Ohio and IWSG in August -- Already?!!!

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Happy August everyone. I can't believe we're almost done with summer when it seems it just got here. Our move to Ohio has started (I won't go into the crazy stories, because I know everyone has at least one) but we have one more stage to complete, and that can't happen until mid August when we will finally be able to move into our little rental house. So, meanwhile, I am worrying about whether or not I should help us out money-wise and get a "day" job (been wondering if I could find work writing newsletters or blog posts for someone yet don't know where to start...any ideas?), when all I want to do is bite the bullet and write full time again. I feel very insecure about this which adds to the stress of the move. I woke at 4:30 this morning unable to sleep, but I got up and finished comments on a story I'm judging for a contest. Soooo missing France right about now! In the meantime, my husband has started at OSU and is very happy/busy/stressed/excited. We've gone from staying with my parents in North Carolina to staying with our daughter and son in law in Ohio until we can move into our own place, which is stressful for them, even though they are being wonderful and generous about our temporary invasion of their sweet home.
So, today, I sit here on their couch surrounded by sleeping dogs, with a light and steady rainfall outside the window and tell myself to relax and be in this gentle moment. To appreciate what I have in my life and that all will work out. To stop worrying and just be. So much easier said than done... Breathe, just breathe.

 
August 1 IWSG question:
What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey?

The very first thing I would warn other writers to avoid, is to even think about not having their work edited by a professional editor if Indy/Self publishing. Not one "traditionally" published author exists that was not edited by a pro before publication. No one is perfect and a badly or unedited mss is what has given Indy/Self published authors a bad rep. It might be a really wonderful story, but if the reader is constantly pulled from it because of the writing/lack of editing, you will not have repeat customers. I cringe to think of the first novel I put out into the world thinking it was so wonderful. Learn from my mistake!

 

Please drop by their blogs and thank our wonderful co-hosts of the IWSG this month 

Erika Beebe, Sandra Hoover, Susan Gourley, and Lee Lowery

My Dad with the rental truck in NC. We'd already driven from south GA up to NC at this point, 12 hours.

The next stage, driving from NC to Columbus Ohio...

Arriving in the town where our daughter lives! 8 hours this time. Whew!

JULY ALREADY?! Hot Enough For You? IWSG Post As Well

IWSG WEBSITE

Seems like we went straight from cold to hot with no real in between this year, at least for me. I am back Stateside now and getting ready for the big move north to OHIO! Wow, a year of change. I spent two wonderful months in France writing, walking, writing some more. It was paradise. Now, perhaps, I will have 20 months to write while my husband works on his Masters in Math Education at OSU. I am so very proud of him. This is a dream for him, and I want to do whatever it takes to support him in the fulfillment of that dream, as he has done for me. I've never lived in such a big city before so this will be a new experience.
I am nervous. I am working on my attitude to having a structured work time, as I used to have in the beginning of this adventure called writing. Once we are moved and I can concentrate, I am going to switch off the phone during certain hours and dedicate my energy and time to finishing my four works in progress. If anyone has any ideas or would like to share how they work, I am very interested to hear from you. Happy fourth of July!

Question for IWSG: What are your ultimate writing goals and how have they changed over time, if at all?

My writing goal has always been to be the best writer I can be, and to finish what I start. In the beginning, I didn't really understand what that meant. Now, all these years later I have a better idea of the power of dedication, the power of consistency, and the power of experience. Am I a better writer than when I started? I hope so! I think so. Now, I feel the need to prove to myself I can finish what I have started and make it work. I am blessed to have a wonderful editor, a wonderful family, and IWSG!

The awesome co-hosts for the July 3 posting of the IWSG are  

Nicki Elson, Juneta Key, Tamara Narayan, and Patricia Lynne!

Photos of France and our 35th anniversary coming next post. Have to get this one out, I'm late!!!