A while back I started boring you with my rambling about wanting to be a writer. One thing I said I would do is just write more… regardless of what kind of writing it is. So, I started a new blog and foisted myself upon the co-founders of a local website as a contributor. They’re nice enough to tell me they appreciate me, so that’s worked out pretty well.

Another thing I did was ask for a subscription to Writer’s Digest, and my brother – who has ALWAYS been one of my biggest cheerleaders – bought it for me. I’m sure he expects to be thanked in the liner notes of my first book.

So, the other day I was sitting idle as I was manning the table at a fundraiser for work, and was reading some of the articles in my latest copy of Writer’s Digest…

let me just take a moment here to say I have yet to read an article in this magazine that does not say something vital or fresh or inspiring. I’m not kidding. And their website is just so full of relevant information it makes my brain hurt.

…so I was reading the articles (they have nice pictures too), and found two that said things that I’d already decided were important for me as I try to get to my goal of being published this year. The first one was about not letting your writing too “precious”, if you know what I mean. The author suggested that ALL of my writing, as an aspiring author, should be my “real” writing. My voice, my style, and written on purpose. I shouldn’t save the “real” stuff for the time I set aside to work on my book, or essays, or whatever I’m writing to publish. Another suggestion was to find more ways and reasons to write – like what I did when I decided I would do the extra blogs and help put together the newsletter for the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market. This article didn’t inspire me as much as just confirm what I had already decided I need to do. That feels good.

Then there was another article that was titled “DIY Writer’s Retreats” that suggested ways to find bits of time in my day to write – even if it’s just ten minutes in my car while waiting for my kids, or while the young’un is in the tub… I haven’t started this yet, but what was so cool was that the day before I read it –  THE DAY BEFORE!!!! – I told my friend Missy that I want to find an evening each week to go sit at Barnes & Noble or somewhere equally quiet and word-infused, to write. One of the things the author said at the beginning of the article is that you can’t wait for inspiration to hit. How many times have I thought “but I don’t have any ideas” so I haven’t put any words down??? A few-ish. This author said just write. The more you write, the more likely it will be that something will start to happen. Out of all the false starts, something will eventually flow. For every 273 characters I try to create, one will finally start living in my head and talking through my pen.

Now, which night to choose for my DIY Retreat? Belly dancing is on Thursday, so that won’t work…. it’s tough being a renaissance woman.