Thursday night I argued with insomnia. Not sure who won. Around 4 Friday morning, I started a blog post to try to make good use of my time. It was going to be about the “fake news” controversy that seems to be the rage right now. I didn’t get far with it then, and couldn’t get anywhere with it that afternoon, so I shifted gears a bit. Yes, this is one of those weekend update posts that I do when I can’t come up with anything else. It disappoints and frustrates me when I have to resort to something like this. I console myself by saying my two readers enjoy occasionally hearing about the life of their favorite writer.

By the way, this is the kind of stuff you’ll get if you subscribe to The Blur. I usually get a little more personal there, or go into more detail about something from a blog post. You can sign up for it here.

School

I just wrapped up my third semester at TCC. It was very whelming. The News Writing blog went well, as did my work at The Connection. I’m now officially published as a reporter, with pieces on Kip Rathke, a new art installation, and campus carry in Oklahoma. The photos in the first two articles are mine as well. I made the cover of the Fall 8 edition, too.

There was another class that maybe didn’t go as well as I would have liked, and will probably have a negative effect on my GPA. It was an overview class on advertising that expected each student to plan an advertising campaign on their own. Given that we had only covered 7 chapters of a 19-chapter book, I’m not sure how we were expected to get that much material, so I didn’t even really try on the final presentation. Such is life though.

Next semester looks…interesting. One of the two classes I needed for my major didn’t “make” for the spring semester. That meant I’d have to get permission from the VA to substitute a class. The other problem with next term was that the other class I needed is being taught by the same prof who taught the advertising class I just talked about. She’s a very nice person, and has a lot to offer students. But I had enough of an issue with her last year that I went to the provost about my concerns, along with everyone from one class. I wanted to avoid having another class with her.

That ended up involving phone calls and emails to the department chair who was terrific to work with. There was also a hurried email exchange with my academic advisor so I could get into a writing class I thought would help. I wish my VA rep was as responsive. I’ve sent multiple emails to everyone I have addresses for with no response from anyone. If I get grief next semester about taking classes that aren’t in my major, I will not be happy.

Next semester will be busy, with four courses: Intercultural Communication; Short Story Writing; TCC Connection; and Technical/Professional Writing. That’s two writing courses, plus the newspaper, but I think I’ll be all right with it. I was hoping to get Non-Fiction Writing this last semester, but the VA wouldn’t approve it.

In the fall, I’ll be transferring to the Tahlequah campus of Northeastern State University for their Media Studies degree. Despite my Strategic Communication focus at TCC, I’ll probably enroll in the Multimedia Option at NSU. We’ll see.

Writing

I did two book signings this month in Muskogee. One was part of the Shop Downtown Muskogee drive; the other was at the Muskogee Public library. Didn’t see a ton of people, but it was great to meet the folks I did meet. I sold a few books, and talked shop with other writers too, which is always fun.

Don’t Stop Believing is available at multiple retailers now, as well as in paperback.

Sad Girl Part 2 is back from my beta readers, and I’m working on the edits and rewrites associated with their input. That should go to my editor by the end of January, which means I better come up with an actual title soon. I had a working title, but I don’t think it quite fits, and my betas agree. We’re just not sure about what does work.

At this point, I should be able to release it in mid-to-late June. That’s a nice vague target date.

Once that’s done, I’ll get back to work on part 3. I’m about 13,000 words into it, and I expect it to be longer than either of the first two books.

It’s been very difficult for me to get back into the fiction for some reason. I really haven’t written or edited either book in months. But in spite of my December funk, I seem to be back into a creative groove. I hope I can maintain it.

Life at One Particular Harbor

Since it’s cooled off so much here in Green Country, my riding days are limited. I’ve got several things I want to do on the Goldwing that all lend themselves well to a wintertime hiatus. I’ll be installing the short windshield that came with the bike, replacing the speedometer cable, and replacing the speakers. I’m also considering adding some lighting to the saddlebags and trunk so I can see in them easily at night.

I’ve been threatening to build an office in the shop for a writing cave, as well as a workbench and reloading area, too.

But before I can do any work in the shop, I need to repair the power run to my shop. Someone  nicked it with the mower this past spring and I’ve never made the time to repair it, so that’s on the list. I just need about half an hour of sunshine and semi-warm weather. Not going to get that this weekend though. It’s 18° here now, it supposedly feels like 5°, and it’s supposed to get colder tonight. People in Green Country don’t know how to handle that.

No word yet on whether our soldier will get to come home for Christmas. He’s only about six hours away and didn’t get a chance to take any leave between AIT and his first post, so we’re hopeful.

Merry Christmas, all.