Writing For My Life

An update on  my writing is in order, as it's been a while. 

I continue to try and blog twice a week or so. This keeps my skills up and forces me to get something down at least twice a week. Without it, I would be left to my writing class only, and I think it's important to keep active in many areas to keep you sharp. Sometimes the blog feels forced and other times it rolls off readily. When it does that, it's almost visceral. I kind of get in a writing zone and things come easily. These are some of my best writings; funny and succinct. Usually they are driven by an event that happened that calls for a humorous post.

I'm still in AllWriters' workshop on Wednesday nights. This has become one of my favorite nights of the week. I get the chance to rub elbows with other writers and just be "cerebral." As I told my wife many years ago when I was taking a continuing education class, it just makes me feel like I'm doing something with my life when I'm in school. There's something about surrounding yourself with smart people that brings a level of satisfaction and confidence. True, work gives you some of this, but I think people need a balance of activities outside of work that keeps them learning, fresh and interesting. 

This class is that for me. The students there are all trying their best to make a name for themselves. They're submitting work, getting published, getting rejected, and learning a ton along the way. Most of us are amateurs. The instructor Kathie Giorgio and her husband Michael have more publishing credits to their names that I could ever count, so I would call them professional writers. They are the exception though. The rest of us are either beginners, or fledgling writers doing what we love in the hopes someone will take notice and publish us.

This past week there was 5 of us writers + the instructor. I find it fascinating to hear the story behind these writers' story. What goes on in their heads as they struggle with plot, characters and time. It's all the same thing I struggle with, so it is refreshing to see that I am not alone. It seems that most writers struggle with what I call the "inner critic." This is that voice in my head that says "that sucks" or "this is no good, what are you doing? You can't write." Again it is refreshing to know that I'm not the only one who's seen this guy. He lives in most writers' head. He brings you down and keeps you second-guessing  yourself. 

On the publishing side of things, my poem Soul Pane is now published in this quarter's Issue of Verse Wisconsin Magazine. The issue just came out this week. I don't even have my complimentary copies yet. 

I also got a rejection last week Sunday that I'd sent to Adventum Magazine. I actually submitted two articles to that magazine, but neither made the cut. Onward and upward though. I refuse to dwell in the negative for very long. There's too many other quality publications out there. 

Yesterday I submitted a couple of poems for publication in a poetry calendar. It would be a nice addition if one of the pieces was accepted for that. I have a few straggler pieces out there as well. Most of those fell into the "6 weeks to 6 month" notification black hole. Time will tell. 

All I know is that I'm doing what I love, people are noticing, and suddenly I can't get enough of it.

Life is good.

Blogging off...