Well - I'm in shock!
I had started The Workshop in February and had written about six or seven "stanzas" but I got frustrated, trying to figure out just want trouble Santa was going to get into next. So, I put it away for a little while and recently came back to it.
That paid off. You see, sometimes when you're trying to write and you get that dreaded "writer's block", it may help to just walk away from it for a while and work on something else. When I came back to it, I actually whipped out the remainder of the draft pretty quickly - and now I have a completed piece. I'm not saying it's completed COMPLETED, but I do have most of it done and just have to do some fine tuning on it.
Since this series of books rhymes, it can be VERY tricky. Wow. I DO love the rhyming and it's fun to do but it can be VERY frustrating. I get an idea of what I want to write, what I want to happen to Santa but then I can't figure out a rhyming pattern.... and then have to drop the idea and figure something else out.
But listen - it may be difficult to write, it may be tricky to come out with the right words - my family thinks I'm an idiot because when I write this type of thing, I have to constantly read it out loud to make sure it has a certain cadence to it - when ultimately I DO come up with something I like, it's a great feeling of accomplishment. It's very satisfying to think, "wow..... I did it....."
Try it someday, if not with writing, try it with something that YOU are passionate about!
While looking for something, I came across something I wrote years ago.
Good Lord! It was actually entertaining. I kind of feel bad; like maybe my writing was better then than it is now. I was certainly more free and not afraid that I was going to offend somebody. It's amazing these days. We try so hard to be politically correct and in doing so, my writing is compromised. I need to try to remember how to get back to those days.
This particular thing I wrote was called "Memoirs of a Surgical Tech" and I told some of my loony OR stories. What a laugh I got out of reading some of that, recalling some of those memories, many of them quite fond. I got a kick out of it. This was written ten years ago. I mentioned the events occuring "ten years ago" and said I was 20 when they occurred. I therefore concluded that I was 30 when I wrote it and since I'm now 40, that's ten years ago now - if that makes any sense in a blonde sort of way.
My girls are all asking me questions at once. I might actually post a little of that "autobiography" of a short time of my life. Maybe someone will get a kick out of it although it might be one of those things - you had to be there.
How Exciting!! To have a website and "show off" my books is really an honor. I love to write and wish I had more time to do it. I am a Ph.D. student and I'm afraid that much of my writing is for the world of academics but hopefully that will pay off in the long run. I DO love my school project, it has to do with congitive stimulating activities and dementia risk.
Huh??
In easy terms, does playing games help keep you from getting senile? My guess is yes and that is what I'd like to test.
ANNOUNCEMENT
I must send out a great big bear hug and a HEARTFELT THANK YOU to Nicole! Nicole has very generously donated her time and talent and has illustrated two of my books, specifically, 'I Wish I had a Tail' and 'A Year at Santa's Workshop'. She also very kindly developed the site for me. Very smart, very talented, most kind and beautiful to boot - None of this would be possible without her dedication and talent.
My warmest thanks!