My Journey to Become a Writer 01/20/2024 Post #20

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What Did I Accomplish Today to Be a Writer?

This morning I did Day 20 of the 100 Words a Day Writing Challenge 2024 through LA Writer’s Lab.  

What Am I Afraid of Doing Next in My Journey as a Writer?

I’m afraid I accidentally pre-posted a whole string of videos I’ve already shared on Instagram.  They were already pathetic the first time around, I’m going to be bright red if they make a second showing.  I can’t figure out if I really did schedule them or not.

Stuff I find myself saying:  Oh crud – did I really just do that!?

– Jody Susan

How Am I Balancing the Different Aspects of Being a Writer?

I’m trying to really switch gears by setting up sections of time and sticking to them.  This morning I was reading in Nehemiah about how the wall was rebuilt after it was burned. 

Lessons I Learned and Would Like to Implement from Nehemiah:

Nehemiah set a time frame.

People worked earnestly.

There was rubble to remove.

There were parts to repair.

Everything had to be guarded.

They were building and defending at the same time. 

They built by sections.

I go back to the book of Nehemiah a lot when I’ve got something big to tackle – or feel totally broken – or both.  On this time through, I haven’t gotten to the part when he’s called out to the field as a form of distraction.  I’m pretty sure it’s called “Ono”, and if Nehemiah had been speaking English, he would have said the same.  He had work to do and wasn’t going to be pulled away from it.

As far as balance, if I ignore the rubble, I get stressed; but if I completely make that my main focus, I feel like I’m never making progress, so I’m trying to strike a balance between the two – creating content in the first half of the day and figuring out how to get passed problems and piles in the second half.

What I’m Doing About Building a Body of Work as a Writer

Last night I hit print on my manuscript, having finally gotten Wi-Fi, so that I could use my printer.  My computer said something about manually flipping the pages over, to use the other side, and I thought, “Wow that was fast” then went upstairs to follow those instructions.  Not a page had printed.  That’s when I remembered the button had also said something about a Microsoft printer – and this was, “Oh Brother!” – a Brother printer.

All of a sudden I was struck with fear that my life story, my coming of age, my rise from shame and humiliation account, which I can hardly share with the people I trust most, had somehow made its way to my unknown neighbors’ house.

Had our Wireless Wi-Fi wires somehow gotten crossed!?  Could the signal carry that far!?

I had no clue if it could; but in my overly-active imagination, I could see some guy in my radius, in a recliner sitting up straight, spilling his beer or soft drink, yelling, “Carol!  What in tarnation!  Our printer’s possessed!  It’s spittin’ out hundreds of pages – somethin’ bout trees!  Well, it’s about to use an entire tree with all this paper!”

Carol wouldn’t have liked his tone – er, that is, until she saw the reems rolling off the presses.

My face felt like a furnace.  I wondered if at any moment someone might be knocking on my door, questioning, “Is this yours!?” 

I can hardly bring myself to ask anybody to read my manuscript – it seems like I’d be inconveniencing them.  To have it spit forth spontaneously into somebody’s four-in-one Microsoft made this individual want to hide away for a very long time. 

I tried my manuscript again and picked two-sided printing; but somehow it went back to one-sided, so I have a stack the size of the collection of St. Louis telephone books I sat on to learn to drive back before I was sixteen.

I printed a second copy – making sure I was positive that I was doing both sides; halfway through, the demo toner decided it was done with me. There ought to be a warning on how little one of those can print – I was thankful that I’d ordered extra; but need to remember to drop the print quality down a couple of notches, so it will last for a while.

What I’m Doing to Complete My Manuscripts as a Writer

Oops – I guess I already disclosed that in the proceeding paragraphs.  I did also email a copy to the woman from my writing club who I hope to collaborate with. I’m hoping we can swap skills to help one another make swifter progress.

What I’m Doing to Grow My Website as a Writer

Trying to keep up with Alt Text for Images.  I did take some time to look at Meta Business Suite today and tried to make a Business page for Facebook – hopefully that can be a draw toward my website, if I can get the kinks worked out. 

What I’m Doing to Build My Blog as a Writer

Writing this – I didn’t do any other posts today.

Not so Fun Fact About Me:  Last night I watched “All Creatures Great and Small” on PBS – Siegfried (I keep wanting to call him Sedrick) had hired a secretary/accountant/manager.  I think her name was Miss Harbuckle, or something – I’m not sure of the spelling.  Anyway, usually, toward myself, I’m a totally organized Miss Harbuckle (not that that’s totally good); but going through boxes today it hit me hard that I’ve somehow become a Siegfried, stuffing money in odd places and misplacing paperwork. 

I really do want to repent – I mean make a total turn around and change my ways.  I don’t like living with piles of stuff or not being able to find things.  There’s a sense of shame about it – and defeat.  I know it has a lot to do with the circumstances from the last couple – few – several years, and migrating from place to place; but it seems to me it’s time to make a comeback.

Today was a good day to get through a little of the rubble. 

What I’m Doing About Networking as a Writer

I wrote a review of The 90-Day Memoir for Al Watt, adding at the end, His books really are like the Velveteen Rabbits of writing manuals.  I use them as I work through my manuscripts until they are all worn out.

I also sent in another article for Alzheimer’s Fight, because the moderator asked if anyone had anything to share.

What I’m Doing About Monetization as a Writer

Realizing I need to take much better track of my finances.  I’ll be glad to get some excel sheets printed, along with a semi-reasonable plan.

What I’m Doing About Social Media as a Writer

I worked on adding branding to my Instagram and Facebook posts by designing them on Canva.com.  I made some progress; but took a break when my alarm went off – because I’m trying to be more balanced.

What I’m Doing About Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a Writer

Oops – forgot that one – other than adding Alt Text.

What I’m Doing to Stay Organized as a Writer

Going through boxes.  Sorting piles, hoping to make some decisions – to eliminate, so I can concentrate on content instead of clutter.

Looking Back at My Writing Journey

I came across a poem this afternoon I’d written at a very low point, and it took my breath away.  As I go through stacks, I find all sorts of scribbled notes, sentences, and story ideas.  It makes me want to sit down and write; but this poem made me feel like the wind was knocked out of me.  And made me think it ought to be shared.  I shudder to open my hands and offer anything so deeply moving to me to the world, because what if it is mishandled, or worse yet, misunderstood?

Any Other Thoughts on Becoming a Writer, Random Rants, Tales, or Trials…

I’m finishing this post just about sunset.  Hopefully with my new bells and whistles (the alarms on my phone), I’ll start celebrating the end of a work day in the evening, instead of beyond my bedtime.

Thanks for reading what I’m writing,

Jody Susan

A blast from the past:

She’s Nursing Again