Investing

I worked at a place awhile back that had 'motivational' statements all over the walls. One was that you have to invest in yourself. I've found that to be really true with writing. I suppose with any career, but I think of writing more as an obsession than a career. When I get published, maybe than I'll be able to expand and make it a career, too. Right now, it's a glorious obsession.

Today was full of stuff. I made a New Year's resolution to get out more (away from the computer - not necessarily the writing) and grow. So I went to my local library for a crash course on nutrition websites. (another of my resolutions is to take getting healthy serious.) It was a great class. It's called a morning's breakfast class and they had donuts (oh dear God - so much for eating well -- in fact, I resisted temptation and only had a cup of coffee. I'd already made myself a nice bowl of oatmeal before I went to class.) The printouts were good, too. They have these once a month, they're free, and they're all about using computers to the max. I'm looking forward to the 'cloud' one as I am thinking that app (or whatever it is) will be useful in my writing.

Next, I went off to my physical therapy. It's really working with a personal trainer, but the whole purpose is to get the strength in my legs back and to stretch the muscles (they shriveled a bit during this long bout of illness). That was difficult, but satisfying. The teacher is great. She's in the midst of writing a book about exercise, etc. and we always chat about writing during the breaks.

Quick change of clothes and then off to lunch at my writers' group place. Piece of quiche and a bowl of soup and iced tea and I was ready.

No, I wasn't. I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep, but I persevered. The meeting is huge. The group has grown to at least twenty and they are all good writers. I just sit with my mouth agape sometimes. I remember this group three year ago. There were only two or three rally good writers; now, most of them are know-your-socks-off writers. I must confess, I find it a bit intimidating. But isn't that the way of learning.

The moderator usually gives us a prompt and we spend the first fifteen minutes writing. I like this and feel I excel at it. I'm not boasting. I just do it well. It's a fact. This time, I was surprised at myself. I felt stymied. Not one of the three topics drew any shudder of excitement, no stirring of the creative juices. I saw and looked at the page and thought, good grief, I can't write. *g* I finally pushed myself, as I have found often helps, and wrote a big of a story (not true). The ending was rough and I didn't like it, but at least I'd written two pages and if I got called on to share, I'd at least have something.

While others were called and read there's, the ending kept niggling at my mind. I finally figured out what to do with it and added two lines. It would have to do.

Well, I did get called and I did read and the ending got a great laugh. I can rest now. 

Life is never dull.

PS - I'll tell you about Picasa tomorrow. Never ending day.