Thursday, December 06, 2007

The sky is falling...

Okay, it isn't the sky that's falling, but something is. It's too loud to be rain, and it's too cold to be snow. Something tells me I'm going to be chipping my car out of an ice block in the morning before I can go to work. Anyone wanna buy one winter, slightly used? I'll sell it to you cheap.

It seems I never do much writing in December. Work and life are always busy as heck. My blogging seems to have taken a bit of a dive as well. Not much to say.

One thing I like about blogging, in general, is that on this blog I present myself primarily as a writer -- no, that's not the only thing in my life, by a long shot, but it's a part of my life that's particularly important to me -- and sometimes, when I haven't been writing or when I haven't been sending stuff out, I think about this blog and I think "put up or shut up" and I make myself get to work. If I'm going to talk like a writer in public, I darn well better, you know, write. Every now and then, this blog is my own personal kick in the pants.

I didn't send anything out for several months this year. Not a thing. I've finally gotten back in that particular saddle, though, and have things out to a few places, and hope to get a couple more out over the weekend. It feels good to end the year with a bit of momentum. I'll be off work the entire week between Christmas and New Year's, and I have no plans for the last several days of it, so with any luck at all I will be able to get a little writing done then. I love those last few days of the year -- no plans, nothing to gear up for, and this crazy idea that something brand-new is just around the corner.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

You have now inspired me to think about sending some poems out! And I haven't sent any individual poems out in, gosh, years.

I love that end-of-year feeling too, that something new is just around the corner. Like I expect my entire worldview to change just because the calendar does. So funny.

Collin Kelley said...

I'm actually going to try and clear my plate, so to speak, of last minute submissions, editig, etc. so I can focus on upcoming holiday stuff...what little I'm doing anyway.

Anne Haines said...

PWADJ: Go you! Sending out individual poems can be a pain in the butt, but I think it's an amusing little hobby. :) (Writing is no more a "hobby" than breathing is a "hobby" -- but sending stuff out, yeah, that pretty much falls into "hobby" territory for me.)

Collin: That sounds good too! I think the key to this time of year is to find some kind of focus, whatever that may be -- just not to be so totally scattered. (Says the totally scattered person.)

newzoopoet said...

Anne,
When I'm not writing as much, I try to push myself to read more or submit more or research markets/conferences more. I can't remember, but did you once tell me you attended the summer program at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown? If so, what was your impression? Would you recommend it?

Anne Haines said...

NZP: Short answer - Yes! Longer answer - Yes yes yes! :) Okay, the FAWC summer program is a little expensive, mainly because housing in Provincetown is expensive. But if you can swing it financially, I highly recommend it. I've had 3 workshops there: 2 with D.A. Powell, one with Carl Phillips - both are truly fantastic teachers. And P-town is a great place, with beaches and shops and art galleries and whale watching.

I'll stop here because I have a habit of going on and on about how much I love it there, but if you have questions, feel free to drop me a note. :)

newzoopoet said...

Anne,
Wow! I'm sold!
Thanks...
Angela