To make our way, we must have firm resolve, persistence, tenacity. We must gear ourselves to work hard all the way. We never let up. - Ralph Bunche

For the mortal man (or woman in my case) it only takes a few good hits to dissolve the firm resolve that starts out in the new year. So far, I'm glad I've managed to "just keep swimming" toward my goal of being more productive in the realm of writing. I've finished my first short story re-write. I've gotten a few reviews from readers. I have a black sharpie, blue pen and lined post-it notes and am slashing away at my manuscript. The amount of time, effort and heart that go into the process of writing (or whatever it is that calls to your heart and soul) can be overwhelming. Add on it life: the social, the dollar earning nine to five and the spiritual (whether one is of the faith or not), and I'm already tired. Yet, I must make my way, with firm resolve, persistence, tenacity. I must gear myself to work hard all the way.

Criticism. Feedback. They can be the sharpest blades. I welcome them. I have learned to edify myself with the choicest comments. I have also learned to ignore what does not edify and sift through opinion. I'm seeking more of it. I joined a local StoryStudio in order to be around working writers to remind myself I am not alone in the fight to produce readable work. There is also the constant battle to quiet my inner critic. Feedback. Communion. These things peel back the fingers of my critic from the windpipe of my muse, allowing her to breathe. Ideas flow. My fingers move across the keyboard. I write. I produce. I make my way.

We must gear ourselves to work hard all the way. - For me I call this the Double D (and I don't me cup size), "Discipline and Determination." The discipline portion is reconditioning myself to sit down and write for four hours. I can break it up, but four hours is the personal minimum. So far, I have reached it a few times this month but not consistently. The determination portion is writing my goals on post-it notes and hanging them where I will always see them. Finding more than one accountability partner. Being my own police. Cutting myself very little to no slack. Not stopping even if I don't reach my goal in one sitting. It's about pressing on until the last page of my novel or short story is complete. It's exposing myself to my critics so I can grow as a writer. It takes work. It takes effort. It takes me (and anyone with a dream or goal) never letting up.

2013 Socially Active and Writing Again

I am actually online a bit more. I know it's because I'm still on vacation. I'm on the computer researching a few opportunities. It's good.
I'm writing.
I'm so excited to be writing and soliciting feed back. I really want my writing to grow and to get rid of the literary muffin top. I know I've been lazy. I've been working in spurts. I've been cowardly. Afraid of the industry and all the hurdles and mountains one must jump and climb to even get an audience with the "movers and shakers."
Well, this year, I am focusing no growing my craft. Telling my stories. Writing them out to completion they throwing my drafts to the critique wolves and surviving evisceration. I let myself get distracted. Well that's done. I'm looking forward to the callouses I will develop as I get to work. I'm excited.

"You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair-the sense that you can never completely put on the page what's in your mind and heart. Come to it (writing) any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page."
Stephen King On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft (This is an abbreviated portion of the quote - See page 99 of the aforementioned book)

I'm reading Stephen King On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft and I'm humbled and excited. It's always seems to add a bit of wind to my sails when I'm agonizing over a story, my hopes, goals and dreams as a writer. To be able to peek into the lives of writers I love and admire helps.

As an avid reader, I cut my teeth on Stephen King. I've read just about everything I could get my hands on. His work sparked my imagination and emboldened me to take up a pen and paper and write my own stories. I published a lot during high school and college. I actually finished my first novel (my first novel and a veeerrrryyy rough draft) and a second one during college. I've struggled with growing in my skill as a writer in order to better serve the stories that struggle for life on a page. I have not arrived. I think the moment I start to believe that I've arrive will be the moment my writing dies.

I've graduated to discovering new writers and being privileged enough to meet and get to know some amazing writers like, Tananarive Due and L.A. Banks. Thanks to social media I get to look inside the life of the amazing Laurell K. Hamilton (love her work and hope to meet her one day) and the globe trotting Marjorie Liu. I adore Octavia Butler, Patricia Briggs, Devon Monk and the fantabulous DD Barant. I aspire to be a full time writer. Even with that aspiration, it's only a lucky and tenacious few who actually make it to being able to support themselves (and possibly a family) with a writers income. Even if I never make it to that point, the fact is, "I love writing!" I love the stories that press against my mind and enjoy the challenge of giving them life.

I am an unknown writer to the world and to many readers. I may remain that way, known only by those who have picked up my first novel and hopefully will take a chance with the rest. I'm just grateful to be a writer who is writing. I hope to remain that way until I can't do it anymore.

Just writing what's on my mind as I plan my writing calendar for 2013.

Good-bye 2012.

Hello 2013.

Ending 2012 by prepping for a productive 2013. I'm working on my website. I am linking my social networking sites to my website and planning my writing schedule for 2013. I am investing in my writing by hiring Phaze Events and Promotions to take care of my social networking while I write. Knowing one's limitations and distractions is good. The more time I have to focus on the writing the better. This year the goal is to be fearless. Attempt the things I tend to feel are impossible. This year is the year of achieving a major goal. Attending Book Fair International in Miami Florida in November 2013. The goal for 2014 is to participate in the Harlem Book Fair. We'll see how far I get this year. Keep an eye out for me. I'm aiming to make my mark.

First Attempt at Really Blogging

I'm not much of a blogger, tweeter or Facebooker but I try. I know as a writer or any kind of artist, you haaavvveee to be able to put some time into those things. (I just rolled my eyes at that)

I'm easily distracted. I think it's a common symptom of a lot of artsy types or maybe its just me. My mind runs at light speed. Ideas flit through my mind so fast at times it's hard to put them in any kind of literary format so I keep an idea book. I jot them down and refocus on a "single" project. Facebook, Twitter and blogging for the ADDish types like me are beyond distracting thus eating up the time I alot myself to actually write. Well...here goes. I will journal my way to the end of a second book, a revision to a first and a map out of a new series that's been clawing at my brain for quite some time.

If I'm good, these babies will start appearing on Amazon and eReaders in the form of eBooks. See below, the cover to my first edition of my first novel. It's available on amazon.com. The Kindle version is cheaper.