Lately I've been having some serious issues with writer's block. It seems like all the time I have so many ideas just floating around my brain until I sit down to actually write. The second I pick up a pen/pencil, or sit down at the computer my brain just empties. It's beginning to make me insane. I have all these things plotted out and notes written down, but when it comes time to turn them in to something -- *poof*.
Sometimes I get lucky and can get a few words down, but then if I look them over I am horrified. I start wondering who on earth would read this? It's worse than the worse thi...
Hi everyone!
I'd like to apologize for the long hiatus. Many things have been going on in my personal life. I won't go in to too much detail, but I've had a lot of health issues and a couple of surgeries in the interim time. I've also lost three close family members in the space of the last couple of years that have thrown me and I have still not really absorbed their loss.
Another reason that I have been absent so long is that I've also had a lot of self-doubt as a writer. I have actually gotten some writing done, as well as a bit of my first novel started. After the first bit I was hi...
Just recently I began submitting my blog to various blog related listing sites, and found I had a small problem. All of them ask me to classify what this blog is about. Uh-oh. For some reason they all seemed to lack the proper category. The neglected to add the "whatever strikes my fancy" category.
That led me to sit down and really think about what this blog is about.
I've been told it's a "mommy blog" since I have posted parenting relating things, or it's a "contest blog" because I post giveaways. Ok, I can get with that, sort-of. Those are parts of me, but I have a problem with cla...
Many of you don't know that I have both a sister and a niece with special needs. My sister suffered brain damage as a result of her belirubin climbing to record heights as an infant. Her functioning level was put at that of a six year old, even though she is 30 years old. She is the sweetest person, but has had a very rough life due to this and other unrelated problems. My niece has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and I have been learning all I can about this very common Autism Spectrum Disorder.
As a result, I am a proud supporter of sites and causes that promote information and f...
I’d like to apologize for the long hiatus. Many things have been going on in my personal life. I won’t go in to too much detail, but I’ve had a lot of health issues and a couple of surgeries in the interim time. I’ve also lost three close family members in the space of the last couple of years that have thrown me and I have still not really absorbed their loss.
Another reason that I have been absent so long is that I’ve also had a lot of self-doubt as a writer. I have actually gotten some writing done, as well as a bit of my first novel started. After the first bit I was hit so hard with doubt of my skills that I allowed myself to be hit with the biggest case of writer’s block that I have ever had.
On the positive side, we have also welcomed a new member to our family. We have grown from a family of six to seven, and the youngest has everyone wrapped around his little finger already. Hard to believe that he is already two years old. We also welcomed a new nephew that is only a month older than our little guy. It will be great for them to be able to grow up together, though I know if my nephew is anything like my brother they will be adding some serious gray to my hair.
I have again decided that the only was that I will ever know for sure if I can make my dream come true is if I actually write. Even if what I produce is absolutely horrible, I can always clean it up in editing. I’ve realized it’s a little difficult to edit a blank page.
So with that decided, I felt my next step was to resurrect my old blog as a way to motivate myself to actually produce. Not only will it let me warm up with writing and get my creative juices flowing, but now I have people to answer to if I don’t follow through. (I figure there should be one or two of you that will call me on it if I don’t start writing about having something ready for submission.)
I have also decided that I will refocus to a smaller beginning. I plan to hone my skills on some short stories first. Then submit them to paying markets and see what the response is. My initial goal of producing a complete novel is just so large that it seemed to overwhelm me to the point that I couldn’t function. Yes, I know I will be risking rejection, but I have tried to prepare myself for it. I will not let myself be stopped, because I realize no matter how good my writing may (or may not) be, it could still be rejected for various reasons not related to what I have written. (Not the least of which may be this wonderful economy that I am sure has been effecting the writer’s market as well.)
So, that’s basically where I’m at with everything. I will be posting progress along with my usual bits of this and that. My pledge is a minimum of one post per week, though I am hoping for more. Feel free to yell at me if I don’t.
