What's That You Say, Mrs. Robinson?

I Feel A Shift

Time will tell, but I am sensing a shift in my quest to become a writer. I have never been disciplined enough, as evidenced by my on-again off-again blog posting here, to really convince myself that writing is something I can do on a regular basis.

It has come in fits and starts. Each time I tell myself that this is the time I'm going to get serious. I'm not going to beat myself up here for not following through. I am however, acknowledging my serial inconsistency. 

Last November I participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time in earnest. I only got about two weeks in, but I did manage to write over 30,000 words of my novel. I added on to that a bit a few months later, but it has gone largely untouched since then. I've done some editing and re-reading to familiarize myself with where I was going, but not much new material has been created. 

And so as I prep to participate again this year as a way to get back to work, I find that the law of attraction is at work. I have somehow begun to surround myself with "real" writers as part of my crew. A friend I made last year here in Sayulita, Mexico has sent me his screenplay and asked me to be a beta reader. Another writer, one who had an on-line workshop I took several years ago called Mondo Beyondo, has a book coming out in November and has asked me to be on her book launch team (to post reviews, do social media posts about the book etc) in exchange for an extra copy of the book that I can either give to a friend or do a give-away on my FB or IG accounts.

I'm also playing with another idea to publish a short book and a supplemental workbook and one-pagers on redefining retirement. That one I will self-publish and work on creating some passive income streams. Of course I am having a conversation with myself about focus and not constantly letting new shinny object projects distract from my novel, but I'm really excited about this one and think it would be a good supplement to the kind of writing I need to do in the novel. If I can get it published, it might also give me some publishing cred for when I attempt to find an agent and a publishing house for my novel.

For the first time, I really do feel like I am a writer. Of course, I always have been. A writer is someone who writes and I've been doing this blog for 17 * gulp * years now. But right now, because I have put more time, effort, and energy towards writing for the past year (NOT evidenced here in this blog), I feel like I've taken a big leap. Opportunities are starting to come to me to do writer-type activities and I'm attracting new relationships with people who also write. 

I feel the shift and it is welcome. And I've worked for it. And I deserve it. 

Be Careful What You Ask For

My last post was about feeling sluggish and somewhat paralized. This one is about quite the opposite feeling, but with a similar outcome. I have so many ideas, desires, wishes, dreams, possibilities and choices swimming about me. Pulled in so many different directions at the same time can result in feeling like you are standing still.

I'm not complaining. This is a very exciting time in my life. I'm seeing a career coach who is helping me discover and think through what my next big calling in life might be. It is a fascinating and exciting process. I just finished the Mondo Beyondo process that has me creating space in my life for all of the new possibilities (litterally and figuratively). I'm doing creative things, talking to people about new professional opportunities that are so very different than anything I've ever doen before. I'm both making things happen for myself and sitting back to let life bring me what it will at the same time.

When I take a step back to ponder and consider this, it boggles my mind! How transformative. How brave. How lucky. How very, very, overwhelming.

Part of it is that I need to get comfortable with this new state of being. With having a state of mind that allows me to be constantly available for life's bounty and path.

Welcome to the new world, Mrs. Robinson. We've been waiting for you.

My Energy Source

As part of my Mondo Beyondo course, I am identifying the things in my life that give me energy, that feed me in some way, with the recognition that in order to dream big and to have the courage and stamina to see those dreams through to reality, I must seek out the inner strength and energy that will sustain me.

1) Music - listen to it every day. The standards that make me feel happy (Kenny Chesney, Dave Matthews etc) and the new and interesting music that feed my desire to experience new things on a daily basis (French cafe music, classical etc)

2) I'll steal this one from the course instructor: Make things pretty. Do something every day to make my surroundings more pleasing and nicer to be in. Flowers, cleaning up clutter, a new pillow, something to make the kitchen counter more interesting, a new scarf etc.

3) Be creative: Do something creative every day. Write. Work on my homemade cookbook/scrapbook, doodle, create handmade cards, take photos, edit photos, whatever....the possibilities are endless.

That's a good start. I have a feeling a couple new ideas will come my way as the day progresses. Bueno.