But, it got me to thinking. What did I take away from the conference? Deep down inside past all of the top of the head stuff, I realized exactly what.
1. That wearing pajamas and watching tv (any channel I wanted) is still a blast. I don't get to do this due to my living quarters being shared. I miss this.
2. Walking about freely in your living space is important to one's sanity. And one's writing. I found myself writing almost all night. Good stuff.
3. Doing what I darned well pleased.
I don't have writer's block; I have space issues.
But, life doesn't work according to our needs all of the time. Sometimes, it is about learning to deal with our surroundings. I thought I had. I haven't.
Last week, I made a promise to myself to get out of the house and not be so stubborn as to think if I stay I could make things change. All staying in the muck and mire did, was jam up my head. My story. My writing. My happiness.
Ah, happiness, the harder we strive for it; the further away it gets. Herding cats is easier than chasing happiness because somewhere along the way, you lose direction. The journey becomes about making your surroundings (and the people in it) happy. And just like those cats running amuck, they don't want to be caught, herded, or made to do anything. Except maybe, drive you to the point of exhaustion and surrender. Alas, poor happiness, I never knew you.
And finally, I learned I am not only a pantser but an over-plotter as well. I got so much positive feedback.
One of the sessions was about overplotting. After the second epiphany, I took a deep breath, and made a note: clean up and thin out plot lines. I spent the past week doing as my note ordered. In the end, I felt like I had cleaned out a catchall drawer. I even thought my protagonist cheered. She's a gloomy sort but lovable.
And my final, finally, is: I learned I am still learning and darned proud of it.
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