No, I’m not taking up old fashioned yarn making…

Last reminder: I’m speaking at Scrappy SpecFic Symposium tomorrow (Saturday, April 26, 2025) on the Denton, TX UNT Campus Library. I’m the first presenter, so get there on time. I’ve also had the date wrong forever – DAY, yes, always Saturday).

I’m looking at a couple of writing projects and wondering if I lost track of the story.

Short answer: Probably

Shorter answer: Doesn’t really matter

Longer answer: It’s actually okay. My fictional storytelling chops have atrophied as I was dealing with Day Job storytelling in stressful situations. So the words I’ve written in the last couple of weeks may be rusty, but they’re coming.

Nothing is wasted here. It’s rebuilding those “muscles” and habits. I have one project that I think I just started rambling. I only have a little bit of long hand to get into the computer, then I can print what I have, and see what’s “extra” and move forward.

I have another project that isn’t altogether linear, so when I veered off track to what I thought I was going to do it’s not a wasted thing, it just goes somewhere else in the Grand Scheme.

Vacation is coming up soon. A couple of the stops we’re making are the Gertrude Chandler Warner Museum and the Louisa May Alcott House. I didn’t read the Boxcar Children books (Jimmy did), but we just listened to a podcast about her, but women writer museums FTW. Little Women was a formative classic for me. I’ve read it multiple times in my life. Did you know you can rent her bedroom and write at her desk? It’s $300 an hour ($500 for two hours). I think I’ll try to absorb some of that inherent creativity from the doorway.

I bring this up mostly because recharging is a must. I’ll take writing with me. It always goes with me, but it’s will be limited quantities with no guilt if nothing happens. BUT…but…plot bunnies are everywhere. I’m just not going to put expectations on me.

Because you know what? Writing can happen anywhere. And it does. Instead of working as much at my dedicated space a couple of days this week? I wrote things in the living room while comforting my dog during Texas Spring Thunderstorms. Was it awkward? TOTALLY. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Sunny’s getting to the point that she doesn’t tremble violently during storms. Between building the trust that she won’t be hurt by storms and some nice anti-anxiety meds from the vet, she’s chilling more in crap weather.

Stay safe out there, y’all. Storms are no joke.