writing life

If You Want To Be An Author

I’ve finishing filing my taxes today. This year was particularly painful. Last year I moved jobs, had a second job, and overcontributed to my Health Savings Account (HSA). All this translates to not-simple tax situations, which means additional paperwork (UGH). I would much rather be doing this:

this is not BOC reading

Or this:

This isn’t BOC, either

While I was being a Responsible Adult, with much grumbling, I daydreamed about alternatives. You know, having a different life. Anyone who loves writing at least once dreams about being an author. As in, a writer who gets paid writing and sellings books. I certainly day-dreamt about the possibility. Only, I couldn’t just leave it at daydreams. So I girded my loins and went looking.

Here are some things I found out from my bout of Researching Things To Death:

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By booksofchange, ago

Taking Care of the Mind Through Exercise

I’ve been wearing my Responsible Adult hat these past two weeks. Doing work-related training, hours of IT maintenance over the weekend (because you never want to do them during business hours…), and filing paperwork for income taxes is enough to leave anyone exhausted.

If it were up to me, I’d spend my prime hours daydreaming, roaming forests, or doing interesting things.

this looks like a good idea

Despite all this, I still squeezed some reading and writing! I entered another writing contest on wattpad (#BattleTheBeast). The last chapter of Clause for Women, Children, and Infirm got written and posted. I managed to borrow Captain America: Civil War from the library (score!), and now I will spend an evening watching (drinking lots of water… I heard this is necessary). I want to keep this up. But how?
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By booksofchange, ago

An Ode to Strong Lady Characters

As I typed away at what is likely the last chapter of Clause for Women, Children and Infirm, I noticed a pattern in all my stories.

John Watson of A Study In Magic started it. It almost happened again with my BBC Sherlock one-shot The Sword of Solomon. Now, I’ll likely do it again with CWCI, reluctant though I am to do the “same old thing”.

I want ladies to be likable and strong. My favorite characters include Princess Kushana, Lady Eboshi, and Nausicaa. Most of them are characters by Hayao Miyazaki. (more…)

By booksofchange, ago