Oct 16

Because I have such wonderful friends

Yesterday I received a belated birthday present from a dear and wonderful friend, who also happens to be an extremely talented writer. She’s at home in Sri Lanka now, having spent years studying and then working in Australia, and I miss her a LOT (and am trying to work out when I can go visit her…) Anyway, unsure what to send me, she decided to write me a story with ‘something weird in it, of course, the way you like it’.

Now, as I mentioned, she is a very talented writer, and her story is wonderful! Is there a better gift for a writer than a fantastic story?!

So, I’m feeling all special and loved over here, but I do hope she submits it for publication somewhere because it deserves to be read.

Oct 01

It, like, validates my existence

Oh hey, check it out, I seem to have an author page all of my very own over at Angry Robot Books.

Guess that means I DO exist! (and should probably stop procrastinating and get back to writing this short story…)

Sep 27

Discipline and Rhythm

I am a creature of habit and I get very disturbed if those habits are broken. If, for example, my morning routine (centred almost entirely on the consumption of a nice cup of coffee) is upset then woe be to anyone who has to deal with me for the rest of the day.

Writing is not exempt from this. Actually, I think it is highly dependant on it. The rhythm of my routine — when I write, how many words and how many hours — is the source of my addiction. When it is disturbed — by cons, for example, and/or illness — then I flounder and I procrastinate and I generally make myself miserable.

The solution? Discipline. Sitting my butt in this chair and struggling until I find that rhythm again. It’s like running. When I’m out of shape, the first couple of weeks are horrible and I would much, much rather spend those forty five minutes, three times a week, lying on the couch and eating peanut butter. BUT, once I get to the stage where I can breathe again and my legs don’t feel like they’re going to fall off — once I get the rhythm going — then I’m addicted. And woe be to anyone who disrupts that routine.

Hmm. There’s a lot of woe in this post. I was going to say ‘I’m not really that scary…’ But, well, you know. That would be lying wouldn’t it.

Why am I rambling about this? Because it’s time to sit my butt in this chair, and work on that discipline thing.

Sep 24

Must be time to start writing again

I gave myself this week off to get over this stupid cold. Spent my evenings crashing on the couch, and obviously needed it *sigh*

But last night I struggled to get to sleep, because I was distracted by books I want to write. That’s the sign, isn’t it. Must be time to start writing again 🙂

Sep 19

Might as well whinge online too

Because I’ve been whinging so much in real life. It’s only fair.

You know when you’re sick, and you get to that stage where being sick is BORING and you just want to do something productive. But as soon as you try, you realise you’re not actually as healthy as you thought you were? Yeah, I’m there now.

And I’m BORED.

I have writing to do. And a dog to wash. And jogging to keep up with. And a day job to go to. And a garden that needs attention. And… And…

*sigh* Back to the couch, with tea and lemon and honey and all my boxes of tissues.

There’s always tomorrow.