Update

I'm allowing my writing to slip to the side, it's getting to be that time, I think. I've had to reprioritize home/family/health stuff, and I'm okay with that. However, I'm not abandoning writing entirely. No, I know better than that. :)

First off, I'm focusing on the classes I've signed up for. I can do those with short periods of time without a lot of prep before hand. And not having fifty thousand things to do afterward, the material seems to stick better in my mind, and I find myself reflecting back to what the coursework entailed.

Also, I'm reading. I've added George R.R. Martin's "Game of Thrones" to my bookshelf at my husband's request. We don't read the same authors, so when he raves about one, I really do need to check it out. I've read the prologue, and am intrigued by the characters and how quickly Martin has presented them to me in such distinct identities with only a few pages. I'm going to try and read this one slowly, and absorb what I can.

And finally, I'm focusing on one writing project at a time. Nighthunter's Bite needs to get written, crappy first draft acceptable. I've got images of the chase haunting me, and Maura's strange power is haunting her, and I've got to get her some resolution. She's been running for two years now, you know. I owe her a rest.

My daily list format worked when I was writing daily. I've temporarily dropped my list to a monthly points of what needs my attention. I'm adapting, and that's good. I know I'll get my time back in some fashion in the coming months.

I Remember

September 11, 2001 . . . we all know what happened, we all know people who were affected by it. I am fortunate enough not to have lost anyone that day, but New York is my home. I grew up there, I worked there. I lived and breathed New York until about ten years ago when I moved away, so when that second plane hit and we realized it was intentinal, it made me angry. I felt violated.

Seven years later, our lives have changed enough for us to point back to that fateful day. Seven years later, justice really hasn't been served, has it? Sure, a few higher-ups have been captured and imprisoned, but what has that accomplished? As Americans, we're still hated by the people that formed those groups, and while I don't live in fear that they will take action again, I am saddened that their beliefs are so strict that we cannot live in tolerance of one another.

Such is the allure of science fiction novels that depict a future in which a united Earth goes forth to explore the universe. These problems were resolved, tolerance and unity became the standard, and most people are happy. Life is not science fiction, not will it ever be, not from that angle. But it's sure nice to daydream about it.

While daydreaming, I will not forget those who lost their lives on September 11th. I will not forget our armed forces who have tried and tried to bring order to the Middle East. I will not forget their families who live without them on a daily basis while tackling the normal challenges of everyday life. I will not hate those who can't understand sharing and tolerance.

I can hope that change will come, that people will come. I don't think my generation will be the one to do it. Perhaps my children's generation. All I can do, beyond hoping, is teach my childen right and wrong, while hopefully, some other woman in the Middle East is teaching her children about right and wrong, about sharing and tolerance, and about the responsibility of change.

I will remember. And my children will learn.

Update

It's been an interesting week. I've been going to bed at 8:30 several nights in a row, which isn't even enough time to check on laundry progress after the two year old goes nighty-night. I need it, so no complaints. I feel more clear headed, and I'm using my lunches at work for various writing tasks. I've been reading, too. In the evenings, I read a bit of Hunting the Hunter before bed, and I've also started Neil Gaiman's American Gods at a doctor's appointment. The Think-Sideways assignments are waiting for me, but I just haven't had a spare ten minutes times three or four to work on the freewriting.

Today's task is to work more on Nighthunter's Bite. I'd like to complete the story soon, and get back to editing. I'm really in edit-mode which is making the writing difficult. Sunguard needs my attention. Someone's been hinting to me that it could be more than just a short story, but I need the short story done before I think any further on it. There are two anthologies I think Sunguard will fit fairly well, but deadlines swoop in when the work's not getting done.

So many things to write and edit, and so little time . . .

Update

There hasn't been a lot going on writing-wise, but I've been busy. Treischan Strength was rejected, and I've resubmitted it to an anthology. I signed up for Holly Lisle's Think Sideways course, which runs a year long, so the child issues that are due to come up soon shouldn't affect it. And, I read S.L. Viehl's Omega Games, and am slightly afraid of what she intends for the end of the series. The main character received some advice from a new friend on how to handle her current family issue, which is pretty much an issue that's run the course of the series. If she follows his advice, the series is going to end on a sad note, and I hope it doesn't. I can only wait and see, now.

Evenings have been useless for writing, so I'm back to lunch break writing for a few weeks. Progress will be slow, but if there IS any progress, I will be happy!