M.I.A.

 

I've been missing in action for the last two weeks.

Not actually missing. Just not productive.

Haven't written a word in two weeks. Haven't updated the website, or blog. Haven't really done much around the house.

I did clean the coat closet in the front hall yesterday.

Tossed 25 years of junk.

I have a hard time letting go of things.

The older something is, the tighter I hold onto it.

I've still got emails from 2009 in my inbox. Well, most of those are in folders not actually cluttering up my inbox. Most of them could be trashed.  Along with a huge collection of half written—never will be finished—stories on my computer, in notebooks scattered all around my house, and rambling around inside my head.

I can't seem to let go of old stories, or old story ideas. I may find a home for them somewhere. Someday.

The problem is, I'm lousy at keeping track of where and when I've released them into the wild. I can't enter any of my old stuff into contests, because I can't remember which ones have already won in which contests. So, I always have to write something new.

New is always good.

I'll be working on something new for the Oklahoma Romance Writer's Guild Cupid Awards contest for unpublished Romance short stories.

Contest Open to Submissions: September 1, 2022

Contest Deadline: October 1, 2022

OKRWG also has an upcoming 2022 Heart Awards Contest for published Romance novels or novellas.

Contest Open to Submissions: November 1, 2022

Contest Deadline: December 1, 2022 

Hopefully my current WIP will be completed and published by Dec 1, 2022.

Progress on it is much slower than I had planned.

Everyday I remind myself:

1.     Keep writing.

        Practice may not always make perfect, but it certainly makes better.

2.     Every step forward is one step closer to achieving goals.

        Always remember how far you have come, instead of looking at how far you have left to go.

3.     Read. Write. Edit. Submit.

        You will not be published, if you do not submit!

4.     Done is better than perfect. 

                Make it as perfect as possible. Then let it go. Let it go. Let it go to an editor, contest or publisher. 

5.     "Never give up, never surrender!"