Happy 2022!
Apologies. It’s been a while since I’ve posted.
What happened?
Well, I got carried away by work and a surprisingly intense news cycle at the end of last summer. Then, I moved house and everything went topsy turvy, packing and unpacking boxes. Suddenly the end of the year was closing in on me!
Now, after a fresh holiday break, I feel a lot more grounded. Most importantly, I’m settling back into my daily writing practice with more time and space to think and reflect.
Since my last post, I’ve taken a big, new step: writing a novella. Bigger than a short story, smaller than a novel. Still a daunting prospect!
I’m lucky to have some great resources to help me. I’m especially grateful to the Blue Sea Writers Group here in Valencia. Our recent workshop on novel writing was especially useful in creating engaging, complex characters and sharpening my skills at keeping the plot moving.
Having said that, I’m finding that, for me anyway, writing longer-form fiction is not a straight path.
My characters simply won’t take the fastest route from a to b. They like to take the scenic route, doubling back and abruptly turning off the beaten path only to return to where they started. They’re a little shy, like many people, and it’s taking time to coax them out to reveal their motivations.
Also, my mind loves to procrastinate by dreaming up new story ideas! Just when I try to nail down the first section of my coming of age novella, a gothic ghost story shows up demanding to be written, or a science fiction epic launches sneak attacks on my attention.
When I do my best to ignore those stories, I find my enthusiasm and energy for my original project wanes and I get bogged down by that most predictable of obstacles: writer’s block.
So, my new strategy is to keep the novella as my primary project, while allowing myself budgeted amounts of time to exercise my creative impulses with short story projects on the side. For short stories, I’ve been using the Critique Wheel - a writer’s forum for critiquing each other’s work - to get constructive feedback on stories I’m experimenting with.
Last year, I made some resolutions and goals to read more and push myself to write more short stories while starting a larger writing project. Some of those goals, I accomplished. Others need another kick in the pants in 2022.
So, here are my goals for this year
Keep reading! Right now, I’m reading about 2 books a month. But I want to read with more intention, taking apart books I love and figuring out what makes them work. I’m especially excited to be using the Libby app to access my favorite public libraries!
Keep writing! I want to accomplish one writing goal a month. That can be finishing and submitting a new short story. Or it can be drafting out a section of my novella. The important thing is to complete a chunk of work in that time.
Keep writing more! I hadn’t realized how important it is for me to keep a daily journal and updating this blog every month. I’m not a confessional writer. I find diary and blog writing to be far more difficult than fiction! But it’s an important part of my thinking process and a useful way to keep me on the writing track. So, I’m renewing my commitment to it.
In the meantime, I hope everyone is having a happy and healthy start to 2022!