Tag: author
New year, new focus
Hello dear readers,
First off, thanks for following Sitting in Spilt Ink. I started this blog some time in 2012 with no real focus or goal in mind. There have been times when I don’t post an update for months, yet Sitting in Spilt Ink rarely looses followers. So, thanks for sticking around, and I promise this year will be better.
There are a few things I’m excited to begin work on this year. One (which I’ve already begun) is the Emerging Revolutionary War book series. I’m the managing editor of the series, which is composed of entry-level, 192-page books on battles, people, and important events during the war. I design (and sometimes edit) books for the Emerging Civil War series, so if history is your thing, please check them out. Emerging Civil War will also have a book on Civil War pop culture coming out in 2017 (if I’m not mistaken), in which I’ve written two chapters. But I’ll post that when it comes time. Continue reading “New year, new focus”
A Pause in Thought
I’ve hit a bump in the road
A brick in the wall
A fork in the path,
If you will.
I’ve sacrificed my creative tongue
For an early nights sleep
Maybe I’m finally just too happy.
My words are accustomed to
A cynical tone, sometimes defensive,
Often in pain.
But I’m happy now,
And I can’t seem to channel
The way I used to feel into
Words worth reading
And now I’m stuck.
I will not pen poems of roses and rainbows—
No. that is not who I am. That is not my poetry.
My voice pulls out the harsh reality.
But somewhere between falling in love and moving to a beautiful place,
I have lost my sight, my vision so clear of the pain and suffering so many endure—what I used to feel daily.
So I write.
I write now in hopes of bringing a voice back.
In hopes of channeling my inner monologue to say something profound…
Or worth reading at the very least.
-HRG
NaPoWriMo
So I just found out about NaPoWriMo, and I’m wondering how I came this far in life without knowing it.
I know I’m five days late, but I think I’m going to participate. I’ll try to step up my game and double up on five days so I end up with 30 poems at the end of the month.
So follow for some intense poetry this month!
HRG
New Year New Novel
I’ve been working on The Beginning for awhile, and I’ve decided I’m not quite ready for it yet. I’m not at the right place in my life to write the caliber of story that The Beginning deserves. So, I will put it aside for awhile and eventually come back.
Tonight, I’m going to continue work on a new novel that I’m calling “Ordinary” for the time being. It’s not a love story. I don’t write those. It is, however, a story about love.
Stay tuned for details and teasers, darlings.
-HRG
An evening of writing
I’ve made a mug of coffee and brought my computer to the lounge, where I’m using dry-erase markers on a board to set up character outlines. It’s snowing outside, but I have fuzzy socks on. I’ll probably order a gluten-free pizza later, with barbecue sauce not tomato sauce, and of course chicken, double cheese, onions and pineapple.
I’m falling in love with the first line of my novel, and my characters are showing me how awesome they really are.
Such is the life of a writer.
-HRG
Twitter accounts to keep you going for NaNoWriMo
If you’re participating in NaNoWriMo, you’ve probably succumbed to the “I can push this off” or “I think that’s good for today.” I know I have. I’m actually so embarrassed about my word count I won’t even share it here. (EEEKK…it’s really that bad!)
Don’t fear! There’s always a way to get back on track.
Two Twitter accounts that really help to keep you on tack are @NaNoWriMo and @NaNoWriMoSprints.
NaNoWriMo Sprints tweets out short challenges to keep you writing and to keep writer’s block from setting in.
Here’s a few of their tweets from today:
@NaNoWriMo is usually tweeting out encouraging words and updates on their fundraising goals and merchandise.
Both good follows if you’re a NaNoWriMo writer!
-HRG
What would you do if money were no object?
Alan Watts is an interesting man. I’ve been listening to his lectures on YouTube all day, and I just find him fascinating.
This particular video really resonated with me. It’s only about 5 minutes, so give it a watch. It’s called “If money were no object, what would you do?”
Watts, in many of his lectures, speaks to needing the discipline to acquire skill to be happy, not money. After watching, or listening rather, to this lecture, I’ve begun to think how often I put off writing or editing photos because “more important” things take precedence (like homework and the newspaper). But what I want most out of life is to write.
Sure, I mean be a journalist because I enjoy it, but I want to write books. I want to write poetry. I want to write short story collections. But my stipulation for that is that I want people to care, and that’s scary to think about. It’s completely out of my control. Whether or not people chose to give a damn about me or my stories is 100% their prerogative. I can only rely on what I know how to do, the skills that I am mastering and the ideas in my head.
But maybe the stars will align for me as they have for my heroes.
-HRG
I don’t know and neither do you
When people talk about the future, it stresses me out.
I’m not talking about people asking me what I’m eating for lunch. I mean when boyfriends talk about having kids. Or people asking me 500 questions about my study abroad plans next semester when I don’t have the answers. Or someone asking me where I think I’ll be in 5 years. I know where I want to be, but right now, I don’t have the time or patience to think about anything other than exactly what I want for my future. If I don’t focus on that, then I won’t ever get there.
Do me a favor. Leave me alone. When I get where I want to be, then you can ask me how I did it. Right now, don’t ask me how I’m going to do it because I don’t know. I just know I’m going to.
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