Sharp Words

I suppose I could even call it six weeks’ of failure, if I wanted to include my utter lack of progress at the second half of March as well.

But basically, I’m not doing too well with the unpaid writing. (The paid-for kind, at work, is at least fine.) I bombed out on my intention to write 50,000 words during March (I managed about 7,000), and of the 30 poems planned for April (NaPoWriMo), I’ve managed the grand total of one. I’ve also written very few blog posts, and I’ve been ignoring Twitter and other social media completely (apart from the evil that is Facebook).

I haven’t even read much this month, either – probably less than half my usual number of novels.

I know I can blame most of this lack on my determination with watching all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on DVD. In order. With repeats to listen to director/writer commentaries. The less said about that particular obsession the better, really, but at least I’m about hitting burnout on it.

So, how do I get out of this slump? And more importantly, do I even want to get out of this slump? I’m starting to think that perhaps I’m not cut out to be a novellist (apart from one month each year) even though I do have stories I want to tell. I need to decide what I really want from my writing – what sort of writing I really want to tackle, even – and put some time and effort into achieving my goals (which need to be realistic).

I think I’ll keep with my 2009 goal of writing 52 poems, since that means 3 every 2 weeks from now on instead of 1 a week; and I’m going to add a word count goal (and will include what I’ve produced so far) for the novel-in-progress.

And I’m going to plan out some blog posts and write them in advance, starting with next week… I want to be back in the world!

• Leave a comment... (2)

Words cannot adequately describe the simultaneous horror and amusement I felt when I spotted this cushion in a local ‘cheap’ shop.

• Leave a comment... (3)

I think I’m going to deviate today from my use of The Writer’s Block as inspiration for a poem.

The BBC has issued a challenge of writing instructions to simple tasks as poetry. As a technical writer and a poet, this is definitely right up my street…

Follow the link to read examples of how to wire a plug by Ian McMillan and Wendy Cope, and how to use an ATM by Niall O’Sullivan!

[Yes, I am still alive. Yes, I am writing poetry for NaPoWriMo. No, last month's MyNoWriMo didn't go as well as hoped. Yes, I am still reading blogs, even if I owe a lot of you some comments. No, I'm not sure when I'm going to get back to blogging regularly... I wish I did!]

• Leave a comment... (2)

Wizard and Glass, Stephen King (Book 4 of The Dark Tower). Borrowed copy, first read.
Just as the story from the first three books is getting into its stride (and vaguely comprehensible), we veer off into the gunslinger’s back story. It’s a good book, but it does feel like a major pause in the series.

Bridget Jones’ Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Helen Fielding. Own copies.
Good bath-time reading. It’s depressing how far womankind hasn’t come since they were written in the mid-late 90s though…

Worldwired, Elizabeth Bear. Own copy.
Really really good sci-fi; I need to get hold of more of her stuff. (Could just buy it, I suppose?)

Where Demons Dare, Kim Harrison. Library book, first read.
I really like this series, but I wish I was reading it in order (I read #4, then #1, and this is #5) as it takes me a good third of the book to get up to speed. I probably should just try and reserve the others through the library. (Or again, buy them.)

• Continue reading or Leave a comment... Comments Off