Just recently I began submitting my blog to various blog related listing sites, and found I had a small problem. All of them ask me to classify what this blog is about. Uh-oh. For some reason they all seemed to lack the proper category. The neglected to add the “whatever strikes my fancy” category.
That led me to sit down and really think about what this blog is about.
I’ve been told it’s a “mommy blog” since I have posted parenting relating things, or it’s a “contest blog” because I post giveaways. Ok, I can get with that, sort-of. Those are parts of me, but I have a problem with classifying an entire blog based on a few entries. What about the posts that don’t fit? Another question – who was it that demanded that all blogs have to be categorized to be promoted?
I understand the need for organization on blog listing sites, I really do. Without organization there would be no way to find blogs that may interest you. What bothers me is that many of the categories offered are just too limiting for some blogs. I think the categories need to be expanded to include blogs that can’t be defined in one or two categories. I’d even be happy with a generic “other” category, but many sites don’t even have that.
After careful consideration, I came to a conclusion. It’s about me. It’s just that simple. I personally need a space that has all the little bits and pieces that make up who I am. If that means this blog is an “other” blog, so be it, but at least give me that option.
I just wanted to take a few quick minutes to wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July. (For those of you not in the US, have a happy weekend.)
We will be seeing fireworks in our town tonight, and in the neighboring town tomorrow night. We’ll see what the baby thinks about fireworks. His next oldest brother would cry hysterically when they went off and I spent the night in the van where it was just a touch quieter. We will also be going to a carnival tomorrow. The kids can barely stand the wait for any of it. Personally all the running around has me tired before we’ve even started.
I’ve been keeping busy with several web related projects, both my own and clients as well as working on getting my gift business programs up and running. I will admit that my writing has taken a back-seat again, but I do have it scheduled for next week if not sooner. (Yes, I’m not above using my sister-in-law being in town as an excuse….)
What are you all doing for the holiday (or weekend, for those that don’t celebrate)? Feel free to leave me a comment. I’d love to have some new ideas for things to do or ways to celebrate.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Have a great day!
Heather
I just wanted to add a couple quick notes on the subscriber contests. Last updated: 05/25/2008
Drawings are held each Monday, barring any family complications. In the event of a drawing delay I will add some extra item(s) to the prize.)
You must subscribe to this site with a user account. Subscribing to feeds does not count, as it complicates the drawing process. Quick link to create an account can be found here. Why do I do it this way? Honestly to save time. If I had to jump around to all the different options that are available to this site it would become confusing and time consuming.
You must confirm your account via the e-mail confirmation sent. These are sent to prevent spam users and bots from registering. Any accounts not confirmed are deleted and will not be entered in the account. You have a full week to confirm your account before it is deleted, but you will miss out on all contests until confirmation takes place. Why do I do it this way? Users are not shown on my subscriber list until their account is confirmed. This helps to simplify the drawing process for me.
Only current subscribers are entered during the week. You do not need to post a comment or anything, just have your account validated. Easy peasy.
Prizes change weekly. Most prizes are available for purchase for those of you that didn’t win. Keep an eye out for how to purchase them, contact me, or comment asking for more info and it will be made available.
Each contest posted in addition to the weekly contest will have additional entry rules, details, etc. Please check the specific contest post for contest particulars. There is also a contest category that you are able to check that will list all contest related posts.
If anything changes at any point I will post here. I will update this specific post with details of the change, the date it was made, as well as the reason it was changed. Please feel free to bookmark this post to refer back to.
That’s about it for now. Any questions? Contact me or comment below.
Didn’t that catch your attention? It should have. I am currently considering going postal on any AT&T DSL workers I can find…. Ok. Not really, so please don’t put me on any lists or anything, ok?)
