Blog Update! Decisions. Decisions.

Hi everyone!

Now, I've just been ranting and raving about authors who let their websites rot...

Earth to Ella.

I may not be a published author, but I'm doing exactly the same thing. The problem being is that I am working on my review site at the same time as writing a novel (which is not horror and has a deadline). This leaves me with little time to write my Ella stuff, and as you can see the blog has suffered drastically because of it. So, indeed has my ability to break away from my novel to write short stories and flash to submit for publication.

Now I'm not moaning, just wondering what to do about it. I have a real (non-Ella) opportunity to make a go of my writing in a different genre. But it doesn't seem I can fit it all in at the same time. Something has to change. Time is truly of essence.

Does this mean I either have to make sure I set aside time to write my horror, or should I be seriously thinking about concentrating on the one genre for now? I'm at a loss for what to do. It's like having three jobs, all of which I want to keep. I guess the thing is to put my priorities in order. A published novel is a way of making a living (albeit a small one) and should therefore be treated as a "proper job" and on the top of my priorities; a goal that must be completed. And one that if I am determined to do I have to put the effort in to achieve what I want.

Maybe I need to set aside time to work on my Ella stuff, regardless. Make the time. Focus on the hours I have to do it in. Schedule more. The last thing I want to do is to be the Grim Reaper and kill off my horror writing. But when I ask myself why the answer is always the same - I love writing it.  I'm simply not doing it, which doesn't make sense. Does that make it a dream, a wish I could fulfill? Or am I only just beginning to realise, I can't have it all, and must choose between two "jobs" rather than three, since I am only human after all?

Has anyone else ever felt like this? Trying to do too much at once, but not wanting to let go of any of it? My needs have changed, and like my goals, I need to reevaluate what is important in my life.

Maybe the onset of 2010 (which is fast approaching) will bring me the gift of making my mind up. All I can say now, is that I have some serious decision making to do. And fast.

Before I worry too much, and end up looking like him above! 

Ella
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WRITE EVERY DAY: 500 a day Challenge Update

How am I doing?

Um, not very well.

Why not?

I'm easily distracted, and by the time I finished all my other jobs, I just don 't feel like writing. Is that normal?

I asked an author, Gary Williams, what the secret to his successful productivity was ( I know that's desperate) and his tip was "sit and write" - easy when you know how, huh? :)

I'm going to get up early from now on (yes, I can hear some of you laughing) and start writing before anything else. It's got to be worth a try. Although I will soon be on holiday and won't have any internet access, which will put a spanner in the works of my creativity for sure. All my writing is actually online so I can access it from any computer.

So bearing in mind the age old adage "write every day", how do writers / online addicts cope when on holiday with no computer or internet? Do you make sure you don't go anywhere unless there is internet access or it's a laptop friendly area? What if, like me, you don't have a laptop and all your work is sitting on the computer in your office? Perhaps you take lots of notebooks and write by hand? Or is there another way that I don't know of, which would really make me happy as Larry? Whoever he is.

Pray do tell.

The 500 Words a Day Challenge!

It's been way too long since I have updated this blog, so in an effort to change that and write more every day, I am entering the "500 Words A Day Challenge". This may not sound much, but I hope that this will lead to more words once I get started each day.

I have also added two writing progress meters in the sidebar, which I will update once a week, if not sooner. Here they are:

Novel

34276 / 80000

Novella

6290 / 15000

Hopefully, this will encourage me to write more regularly! Fingers crossed.

At the moment I have not got anything in the pipeline, other than the two books mentioned above. Usually I have at least a couple of short stories or flash fiction pieces in the hands of online magazine editors waiting for their yay or nay responses. Lately, however, there has been a lot going on in my life and when I do sit down and write it's to work on the novel or novella with sporadic bursts of productivity. And then nothing for days. This is going to change! Watch this space.

I've also updated my MySpace profile, which was more than overdue.

Until next time, which shouldn't be as long as the gap between my last post and this new one, have fun!

Ella
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