My First Article

I submitted my first key word article today. It took me a long time to complete it and will hardly be worth the pay verses the time spent on it. I don't mean that in a bad way because I need the practice and I need to learn to focus. It may not even be accepted for payment on the first run.

I learned a valuable lesson about choosing key word articles, I will never again pick one that is awkward to use in a sentence. I also learned that I have trouble staying focused on one project at a time. I end up wasting time researching interesting things that I ran across while researching my topic. I am going to have to learn if it won't fit in the article don't bother with it or make a note to look into it later.

Once I wrote the article I started on another goal. I have not been working out or eating right lately and I really want to get back on track. I was doing really well and a few minor things made me feel like I was fighting a loosing battle and I just gave into the cravings. I went to the park down the street today with my dog and started my new routine. I am going to start jogging and since I have never been more than a walk fast kind of gal this is a real challenge.

Asuka loved it every time I broke into a jogging pace and she was excellent. She didn't pull like she does when we walk and she didn't stop to sniff everything. She is not a puller like the dogs you see running there owners down the street but she could use some work or maybe just some speed.

I learned that I am really out of shape and that it will take time to build up to speed. I had to walk most of the 2.5 miles. My heart rate was through the roof after just a little jogging. I am going to be a better dog owner and in better shape by sticking to this goal. I don't know yet if I can handle two days in a row or just every other day. We will just walk if I can't jog each day.

I have also been going on evening walks with my husband and the dog so if all of this continues I will be in better shape in no time as long as I don't eat whole pies or bags of chips. I honestly could eat a whole pie I have never done it but lately my sweet cravings have been really bad and I am tempted to grab the sugar bowl and chow down some days.

Over all life is looking good I just need to outline a plan for these changes in my life. Once they are in writing they are easier to follow and tweak as needed. That is one of the mistakes I made in my good health plan this last time. I quit writing about it and put it out of my mind. Not this time I am going to work on becoming a better me. I am working to be the person I want to be and I am going to make it happen.

Zombie Head Today

Zombie Head is what I call that daze I wake up in when I didn't get a great nights sleep or I am sick and just can't wake up. This morning I had Zombie Head but it is gone now. Last week my hubby and I watched The Walking Dead: Season One and I have been having zombie dreams. I did get more sleep last night than I did after we watched the episode where they put zombie guts on themselves.

I like all kinds of creepy stuff and I can watch a dozen vampire movies and not have disturbing dreams but every time I watch a zombie show I have vivid dreams. Sometimes they are scary sometimes they are just like watching a show. I had one a few nights ago about finding a cure for the "disease" but it was only saving a small percent of the infected. You shot it in the brain and it either killed the zombie or returned it to a human state. Then if you survived the brain injury you might become yourself again. Rather ridiculous if you think about it but that is where good writing material comes from I suppose. I am going to have to get a pen and paper and put it beside the bed to write this stuff down.

I hope to get up with only mild Zombie Head tomorrow or maybe just the normal morning haze that dissipates quickly with a few cups of coffee because I have a lot of things I need to do. I have a lot of writing I want to do. I have plans to start that today but I want to stay on track by creating a writing schedule. I plan to work on some pieces for the writing sites (HubPages and Associated Content) that I don't really get paid for but I could use on my resume. I also have an article due at London Brokers and I need to get that done today. Then  I have a book review I need to do for Literary Lunes a free magazine for writers. I only have 14 hours for the article I need done today the others either don't have a deadline or it is much later in the month. I hope to get everything I can done this week as I push myself to live my dream.

So here is the deal I am going to kill the Negativity Beast! I am going to slay it with my magic sword of determination. I am going to chop it to little tiny pieces so it never bothers me again. I am going to start writing and getting paid for it. I am going to work hard and become an excellent writer. I am not going to let rejection get me down I am going to use it to make me stronger! I am going to win!

A special thanks to Jen Whitten and her awesome blog The Positive Piper that has given me the tools to change my life!

Spring Cleaning

The last few days I have been away from my computer most of the time. Spring cleaning here is both house cleaning and organizing my life. I get a lot more done when I keep the computer shut off so I am limiting my time on digital devices until I get my daily chores done.


I likely have over a month left at my job and I will work one 12.5 hour Saturday each week until the find a replacement for me. That means I should have some income so I can focus on doing all the chores I have put off for years. I can get the house spotless and reorganized and the garage and basement cleaned. I can set writing goals and work to get a paying gig.


I started my official spring cleaning of the house yesterday. I was up on my feet and busy almost all day. I am sad to say I am really sore but it feels like I accomplished something. I have a lot more to do but things are looking much better. I have things broken down into tasks for each room and I finished the living room yesterday and most of the front porch. I think I have bruises on my knees from moping the floor on my hands and knees so I could get under the radiators and all the baseboards.



