Good afternoon loyal reader(s). I have been busy editing New Homestead, the 2nd book in the Hawkins Family Survival Series. I am at one third of the way done, but I know it will speed up as I go through. The first half of the book is where I need to really clean up the characters and backstories. I have a hard and fast deadline and I need to get the first part out to my beta readers ASAP!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To help me in my writing journey, my employer has a training site. Like most employers, there are courses that are specific to my field of work. But unlike most employers, I have access to 1000\u2019s of other training courses. Training courses like Creative Writing!! I am so pumped! I started the course last week and I am almost half way through! I have daily 10 minute creative writing journal entries and a smattering of assignments! The worst assignment so far, hands down, has been the 55-word story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IT SUCKS!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is so hard for me to convey enough information, dialogue and description in only 55 words! I did it, though. I may put them on this site for people to discover, read, and laugh at. It won\u2019t hurt my feelings since I\u2019ll be wallowing in my self-pity that it won\u2019t matter. Nah Psych! or is it Sike? Not really sure about that now or back in the 80\u2019s when we used to say it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have also started a formidable, analog, nigh un-crackable process of utilizing a day planner for my daily habits and to-do\u2019s. I talked about it in last weeks blog entry. It is fun, and keeping me on track and off of YouTube a lot less than I was. I have even started to become more productive at work too! Weird!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The last topic for today is my drive to learn a second language. I have over the years attempted to learn Deutch\/German. I tried using my wife\u2019s German text books and they helped, with no accountability. I tried some audio courses to listen to when traveling to and from work. Not so great. I even found an old Win95 program to learn German and it was awesome, but seriously outdated. Until I found Duolingo several years ago. I started using the app and found it to be AWESOME! I used it for a whole year straight and was getting pretty good at reading and hearing\/translating German. Not so good speaking it. Well, I have redoubled my efforts and am giving another go. So far, I am on day 10 and rocking and rolling!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TTFN!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Good afternoon loyal reader(s). I have been busy editing New Homestead, the 2nd book in the Hawkins Family Survival Series. I am at one third of the way done, but I know it will speed up as I go through. … Continue reading