February

I had an idea this evening, that perhaps at or near the end of each month, it might be worthwhile to record a bit about the progress or lack thereof on the writing front, just to see if perhaps I can discover a rhythm. I wonder sometimes if my creativity has seasons of its own: seasons of sprouting, periods of rapid growth, periods of slow maturing, times of dormancy.

I don't think February has ever been a prolific month for me. In January I find myself inspired by "new" and all the possibilities that lie ahead. Which is a little strange, because if I decided to make February the start of my personal year, then I could have a "new" surge in February. Just doesn't work that way. January is also usually a push to get ready for the OWFI contest, and I didn't even bother to join this year, let alone submit anything. They took away the extra banquet tickets and I hate doing the banquet thing alone. I'd already toyed with not going because it's so close to our ASL assembly in Denton and I just can't justify hotel stays for two weekends in a row, especially when OWFI is within driving distance. However, driving back and forth from conference to home just doesn't work well. I never feel like a writer; more like a mom playing hookey from all the stuff that needs to be done at home. Odd but true. When I can go and have some breathing time for myself, then it's a conference. So I decided to do the SCBWI conference in March this year in Tulsa. I get away, it's farther from home and farther from the Denton dates--so I can stay away from home for some me time. AND there is no banquet to work through. I don't think I'll ever ever be a networker, and perhaps in this business you have to be. Which means perhaps I should stop dreaming about "this business."

So how did we get so far off on that tangent? January--usually productive. February--usually dismal in just about every way you can think of. March--I'm beginning to waken from the winter doldrums. However, I am still faced with finishing taxes, despite my resolve every April to keep up with them on a monthly basis. Once I'm past March and past taxes I'm generally more than ready to get back to words, having had more than my fill of numbers.

We'll see how it goes. I need to set some goals and see if I can't make March more productive.

But then I may not be playing fair with February because I did get done what I meant to get done. A final edit of Cousins A.K.A. ViewFinder. Since I already had an agent in mind, it wasn't too hard to get a cover letter together and voila. Now we're back to the wait and see game. I really need to get started on another project.

And thus are the ramblings........ of today's words as they spill.