Monday's Mug 012

Last week went by in a flash and before I knew it. I am sitting down to take a few moments to think about everything that happened last week. I have my cup of tea tonight. What can I get for you?

Last week was full of more goal planning for the month. I have been putting off reading a little bit lately, and I find myself longing for more community these last few days. It has been a long time since I have had some one on one time with any friends. I need to interact on Slack more as well with the Superstars. I need to stay on top of my reading goals for the year. I keep pushing off finishing some books, which is not like me because I usually want to do more in that department.

I will take a minute here and talk about the entertainment side of my life since last week; my reading has been minimal. I binge-watched Messiah on Netflix. I thought the show and acting were great. The writing was excellent. I didn't know what was going to happen next every time, which was nice because I usually can figure it out quickly. I will not give away anything here other than saying it was well written.

Are you watching anything? What is your favorite show? 

I have started Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as well, but I am taking this one a little bit at a time. This show is funny, and the writing is a dream come true. You might think I say this about all of the shows I watch, but it is not the case. I have enjoyed finding a couple of new things to watch for pushing me into a unique atmosphere when it comes to the point of view, comedy, and plot twists.

I have been working on my writing more and have been staying consistent with a little over 400 words a day since Jan 1. I am proud of myself because I haven't taken a break so far and don't plan on it.  I think I a lot of it has to do with using the 4thwords.com site to get myself a little more motivated on the not so motivated days. It has been hard for me in the past to stay consistent, but I noticed that when I did my language or another app that tracks every day you log in, I don't want to start back at day one again. It has been helping me get back into the flow of writing and to make progress on stories I have wanted to write.

I have joined the SWAP52 Club prompt /week challenge with Stop Writing Alone. This has been a great experience because I am getting to know more writers as well as new avenues for prompts. I have been consistent with writing a story each week, even though I am not sharing them right now. 

I hope you all have had a great week and we will talk next Monday again. Until then, just write.

Monday's Mug 010

Welcome back to the Monday Mug. I am enjoying this lovely weather we are having outside. I am having a little herbal tea tonight. I have no idea what kind because I didn’t look at it before I brewed it. The tea is excellent, though, with a little honey, it is better.

Would you like something as well? How about a brew you a cup?

This week has gone by in a blink, and it feels like I was just here talking to you. My process with submissions were I making a list of and looking for places to submit stories. I am focused on stories I want to submit. I have a few I need to edit and a couple of others I would like to complete. It seems like a slow process, and perhaps I am too hard on myself about the process. 

I read through a short story with a couple of writer friends, and it was fun to pull apart the story and see what was happening. When I was in school, it was part of our assignments, but I have to say it has been helpful to be able to pick some of the stories too. I need to start the Bradbury challenge to push myself further, but I am going to wait until December. It will be reading a short story, essay, and poem every day. 

Would you like some more tea night?

How is my marriage to writing going? It is a little bit of a bumpy start. There are times I question my choices, but I am a very analytical person, as well. I wonder about everything, but I am sticking to my decisions because, for me, right now, it is about love, and what at my core makes me happy. Writing does this for me still and always. Poetry has been sneaking back into my writing again slowly. I find when I am trying to make sense of the world, and poetry is how that happens often. I enjoy writing about hard problems in life and injustices. I could write volumes about romances that have gone wrong, but perhaps I will save that for later. 

So, this week, overall, has been pleasing. I am making slow and steady progress even though I am not as talkative in my writing community as I usually am. I am not sure why I am so quiet, but I think maybe it is just a time for me to observe and listen. 

I’m keeping it short this week, and off to get more writing done. Until next time… just write. 

Monday's Mug 002

Hello! Thank you for joining me this Monday Mug. This weekend went by in a flash, and I am a night writer, so here we are. I have some Irish Breakfast tea with honey and sugar in my mug tonight. I still fighting to be able to talk because of allergies. I am not sure why it has been so bad this year. I guess the allergies are trying to take me out. 

Would you like some tea too? I have made fresh pot. Honey? Milk?

So we are outside tonight, but that is because I just cannot resist the Spring weather. You have to bear with me as I sneeze and cough a little today. I am actually much better than last Monday, but I still have a lot to get done tonight. 

I would like to talk about going to a conference this weekend for single moms. It was amazing and so encouraging. It is definitely something I needed. There were two main speakers and three breaks out sessions. While I didn’t really get any ideas about writing while I was there, I did on the ride to and from the conference. 

If you ever end up in a car with me be prepared for the confessions. I tend to talk about everything in the car. I felt terrible for my companion that was driving, but I just could not shut up. We would talk about something, and it would always remind of a story. Then I would tell the story, and we would move on to the next subject. It made me miss the days of actual storytelling instead of stories being written all the time. 

Have you ever listened to a story teller?

There were so many pieces of my past that I do wish I could tell in stories, but I am not ready yet. I need more distance and time from the subject before I will commit it to paper. So many things have happened in my life, I am not sure I will ever really be able to write about. The scars are just too deep, and it still hurts too bad. 

Would you like so more tea? I am getting a second cup. 

I thought I would have so much time to work on writing this weekend, but that isn’t what happened at all, so I was a little upset by that. I am learning to forgive myself though and move on. I still don’t have the habit of writing every day, but yet I do write something every day. So maybe working on things that deal with my writing counts for writing too. 

Tonight I am keeping it short because I have a meeting with the Super Stars writing group and I am excited. I can’t see what writing sparks might come up from things they say.

I love all the little things in life that give us so much to write about.