, the fact that 2 decades later it still has such a dominant presence forces me to stand still and listen… and then type!

This month I have managed 6 submissions (4 more than January), 14 pieces – 2 short stories, 1 flash fiction, 10 poems. (And a Partridge in a Pear tree?!)
I have managed to read 2 books (the latter was a turgid Non-Fiction text that took time to absorb and work through) – it was worth it though. I started my 3rd book, 21 pages in. I’m not surprised by this drop in reading, I’m sure the hours of reading are probably the same, I just chose a harder book to get through.

I managed to send and celebrate February Birthdays with cards and presents, well apart from my brother’s birthday. I had just landed and he had the family get together the day before his real birthday and I had 2 appointments in the morning and barely made it to the lunch on time. Didn’t feel too bad though as he handed me my Christmas Present, we will eventually make it to GMT!

There have been several major life/work projects that have taken time, energy and emotion that are, thankfully, for now OVER. I survived them all!

I am delighted that more people are following the blog and dipping in for a read and a splash and that posts are being liked, we have over 70 followers now (inclu. those whose follow on email, I dread to think how rammed their inboxes are!) this is amazing and I thank you all for adding me to your blog lists.
I possibly found the opportunity to write a book this month too, I am in the bidding process. Early days. My hair has turned white from this past month’s writing. I need to make sure I’m not biting off more than I can chew. It will depend on deadlines. Advances are paid though, whoahoo. I know from previous freelancing that the cash flow and workload never match up. I have almost forgotten the colour of money!

7 aims for February:
1) Submit more writing than I did in January.
2) Allow plenty of editing time.
3) Cross-reference writing projects, make sure I am on track.
4) Keep on top of emails, especially those connected to freelancing.
5) Allocate specific time slots to the AWF Blog, in order to complete some real writing (controversial) and to keep my posts fresh and alive and more than – ‘I am still trying to do what I was meant to do yesterday!’
6) Write at least 5 days a week.
7) Keep reading (I managed 6 books in January)!
And the balance;
1) Remember to send birthday cards to loved ones.
2) Keep saying YES to new opportunities.
3) Keep filling my jar – stones, pebbles, sand and water.
Now there is a successful month! ^^^ My writing schedule (I now realise we all need one) looks similar with almost all the projects and submissions crossed through.

4 Aims for March
1) Compile writing schedule to stay on track and allow time for completing submissions.
2) Work on Collection of Poetry
3) Make a bid for book commission
4) 1000 wds a week on current m/s (now @ Chapter 9)

That was it folks
I hope you all had a successful month.
Keep climbing those mountains!

Wearing the Crampons for the last time this month!

Life has a habit of getting in the way for freelancers because we can be flexible, we are expected to bend. I have today to submit everything, the poetry is written, I have managed all 11! (Miracle) The short story will either be ready to submit later today or I will miss the deadline, I have already abandoned one of them as it needed to be 5000 wds and I know I haven’t got the time to create that and I certainly don’t want to send out any sub-standard work.

Off now to climb some more on the laptop that isn’t connected to the internet (ironically if the wireless connection worked the poetry would already be submitted and my pulse and blood pressure would both be more settled right now)!

Takes a deep breath