What have I been up to lately?

So... what have I been up to lately? I've been working my tailbone off, but not as much on writing as I would have wanted to be.

I worked on The Writing Office a bunch. Preparing it for a beta opening ... tomorrow. Gaspy! I'm not ready for that yet! I think I know what today is going to be spent doing.

Other than that I was a little busy this week (yay!) getting some work done that will actually help to pay some of next month's bills. Always nice when I check the work box and there is to-do stuff in it. I even still have a few more things to work on over the weekend to finish up this week's work and get ready for, hopefully, more work on Monday.

I did some reading. Must read, it is essential to keep reading and learn what styles you like and what things you would like to avoid having show up in your work. I'm reading Michael Crichton's novel TIMELINE, which my dad had in his books. He loved Michael Crichton, and had recommended TIMELINE to me in the past, so it became the first novel in my list of books I want to read this year.

Over the weekend I want to somewhere find the time to do major Spring Cleaning renovations on my office. I want to be able to sit at the window to write again. Not on the computer, but longhand. I have taken back to writing outlines longhand in a notebook with a sharp #2 pencil, so I want to be able to sit by the window and watch the garden while I work on that stuff.

Right now I have several websites I need to go check in on and update a bit here and there, not to mention some work that is waiting to be finished.

NaNoWriMo

I have already decided that I am not going to finish NaNoWriMo this year, but I am not very worried about it. For me, NaNoWriMo is not something that I need to have a "I won!" badge for to be a writer - it never has been. For me, NaNoWriMo is just a distraction on a grander scale than the average writing meemee or quiz on writing.

So, while others all across the world are diligently writing away headed for the goal of 50,000 words so they can earn a badge made up of pixels, I am diligently writing away on work that will earn me cash that I can use to help pay off the mortgage on my parents' house.

Volume 1: Issue 2

A Writer's Life
September 9 - September 15, 2007

Welcome to the second issue of A Writer's Life Newsletter. This week I am changing things a little, the newsletter will begin with this intro header post, then I will post the newsletter index at the end of the week rather than in the header post and updated as I post content.

This week I will be examining how to create a novel outline. No matter what stage you are in with your writing, outlining is an important step of the novel writing process since it can keep you on track and focused.

Volume 1: Issue 1

A Writer's Life
September 3 - September 8, 2007

Columns:

• The Muses
  
• Writing Prompt
• Writer's Block - how to overcome it
  
• Writer's Stuff - stuff for writers
  
• The Writing Office - sponsored by The Writing Office this is a column on things for writers to get for / have in their office
  
• Just for fun
• Marketing
• Author Websites
• Bestseller List - with notes by me on books that I know a little about
  
• Q&A - Send me questions and I'll see if I can find the answers
  

Articles:
(to be announced)

Volume 1: Issue 1 - beta

A Writer's Life beta
August 29 - September 2, 2007

As I create articles and columns that are a part of this issue I will hotlink them into this header post for the issue. I may also add new entries here if I come up with another column or article that I feel fits the newsletter.

Columns:

• The Muses
  
• Writing Prompt of the Week
• Writer's Block - how to overcome it
  
• Writer's Stuff - stuff for writers
  
• The Writing Office - sponsored by The Writing Office this is a column on things for writers to get for / have in their office
  
• Just for fun
• Marketing
• Author Websites
• Bestseller List - with notes by me on books that I know a little about
  
• Q&A - Send me questions and I'll see if I can find the answers
  

Articles:

• (to be announced)