What a To Do
This morning I’ve logged on with a renewed fervour for writing. How did this come about you may wonder. Well, here’s the How I Got Here list:
- recent breaks away to visit family have cleared the lockdown/shielded brain fog that developed over the past year. During that year, I began Later Writer, my space for writing about writing as an older person
- recent problems with day-to-day life, nothing major, just irksome quandaries, have all been examined and resolved, even if possibly shelved until a future decision date who-knows-when. For now, I’m settled with my husband living out our retirement quietly and surrounded by our books and hobbies
- I’ve decided it’s time to practise what I preach and Get On With It!
So Here’s My Latest To Do List
You will see this is non-specific so it can be read at any time. It features many of the routine activities of the homebased hobby writer (who’d like to be more but is realistic).
- website: my aim is to do at least two posts a week. Aims are made to be broken it seems but renewed effort may sort that out.
- study: having switched genre for my novel writing (attempts) I am studying Crime Fiction, and Crime Psychology, using books, online research and online courses. They wait for me patiently and I have no reason to dally. It’s a big birthday this year and time waits for no lazy writer.
- research: I have previously used Trello to map out my books, develop settings and characters – (not an affiliate link so take a look-see).
- novel writing: I have but one main aim here – to write my novel by turning up at this keyboard every day and tapping out at least 500 words.
- writing practice: I like to try out ideas in my Writing Notebook and I keep every scrap of paper pasted into a project file where I can access it years later. Several old pieces are now on this website
In My Own Defence
I would tell anyone aiming to write not to be too hard on themselves. Time spent thinking can lead to a plot; time spent people watching is character study; time spent away from home is location research. Everything is part of you and will one day pop into a piece of writing whether you realise it or not.
So when I write here about To Do lists and all kinds of planning, I have to add a rider: sometimes I am too unwell to do anything at all. Those periods of time are a trial and I never enjoy them. It is only when I recover that I really enjoy every aspect of the Later Writer Life! Bring it on!
