Progress On WIP / Happenings In The Outhouse 25-Oct-2019

I've been making tremendous progress on my current work-in-progress.  I am currently over 8,000 words and climbing higher each day.

This project is challenging myself on a few fronts.  First, I've never written a YA book before.  I've read many, but not taken up the mantle to actually write one.  Not that it's very different as far as the actual writing is concerned, but the focus has to be more in line with the intended audience--I do have two daughters in high school who have heard bits of the story and are intrigued by it, although with homework and after-school activities their time to read it is limited.

Second is more personal: my wife.  She is still being cared for at a nursing home, for rehab, and her progress is . . . well, not sugar-coating it here, it's poor.  There are many irons in the fire, many doctors (including the Mayo Clinic) are monitoring and testing a variety of elements in her blood.  I just need to trust in the Higher Power, putting it all in His Hands.

But I take the time for myself (it may sound selfish to do so, but in reality it's not) and some of that time includes doing what I love: writing.

Three Things / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-Oct-2019

I was recently listening to Lewis Howes's podcast, The School of Greatness, and during an interview with Simon Sinek, he asked if, at the very end of your life, all of your possessions and creative works disappeared and you were given a blank sheet of paper to write down three things (pieces of advice, if you will), what would they be?

This brought to mind a post I wrote in December last year, titled "Have Fun."  Go ahead and read it.  I'll wait . . .

Funny how life turns out, given the current situation with my wife.

Here would be my three things:

Be Kind

Be Faithful

Be Happy

What would your three things be?

Trimming Da Fat / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-Oct-2019

In December 2016, I went on a podcast fast.  I had done this a few times over the years, as I had found myself with too many podcasts to listen to in any given week.

Last week, instead of going on a full podcast fast, I decided to trim back on a few.  I listen to podcasts at a little more than normal speed--around 1.5 speed.  I do this to listen to more.  But I have soon discovered that while I have a number of favorites, some I had trouble listening to.  So I asked myself, "Am I gaining anything to listening to them?  What if I took them out of my feed and quit listening to them?"

What a relief!

I had already done this with three other podcasts--all with the same hosts--as they changed the format from MP3 to M4A files.  I could still listen to them on my MP3 player, but it was a pain.  It didn't have the same quality.  So, I decided to ditch them.

My ideal podcast length is between 10-40 minutes long, although I would rather them be short.  The ones I got rid of last week were typically over an hour in length.  Not only did I get rid of two, a third one also found itself on the chopping block.

I love learning new things and deep diving into topics that interest me.  But there are times when I need to start doing, putting things into action by writing new words.

Hence, trimming da fat from the podcast feed.

Planning for the rest of 2019 / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-Oct-2019

It is now the first week of October 2019.  The start of the 4th quarter.  What is on the docket for the remainder of the year?

Looking back on the last quarter--and my list of the next five--I managed to cross off one thing and start on another.  Knowing how the summer has been for our family, I'm changing the focus to fit the circumstances.

Sure, I could write this grand list and pray for the best, knowing that I may only accomplish one thing, but I'd be kidding myself.  I need to be a bit realistic.

With the YA book I'm currently writing (I am around 6,000 words!), I also plan on exploring a print version as well.  My first one.  At the same time, I have identified another book (along with a workbook) that I may put into print as well.

Keeping it simple.  Cheers!