So much to discuss

Well I thought about a few different things to write about today. But really I’m going to discuss my writing for now and reserve my feelings on some of the news of Olympic sportsmanship and international politics of late for another set of posts and some time for my feelings on the topic to get mulled over a bit more. I’ll just say that some things in this world disappoint me, and reinforce my disinclination to plug the silly TV back into the wall. I might watch videos but that’s about it. Which I’m proud to say is a policy I’ve held fairly well to over the last year, and it’s served me well in starting working on and completing many of my projects.

Now to one of those projects, the write-a-thon:

Well I’m not panicking yet about the pace I have set for myself. But if I don’t crack down and releive some of the pressure soon I might. The back log of things and the last of my free summer moments put a premium on my time and so it’s not as easy as it should be.

I have however discovered something. That while I’m not generally a romance or horror writer
I can in fact come up with ideas in those areas that I can write. I’ve also discovered however that in the middle of a write-a-thon of 31 short stories, which in themselves are a new format for me, in 31 days is not the ideal time to try it out.

Fantasy and science fiction are my genres of greatest familiarity and deepest creativity. If I stick to those now it makes it a great deal easier to achieve my goals for the month and not lose ground on some of the rest of my life too.

The ideas come more easily and the stories are more satisfying to me, which helps maintain momentum and doesn’t leave me second guessing my work and beating myself up over failures.
I think it’s important to stretch myself but perhaps now is not the time to stretch myself in so many directions at once.

As to the short story format; it can be quite interesting to write in and teaches me a bit about techniques that are applicable in other formats too, but it is a bit of a struggle too.

I found myself writing one story last night that detailed a character in a situation that was interesting for the story. The story made it close to two thousand words and I clipped it to an end of sorts. The problem is that the story was meant to be able a crazy day of a character at a crazy job. Which it did do, but then it filled itself up with the intent to be the opening sequence of a longer story about a character and his family and the struggles he faces in a world where things are mystically and historically different than ours.

Something similar happened with the romance, where as a story it was okay, but as an introduction to a more in depth setting and character driven story it works so much better.
I’m finding I’m much more suited to longer fiction. So instead of fight it I will embrace it and as time goes by I will do some stretching exercises with other types of writing, but they will be the exercises not the basis of my writing.

The final thing about this topic for now is my struggles to find ways to drum up donations for the charity aspect of it. I’m learning that above all I have more to learn about that. I’ve a few ideas to pursue in the next few weeks that I hope will help some, but it’s a new way of thinking for me.

It’s selling myself and believing in my goals, two things I’ve struggled with in the past. I can find value in anything, but it seems so arrogant to place value on my ventures, as if I’m bragging. To top it off there are the questions of whether my pride is justifiable and whether I should expect anything for my efforts.

A friend of mine helped me some with this aspect the other day by mentioning that customers decide if something is worth buying. I need to let them decide if my efforts are worth investing in, and not worry and waste time trying to predict that part of things. I also have to be responsive to what is being asked for. If I intend to turn any of this into a living I do anyway. If I’m just writing or creating on the small scale for myself and family then intent and the act of creation would be enough.

So I’m learning and growing for my adventures, as it should always be, and hope that this is part of a pattern I follow for personal growth.

I’m going to be rather busy for a few days after this but my next post should be up by Monday.

Until then take care of yourselves,
Roving Jack