Writing in this time of Coronavirus

It's been more than a year since my last post and between Coronavirus and a life-changing decision, I haven't been writing. I'm not the only writer struggling through quarantine and shutdowns. It hasn't been easy for anybody. My library was closed from March thru July. I worked from home until the middle of May. Then back for half time and finally to full service. With masks, cleaning, dealing with schedules, and at last being with my Staff. My full-time assistant decided to retire rather than risk Coronavirus. Which got me thinking about retirement myself. After talking with the pension fund, my financial advisor, and Social Security, I decided to take the leap.My last day is October 31st. Meanwhile health issues and worries about basically everything ... You know of whom I speak. I've been overwhelmed, but thinking finally about writing again. I have one story nearly complete, and am percolating another. Come November I may need to write to save my sanity! If anybody reads this, welcome back. If you want to tell me what your quarantine experience has been, or is, respond in the comments and I'll be a friendly sounding board. We've all been wrung out by fears and worries, I can so relate.

New Ventures in the Writing World

I am starting to put together a Writers group at the Library. The first meeting is tonight, and I'm hoping that it will go well. This meeting is more of a meet-up than a meeting. I will be setting up the basic rules and explaining why I started the group (people asking if we have writing groups.) I am not teaching people how to write, but encouraging them to either start or keep going on their current projects. These are the basic rules: Rules - Open minds - Constructive Criticism - Non-judgmental - unbiased opinions - Share time with others This is what I would want from a writers group. We'll be closing with an exercise from The Amazing Story Generator by Jason Sacher. It looks like a child's flip it book.

Does that sound like a fun book to write, or what? The combinations are endless and occasionally ridiculous. We will be ending with a fun prompt and a five minute writing session.

Ad Astra | Events

Just a little blurb about my favorite convention. No, I don't write SF/Fantasy, but authors are authors and they all have words of advice and encouragement. Best of all, it's inexpensive and I can drive to Toronto. There's always great cosplay, gaming, and much fun. Including special tastings of wine, cheese, beer or chocolate run by people who really know their subjects well. I had to put in a good word for this great con.
Update on my writing
Word count: 88,543. I'm getting there.

Ad Astra | Events

Food for thought ...

Some consolation for writers currently writing their first draft...😅#writerslife #amwriting pic.twitter.com/ojxHJpbcUN

— Morgan Wright (@byMorganWright) May 5, 2019

But I don't have time to write!

Is this your problem, or your favorite excuse, like it is mine? Here's a great link from Career Authors; one of my favorite sites. This has excellent advice for those of us who are time-challenged.

How to find time to write

I've learned several strategies from this article that I've never thought of. I particularly like the sticky note idea, because when I have to stop writing, or am interrupted, leaving a note as to where you want this scene/chapter to go seems so, so helpful!

I'm a bad blogger, but a great reader!

I've done a lot of reading these last few weeks, some for pleasure, some for work. I've managed to write a few more pages on THE BOOK, too. I'm at 273 pages and 88,434 words. 

Honestly, I don't know how prolific writers do it! But read the latest The Real Book Spy blog and interview with John Sandford, to find out. 

https://therealbookspy.com/2019/04/15/neon-prey-five-questions-with-john-sandford/

Review: The Border

It's almost impossible to do a review of a nearly perfect book. Or the third book of a trilogy without spoilers!

The Border by Don Winslow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. It is truly epic. I have no doubt that it will be my #1 book at the end of 2019.

The Border concludes the trilogy that began with the Power of the Dog, and The Cartel, while reading the trilogy is helpful, it is not absolutely necessary, as much of the previous history of the characters and the drug trade is deftly included. At the end, it is a fitting wrap-up of the narrative.

This book is intense, as in I couldn't read it at night as the characters stayed with me. There were times I wanted to cry, and at the end, I did cry. Winslow's writing is clean and clear, even when dealing with multiple characters, a timeline that moves back and forth, and enough action to keep you turning pages.

The only warning I can give is that The Border is not for the faint of heart, or language sensitive. It is violent, profane, and uncomfortable, at times. But it is also magnificent.


View all my reviews