Excuses, Accountability and Fellowship

OMG It's Monday already! I swear I'm working on that list of goals that you saw posted Friday...I promise. I have tons of excuses to tell you about as to why I haven't written more than a paragraph the last two days. However, I'll leave it as my weekend of rest. I did receive one thing tonight. An awesome critique from a fresh pair of eyes that really probed my brain. I love her for it. She asked every question that popped in her head, every issue with believability, she showed me where to tighten my writing, where to expand. I could kiss her honestly, and then I got to thinking. Which is kind of dangerous.

I'd love to have a spot for writers to swap manuscripts, kind of look for critique groups, general help. That sort of thing. So I did something crazy. Click here to see my second blog. Yeah, what was I thinking.

Which brings me to my last issue of the day. Then you can get on with your Monday business....I know I have to!

Accountability. Dirty big word, isn't it? Much like Responsibility. Ick. Yuck. Totally gag me with a spoon. That's how I feel about it. I know, it's terribly immature. But geez louise, I'm responsible about every darn thing. Except my new job. Yes. Job. Writing is my passion, my happiness and the end goal...my job. Whether it be an additional job, or full time. It's my job. I need a better boss though. This boss listens to and falls for all kinds of excuses. This boss pats me on the back and says, "well, two sentences is close enough to your thousand word goal of the day. It's okay if you don't post that review until next week. Who would know? I know it's a little scary to approach new people about interviews. Just wait a while." Yup, this boss is sooo fired. I'm hiring an accountability partner.

I read about this a long time ago in a devotional. It was something I believe my mother did with a friend of hers from church. Each day, at agreed times, my mother and her friend would call each other. First to discuss the planned events of the day. Said goals...to do list, whatever. At the end of the day, they discussed what was actually accomplished. What got in the way? How to change that habit. I was all of thirteen or fourteen, so I thought they were stupid. Completely off their rockers, those old ladies. I laughed at my mom. Guess what. I am my mom. I need someone to discuss such things with--the writerly things, not my to do list, I promise. :0) Then they helped each other evaluate if their small daily goals were getting them closer to their main larger goals. Pretty cool, huh?

Please click through if you are using a reader and check out the new blog. I'm hoping it goes somewhere and helps someone other than myself! :0)

How In the #@!?

I'm posting late this morning because my wonderful, incredible husband got up and took care of the kids for me this morning. I woke up to a throbbing jaw. You see, I found out that not only is there a bad tooth that needs to be pulled, there's a wisdom tooth coming in. I thought I was too old for those...apparently not. So, I took a pain pill and slept and slept. I feel better now. I bet you really wanted to know all of that, too.

Today, I'm ranting a little. Okay, I might rant a lot. First of all....Twitter. Why is it so popular? From what I've seen so far...people don't really talk to each other, they just let out random sentences of what they are doing or some odd sentence that doesn't make sense or....and these are my favorite....I ap&*m going to the store @userperson with #somethingweird.  Apparently Twitter doesn't like apostrophes and therefore adds a bunch of junk in the middle? And I think I understand the the @ sign means you are addressing a specific user...what the heck is the #listname. I haven't understood the list thing at all. I've tried, people, really I have. How many computer languages must I learn to sell a book? ARGH!

I'm over that rant. Here's another one for you. When people ask what you do, do you tell them about your day job? Or that you are a stay at home mom? Or do you tell them you are a writer, even if you are unpublished? I met my neighbors a couple of months ago and we had the typical conversation of what do you do, how old are the kids, blah blah. Here's how my conversation went.

ME: I stay at home with the kids and actually I'm working on a book.
THEM: Oh, really? What kind of book?
ME: Young Adult novel. It takes up a lot of my time, I apologize I'm over here in my pajama bottoms.
THEM: Oh, how exciting. I have always thought about writing a book.
ME: Really?
THEM: Yes, but I just don't have the time. (looking over my disheveled hair, no make up, oversized tee shirt and pajama bottoms, completed with sandals that I hastily threw on to chase my kids down outside.) Have you published anything?
ME: No, not yet. That is the ultimate goal, though.
THEM: Oh. Well. Good Luck.
ME: Thanks!

But the look is that of disbelief, and a little judgemental-as if that's not a title I'm allowed to have until I've published something. So, I'm a little hesitant to tell people I write. I feel like they think I'm a joke. But, this writing business is hard work, I want to scream.

Then at the most odd place, I became proud of myself again. The school dance I recently attended with my girls was held directly after school let out until 5 pm. So, I brought the girls' dresses to the school and helped them get changed. On our way back to the gym, a particularly snotty ten year old walked up to Princess Rhiannon and said, "Nice dress." My daughter, who is thankfully oblivious to her sneer, says, "Thanks, this is my mom." She grabs onto my hand and leans against me, showing me how proud she is of me. And then, the snotty ten year old says, "Hi. Do you really write books for a job?" My first instinct was to tell her no. I thought, well it's not like she can go buy any of my books, how do I explain that to a snotty ten year old who probably has just as snotty a mother? (Sorry-I hate snotty kids)

But then I realized something. My not snotty nine year old was apparently bragging on me at her school. If my kid feels like what I do is something to be proud of, and calls it my job-despite the fact that she's never seen my name in print-what right do I have to doubt it? My whole family has been behind me during this journey. Even though it has cramped our wallet, they smile and hug me and tell their friends I'm a writer.

So, I held my head up and told that snotty ten year old, "Yes, I do and Rhiannon here is one of my best beta readers." I put my arm around my daughter and squeezed her. The snotty ten year old's face fell and she said, "Oh. Cool." And walked off.

Now, if you ask me, I'll tell you loud and proud..."I'm a writer."