A New Chapter, But Not the Beginning

The New Year is always a time that many of us like to use as a restart or a rebirth. That's great! I am hoping to use the new calendar year to provoke myself into posting on my blog more consistently. I refuse to think of it as a resolution though.

See, the last decade has been crazy for me.

In 2009, I went to college. I blame it on a friend of mine, but I am very appreciative that I was given the encouragement. Sure, there have been times that I thought I was crazy for getting a degree and putting myself through the stress and work of getting it. I learned a few invaluable things though..

• It's never to late to dream. I always wanted to go to college, things just didn't work out on a traditional schedule.
• You never know who is watching you. Both of my adult daughters saw me go and get a college education. They saw me struggle and they saw me succeed. I believe they had a great role model in that.
• Success can come out of left field. As I sit and write, I am currently the Assistant Director of my community library and an Adjunct Professor at a state university. Neither position was planned for, both are enjoyed.

I enjoy what I do. I also enjoy writing.

This past November, until I got bronchitis, I was having a successful go at NaNoWriMo. For the first time in years. I enjoyed it and I am still working on the story I started. My itch to write has returned.

So what is this whole "New Chapter, Not Beginning" thing?

I have actively been "becoming" for several years. I like who I am becoming, so I don't want to start over. However, I do feel that it is time for a new chapter. It is time to do things with intent. Be intentional with my interactions with others. Set my priorities and keep them. 

Starting a new chapter can be intimidating though. You are acknowledging that the past is behind you, regardless if there are mistakes and regrets. The past is done and now you are moving forward. It is best to move forward with a plan. What kind of plan? Hopefully a good one.

For myself, my plan is to focus.

• As an individual, I will focus on liking myself. I am not perfect and will always have room for growth, but I need to like me. Which will require changes. For me, that means I have to allow myself to be me. I am a creative and I need to be able to create.
• As an assistant director of a library, I need to be the best that I can. This includes learning the complete ins and outs of the library. My focus will be on programs and hopefully grant writing.
• As an adjunct professor, my goals are to push my students to be the best that they can be. I know this means I won't be liked by everybody. I know this means I have to engage and answer questions before they are asked. This also means to be in a constant state of learning.

Three simple areas, three monumental tasks. But focus is where intent begins.

Are you starting a new chapter? What do you need to work on? Do you have a plan?

Writing Again... Preparing for #NaNoWriMo

I have eluded on Twitter (@FaithTJohnson) that I am writing. In fact working on multiple WIPs at the same time. I even mentioned it in my last post here.

So, my decision to participate in NaNoWriMo this year really shouldn't be a surprise. I have tried to participate every year since I knew they existed. Some years life got in the way, some years I just didn't have time. Twice I completed a novel. Neither of those are published because my hard drive crashed. (Note... ALWAYS backup to more than one device.)

This year I am going to choose one of my WIPs and finish it. My goal is to finish writing it in November. Take December to do other projects. Edit in January. Hopefully self-publish in February. Of course this timeline is tentative on a gazillion things.

For NaNoWriMo I will be focusing on #LunarEclipse.

I have multiple versions of this story floating in my head and it is time to get it written. At this time, I do not know if it will be a one shot or a serial. My focus is just to get it written.

Have you heard of NaNoWriMo before? Have you participated? Are you interested?

NaNoWriMo is an acronym for National Novel Writers Month. It is a challenge for writers to write 50.000 words towards a novel in 30 days (The month of November).

National Novel Writing Month is also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (formerly known as the Office of Letters and Light) that believes your story matters.

NaNoWriMo is important to me because I use writing as therapy. If I am upset and need to work through things, I write. If I am joyous and living on top of the world, I write. There have been times that the only support I had was the writing community. I have made amazing friends because of NaNoWriMo. Also as a college professor seeing an organization that encourages writing and encourages positive feedback I have to love it.

For more information, please visit NaNoWriMo.org

I am also doing a fundraiser for NaNoWriMo on Facebook, if you would like to help the fundraiser is https://www.facebook.com/donate/356438134779274/  

There is a Time for Every Season

Life brings about changes, some of those changes are good and some not so much.

Life has brought me to a part time teaching job at the college level that I enjoy. Life has also brought awareness to issues that have to be addressed. (My youngest is medically fragile.)

In light of life... I am changing some things around. I still do photography, but now it will be referral only. My free time is mostly in the evening and since I don't have a studio, it is best. I do enjoy doing on location shoots and if you are one of my past clients or are referred by one of them, I will see what we can work out. I know I will be at UT of M in October for a senior shoot.

Please do not misunderstand, I love photography as much today as I did 5 years ago. Just have priorities that have to be organized. It would be amazing to be in a position where I could please my artistic desires without worry about anything else.

I am focusing more on my writing and have three works in progress. (I may have focus issues.) #LunarEclipse and #Unkown are the two I am sharing info about as I write on Twitter. Writing is my first love and being able to write again is amazing.

Lunar Eclipse is fantasy romance that has a sci-fi feel being that it does not happen on Earth. As can be guessed it is focused on the moon. That is all I will share at this point.  Although, once it is ready there may be past fans of my rpg days that recognize some character personalities.

Unknown is very much on the sci-fi side. I am unsure how to explain it other than the below screen capture.

There is a time for every season. Right now, I am limiting some of my adventures to be better at what I do. My writing is top priority after my family and work. It just works out better right now. Maybe in a few months or a year things will change again. Right now just going with the flow. (This hopefully also means I will be blogging more.)