I have spent several days now with limited to no internet access and AT&T is just not helping me. They had a massive outage the other day and completely killed my browsers and Second Life access. (Not that big a deal really, right? Wrong. Not only do I have my internet businesses, but I also have several jobs doing hosting at clubs in Second Life.) I could limpingly (not really a word, I know, but best possible description) access my e-mail, but only barely, and couldn’t send out a single e-mail. I couldn’t even access the browser to send it through there… They kept giving estimated times it would be resolved, but guess what? They lied!
So then it’s fixed. Sort-of. I can access the web now, if I want to wait five to ten minutes to load a single page. At that point it’s not worth the frustration because I get so mad waiting for the darn page to load I’m becoming more homicidal.
The issue with sending mail still isn’t resolved. I’ve been having problems for a few months now where it will decline the e-mail. Something will sneak through here and there, but sometimes it would take up to twenty times to send one e-mail! (Have you realized I’m not a patient person by this point?) So I go to the site and read that every e-mail has to be verified through the main account. Ok. Pain in the butt, but I’ll do it. I start verifying my e-mails and get through just a few of my e-mails for my seventeen current domains and can’t add any more. (Yes, you read that right. Seventeen. Be quiet. I get enough comments from my husband….) Are you kidding me? A limit on how many e-mails you can send to?
So I call tech support. Again. I am at the point that I don’t even need to listen to the questions to respond. My darling husband is in the background listening to the growing irritation in my voice and laughing. (You would think we would have been married long enough at this point that he would know that’s not the best idea when I’m mad, but oh well.) After waiting sixteen minutes for a live person they hang up on me. I decide after several heated and creative expletives I should wait a while to try to talk to someone for help.
A couple hours later I try again and get a real live person. (I decided not to pay attention to how long I was on hold to spare the poor person that would hopefully eventually take my call.) Low and behold — I get a person that has half a clue! The first time I talked to someone they told me that I had entered the settings wrong and that’s why it wasn’t working. Pretty talented thing of me to do since I followed the EXACT directions she gave me. I gave up on her and just dealt with having to send the same e-mail over and over. This new person finally gave me a solution. Ok, so they had to give me a special server to send mail from. (Looks like I’m not the only one with a domain addiction. Who would have thought?)
So, now I can send e-mail! Woo-hoo! Maybe I’ll leave the rest of AT&T’s employees alone. I finally found one competent worker. So for those of you that work at AT&T’s internet branch, you have that one person to thank. Sad thing about it is, I cant’ for the life of me remember his name…
Now off to catch up on e-mails I’ve been putting off……
Well, I have once again made a vow to being writing. What does this mean for the handful of people that read this? I will be blogging again. Yes, that’s right. I’m gonna do it again. (I can almost see the sarcastic comments rolling in as I type this.)
That being said, I have posted a new blog, and will probably be visiting my millions (ok, only three or four) of blogging pages I have to update them. Don’t worry though, you won’t see the same post many times over. What I am going to do it try to write a post announcing my posts to my main blogging site.
So, for those of you that haven’t had your coffee this morning, we get to the “meat and potatoes” of this post:
I have updated my main blog. You can view the newest link by going to one of two places:
If I feel I have a really great post, or have a lot to say I will be posting multiple posts to multiple sites. (Figuring that most people that read these little blurbs may not take the time to actually visit my main blog, I want to make sure my most important thoughts are seen by the largest number of people.)
Well, after finding yet another place to blog, I have created a new one. Let’s see, this puts me up to….. I don’t even know. I have to sit down and ferret out all my links one day.
For a start, here is a little about me. I am a work at home mom of five beautiful children. I have been married to the love of my life for almost 13 years. At this posting my boys are ages 12, 10, 6, and almost 4 months. My lovely (drama queen) daughter is 8. They keep me busy, but are truly the most important people in my life.
I am currently a web/graphic designer, offer retail/distributor/wholesale gifts, sell mineral make-up, bath and body products (ones I have created and those of others), sell communications, and more. Pretty much if it catches my eye and attention I try to add it to my line. I am also trying to become a professional (read – selling) writer.
That’s about it on the nuts and bolts of my life. Please feel free to check my links to see what I am currently up to.
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