This is an actual conversation I had with a non-writer friend the other day.

ME: Look at these beautiful notebooks! A friend gave them to me a couple of years ago and I wanted to use them but they’re too pretty. So I might try to recreate them and then write in those.
NWF: Why don’t you write in these ones? Isn’t that what they’re for?
ME: But they’re so pretty. What if I ruin them with my bad words and horrible story ideas?
NWF: Then they’ll be filled with lessons.
ME: … Gawd dalksdlfja;sldfjaljmmit.

So, apparently, what we’re doing now is filling all of our notebooks, people. This is what we’re supposed to do. Because of his silly logical…logic that actually makes a lot of sense. No more excuses. Don’t blame me. Blame him.

365 Challenge Update

In other news, I’ve been going out and writing in places other than my office recently, which has sparked a desire to write even more. Yay! If that isn’t a win, I don’t know what is. So far, I’ve been brainstorming at a friend’s house, writing at the library. I’m going to a cafe/deli later this morning.

I heard somewhere that some writer likes to write in her local McDonalds early in the morning because it’s not cliche and no one expects anything of her there (other than buying a little food or coffee) and she can sit in the corner for a couple hours without people looking at her funny. I would LOVE to do that, but I’m not excited about smelling like McDisappointment and grease for the rest of the day so… There’s that.

Since I started my little 365 Challenge, I’ve written two flash fiction stories and will soon be outlining “Project Tentacle,” which is what I’ve dubbed my (hopefully) Lovecraftian debut novel. I’m anticipating self-publishing it since weird fiction is pretty niche.

Anyway, it’s a slow start, but it’s going okay. I’m feeling more productive than I have in months.

y no vlog, j? huh? y?

The problem that I ran into the last time I tried vlogging was that I found it hard to film with subpar video equipment and software. I’m still at that point, but I want to push past it. It should be about content, right? So I want to create a habit out of filming. I’m hoping to film a little bit of something every day for the next 21 days. Isn’t that how long it’s supposed to take to build a habit?

Hopefully, then I will be able to upload on a regular basis, and then also improve my skills and find *my vlogging style.* What makes me different from other vloggers. But in the meantime, I just need to get used to filming things that are interesting to me. Of course, that also means doing interesting things as well. LOL

Currently Reading

I just finished reading Shoggoths in Bloom by Elizabeth Bear. Great collection of short stories! Lovecraftian, ofc.

I started reading The Abyss Above Us by Ryan Notch (also weird fiction/Lovecraftian), but I’m finding it hard to get into it since the first chapter is mostly talking heads and tech-speak. I’m going to push through and if I don’t get hooked by the end of the third chapter, I’ll DNF it.

The next up on my TBR are:

• The Beckoning Void (audiobook) by Patrick LeClerc and Emily Mount
• Horimiya Vol 2 – 4 (manga) by Hero Daisuke Hagiwara
• The Hollows (paperback) by Daniel Church
• Gideon the Ninth (paperback) by Tamsyn Muir
• Sister, Maiden, Monster (paperback-reread) by Lucy A. Snyder

This week, instead of trivia, I’m leaving you with discussion questions because… I don’t have a ton of readers or engagement, but I do like the idea of having discussion questions at the end of blog posts.

Discussion Topics/Questions

Describe a notebook that you’re avoiding using.

At what point do you DNF books?

Whatcha readin’?

Would you try writing in McDonald’s for an hour and then reporting back to me with: (1) Did anyone look at you funny? (2) Did you end up smelling like grease? And for how long? (3) Did you get a lot of writing done?

Where is the weirdest place where you’ve done something creative like writing, drawing, or playing music?