My Journey to Become a Writer 02/14/2024 Post #45

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What Did I Accomplish Today to Be a Writer?

I did Day 45 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?

Not getting myself established in my house and staying scattered scares me. I want to get a good foundation of being organized before I build my business. The upstairs still has lots of boxes to go through – a lot are my mom’s things; but I also have paperwork and mail that got scattered during the rush to move my dad out of their house.

Stuff I find myself saying:  I can’t believe this mail is from September, and I’m just now opening it. I have got to get through all these boxes of paperwork.

– Jody Susan

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

I find that it’s hard for me to concentrate on creative work when there is a mess around me, or any sort of unfinished tasks lingering over my head, or pressing in on my shoulders. Perhaps that’s why for the last year and a half I’ve hardly written anything original in manuscript form. Mostly it’s been scattered notes for future projects or rewrites from former work.

All the upheaval from selling the house after my mom was so sick is starting to settle a bit. I hope it will stay that way so I can get some order. With that said, I’m still not writing a lot. Mostly right now I’m laying the groundwork to de-complicate my life so that I can focus better.

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

I have been trying to make a point of journaling daily, since people have asked me to write about my perspective on grief and caregiving. For now, I’m keeping those notes for myself. They definitely need to marinate some; but hopefully one day I’ll be ready to pass on some things I’ve learned on this unexpected journey.

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

Today I took the big stack of paper I’d printed “About Trees” on and punched holes, then put it in a binder. Maybe that doesn’t sound like much; but for me, seeing my words gathered into that bundle, gave me a sense of gratitude.

Now it’s time to start chopping down the content.

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

I hope this isn’t spammy; but when I read the St. Louis Post Dispatch article about the cruise and saw someone’s comment say they’d like to hear a follow-up story, I decided to reply by directing them toward my blogpost about the cruise. Is that a shameless plug? I’m unsure. I didn’t put a link (because I couldn’t); but is it wrong to point someone to content they sound interested in?

Even a shadow of self-promotion makes me feel uncomfortable.

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

Other than writing this, it’s been another day of not doing much with my blog. As I went through boxes upstairs, I did start a pile for things I’d like to take pictures of and write on – especially in the realm of grief. I came across my mom’s luggage tags today, and especially in light of the cruise article, it seems odd to hold those and know they aren’t going anywhere.

I plan on throwing the tags away, because what’s the point of keeping old luggage tags for someone whose gone? Why direct others to a house that’s no longer associated with any of us?

It’s the issue of significance that lingers.

It feels like people ought to know what that trash is, before I throw it away, because once upon a time, those tags were part of my mom’s identity.

Not so Fun Fact About Me: I’m not a hoarder; but I play one on the internet.

I thought I’d be living in a cargo trailer by now, with all that I owned. Life has taken a very different turn since that three year cruise debacle. I’m grateful; but definitely hoping to minimize more.

What I’m Doing About Networking as a Writer

Today I took a class with some other writers. I really enjoyed hearing them share their content, and it was good for me to step outside my comfort zone and read mine out loud.

What I’m Doing About Monetization as a Writer

I have not put any effort into this in a long time. I did make an appointment at my accountant’s office to get some training in QuickBooks – does that count a little?

What I’m Doing About Social Media as a Writer

Commenting on the newspaper article for the St. Louis Post Dispatch was something out of my comfort zone; but I’m realizing that’s one of the ways to let people know I have content they may be interested in.

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

I added a hashtag today. Maybe some day soon I’ll add some more.

What I’m Doing to Stay Organized as a Writer

I went through quite a few stacks of paperwork today and uncovered my dining room table, which had been topped by dry erase boards.

Looking Back at My Writing Journey

If anybody reading this was brought over by the St. Louis Post Dispatch article, you might be interested in this post, too.

“Where’d you go to high school?” is an infamous St. Louis saying.

It’s hard to believe these were our circumstances a year and two days ago. My mom woke up in her home; but thought she’d been brought to the neighboring town, which happens to be a big-time football rival:

Kirkwood Woman Wakes Up and Thinks She’s in Webster Groves!!!

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

Nope. Just wanted to give a little update.

Thanks for reading what I’m writing,

Jody Susan

Here’s a post about my mom wanting to be useful while she was sick from cancer which I wrote two years ago:

Feeling Useful Even When You’re Sick