After many months away, I've found my way back to WDC. I'm not sure what's happening in my writing life right now. I signed up for a challenge to write 12 short stories in 12 months, but I'm not so inspired to write. I've started a job as a paraeducator in a life skills classroom (one of the most challenging jobs of my life) and I'm working on adding a reading endorsement to my teaching certificate (another major challenge). Thus, writing has gone of the back burner. I miss it. So, here I am in hopes of finding my flow and my words again.
WELCOME BACK! No worries. "The Contest Challenge" will be here when you are ready...plus, you could do a poem if a story is too much.
I think it's awesome that you're a paraeducator in a life skills classroom! I used to do special ed, myself. Good luck with your reading endorsement! You can do it!
I have an author's website. There's nothing on it, though, because I can't remember the password to log onto it. My tech support is working from home today... who wants to take bets on whether or not I get to login today?
I would bet that with the right incentive, you could make that happen. Good luck! A phone call to the website host should do it. They can reset it for you very quickly, I think.
Two pitches this morning - one to an agent, and one to an editor - both want to see my manuscript!! I'm giving myself until the end of the year to have it ready to go. I need accountability. If I don't have it ready to submit by December 31st, I have to donate real money to a certain person's re-election campaign. If that doesn't motivate me to get it done, nothing will!
Definitely do that Quick-Quill. I have found the connections made through the professional writing groups in my area to be such a valuable resource for moving forward with publishing.
This Friday I'll be at the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association annual conference where I'll have the opportunity to speak to agents and editors about my book. The problem - my book is only half finished! I'm working on a pitch to get feedback, but it's not going well. *sigh* Writing is hard, yo!
It's a pitch block where we're in a room with a bunch of editors and agents and we go around to their tables and pitch to them for like 3-5 minutes. My plan was to tell them upfront that I'm still working on the novel and I wanted feedback on my concept. So, I have been going into it as a learning experience. It's the whole having to speak to other people thing that's getting to me. I'll get through it and I'm going to force myself to do it because eff fear.
But, now I gotta figure out what makes my novel different from every other novel out there and I keep drawing a blank. I guess that should be the first thing, right.
I can see where it would be intimidating trying to figure out what's unique, since it feels like everything has been done before. I'm sure you'll come up with something to entice them, love. You're smart and well-spoken in my experience, so I think you'll do just fine.
Hey OctoPreppers! We're looking for a few good people to help us out. We are in need of judges for the 4 writing contests held during this month. If you are willing to help, please let me know. You would have my eternal gratitude (and maybe cake, there could also be cake ).
Thank you all for responding. I'm sorry for not getting back until now. With school starting and the PNWA conference looming, I've been a bit busy. Big thanks to Quick-Quill, ruwth, and runoffscribe for volunteering. I'll be divvying out the assignments here shortly. We could use one more, though. Anyone interested? Dragon is hiding? ⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites? Samberine Everose?
Actually, I should learn to read my email better. We're all covered for the judges. Any of you interested in being backups? We all know that life happens to the best of us, so it helps to be prepared.
So, I know I've been kind of AWOL as I try to figure some things out here, but something kind of really cool happened and I wanted to share it will all of you.
Way to go, Brandy, This is great news. One of my greatest pleasures in life... happens when I can give a little elbow nudge to the person next to me and boost, "I knew her before she became Famous!" See... I am rewarded again, there was a good reason to be one of your fans.
So, I haven't been around much lately. Umm, we did a thing over break and I guess are still doing that thing and are going to be doing it for the next 30+ years!
Bikerider The POD is super small. So cramped trying to live in there for the past two years.
Thank you everyone. We're excited about the house and the space and the view! When the weather clears, I'll have to try for a picture of the view. It's inspiring!
Yesterday we took our new kitten to her first vet visit - the same vet that we took our dog just a few months prior. Our dog never came out of that vet with us. It was tough to be in the same space as those memories.
But, as she has done time and time again in the month we've had her, little miss Dahlia has helped us make new memories there. Memories of a happy vet visit and the news that our kitten is strong and healthy and growing perfectly!
I wish there was some way to make it to where animals lived just a bit longer, though. That would be perfect...
Monty, I have brought a cocker spaniel I had for 15 years to a vet to be euthanized, and then several months later brought his mate to the same vet for the same reason. When we adopt a pet we know that at some point in time we will have our hearts broken, but we can keep alive the happy memories the pet provided to us.
I don't know if you've ever read the story, Rainbow Bridge, but if you haven't, Google it, and it might bring you some comfort.
This is the 3rd time I"ve tried to make a comment, the site disappears and puts me in Face Book.
The dog in the picture with me is Buddy. I had to put him down when he started to have non stop seizures. I miss him so much. I can't afford the $90 fee at the shelter, so no more dogs.
Got a call today from the high school offering me a full time position as an Office Manager/Instructional Assistant starting on Thursday. This is going to make NaNoWriMo super interesting. Guess who's house isn't getting cleaned the entire month of November!
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I signed up for a challenge to write 12 short stories in 12 months, but I'm not so inspired to write. I've started a job as a paraeducator in a life skills classroom (one of the most challenging jobs of my life) and I'm working on adding a reading endorsement to my teaching certificate (another major challenge). 
I am. Hence the reason I'm still without a password to login to my website. 
That's a great idea if tech support fails. 
. I have found the connections made through the professional writing groups in my area to be such a valuable resource for moving forward with publishing. 
). 
, and runoffscribe 
for volunteering. I'll be divvying out the assignments here shortly. We could use one more, though. Anyone interested? Dragon is hiding 
? Samberine Everose 
?
I am officially a published author!!!! 
un: 
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I'm sure you'll come up with something to entice them, love. You're smart and well-spoken in my experience, so I think you'll do just fine. 
I am super proud of it (and kind of want to edit it to make it flow better). 
I think it's awesome that you're a paraeducator in a life skills classroom! I used to do special ed, myself.
Again, welcome back!
Sounds like an amazing job you've got yourself into. Looking forward to seeing you around.