Enough of the actual cleaning commentary, I did use some of my time to enjoy the outdoors. I went for a morning walk with the dog on the nice days. My hubby also joined us for evening walks. I have been trying to work out some stories in my head as I walk. Sadly I keep forgetting to write them down when I come home. They are usually silly stories but they would provide me with a starting point. I also try to put what I see into words while I walk....well when the dog is being good. I try to describe the birds and the squirrels in as many different ways as I possibly can. I do great while I am out there and then it is all gone when I sit down to type.


My hubby has been great with encouraging me to write so I need to set aside some time to actually write. He has requested a story about a goat and a ninja and I am having trouble figuring out how to fit both in a story.  I have been reading about writing so much that I have neglected the actual writing part. A wise author told me I was confusing the roles of writer and editor. I don't need to know all the rules to write a good story or article. I need to know them when I edit my material. I need to be a writer first and an editor second. 


So after I finish cleaning today and get a little workout in I am going to spend at least an hour writing something other than my daily journal entry. I don't care if it is not good yet I can work that out later.

Building a New Career From Scratch

I have always wanted to be a writer. In high school I wrote for my school newspaper and enjoyed it so much I though I wanted to be a reporter. I started my college career as a psychology major but quickly changed it to communications. Then like an idiot teenager I dropped out and got a factory job.

When I was laid off I found a program that helped pay for school. I was going back one class at a time before I found this program. I figured therapists were in demand and I had a few credits to apply to a psychology degree. This program required that I change my major to one of their top job needs in the area. I found that social work was the way to go if I wanted all of my credits to count.

As I went on in the social work program I realized I liked a lot of things about being a social worker. I also realized there were just as many things that I hated. I got a taste of both worlds as I journeyed through my internship. I answered phones and talked one on one with clients in need. Sadly I found many of the people that were calling were just looking for a hand out. They didn't want any of the services that could help them save money because they had no income and no intentions of gaining employment. In my latest job I  have found that to be true as well.

It was a great pleasure to speak with people in temporary crisis mode that just need help this month because their car broke down or they took time off after having a baby. I enjoyed speaking with them and I felt for them but I couldn't help them most of the time. Many of the services that help with bills require a shut off notice or an eviction notice. People who just need help this month don't want to get that far behind. Overall I am not sure I like the direct service part about 95% of the time. I love it when I actually do help people but it seems like I rarely make a positive difference.

My internship also required me to plan and organize several projects. My first was a large distribution of products to churches. That was a lot of paper work and sorting but I enjoyed it.

The second project was planning a youth group event to raise money for World Vision. I still can't get the smile off my face when I talk about it. It was like one bright area in my time served in social work. I wrote a lot of letters and emails as well as a press release and advertisements. I spent a lot of time working on print media for the project. I had a blast doing this and I would do it again but not as a volunteer. Now where are the jobs for a social worker/project manager? There are none and if you find one they expect you to have your master's degree not a measly 4 year degree.

I really enjoy the writing aspects of any job so I am going to work hard to make it as a freelance writer. I have a Kindle coming today and I will load it with writing books. I am going to take my experience and learn to write for non-profits. I am going to learn everything I can about the things I love to do and then I am going to work hard to make it as a freelance writer.

Writing Like a Mad Woman Today

Well I am back and motivated to write again. I have had some big snags in the road but they are nothing I can't overcome. I knew rejection would hurt when applying for writing jobs but I didn't realize I would loose my motivation.

I also didn't realize how hyper critical I would be of the work I write for others. I don't want others to look bad and I spend way too much time revising. The worst part is my first instincts are often better than my revisions. What starts as polishing up my work ends up with a piece that lacks in personality. Oh well I will learn how to balance the editing process.

I am really feeling like me today and it is nice. It may have taken all morning to get out of this funk and realize that I have been trying too hard to please others. Not that it is never important to please others but there is a point where you need to stand up for yourself.

I have started a diary to shape a character that I have had in my head for years on my Dark Novels blog.
I actually think this Lucy character will have to be split up into multiple characters because I have changed her so much over the years. I have only dared to write about her a few times but I dream about her as well as make up stories in my head about her when I am bored. I have always felt like an idiot about this and I have only shared it a few times and then put it back in the crazy idea box to hide from the world.

Even if I never become some great novelist I can use this to spark my creativity. When I make up stories and characters it forces me to think outside the box. It forces me out of my real life and the breaks the chains that bind me to boredom and practicality.