The Haps

I've not only neglected my blog but neglected my writing and I can blame one reason- WoW. For those of you who don't know, I'm a big World of Warcraft fan. My husband got me into it last year and I absolutely adore it, even though I've never been much into games or MMOs. Well, when WoW.com said they needed a warlock columnist (which is my main character's class), I got so excited I was frothing with ideas. Then came the actual writing and submission.

I wimped out. I got so stressed out thinking, "Oh gods, what if I'm not GOOD enough to write this column! What if everyone flames me in comments and I'm *that* columnist, the bad one we all mock for not knowing their class!" that I never submitted. I let self doubt get the best of me and now am going to have to wait another six months until the column is available again (if at all). I feel a bit down about this but I'm using it as a learning tool- how do you know you're not good if you don't at least apply? Sure, there was a good chance I wouldn't make the cut, but at least I would have TRIED. And I would have articles to work with for next submission. Instead, I'm going to write the column I wanted to submit for our guildsite (highwaymen.guildlaunch.com), work on more actual columns and not brief helpful little spats I've been putting on there under the Newbie Trading Post, and work up my self-confidence. I missed a great opportunity but next time I won't.

In better news, my friend B and I got together for her editing review of my novel, which currently I'm just referring to as "Drunk". I am so bad at titles. Anyway, the review went well and she clarified a lot of things for me that I am excited to work on to make this an actual novel. First step will be mapping out the storyline so that it's more about the story and less about the characters. Hopefully that will allow me to flesh out a few of the characters that are a little too 2D or narrow in their focus. Make them stronger as actual people than vehicles for the book.

This last week has also been busy in another way- I got a gig bartending! This brings my job total to THREE. Yes three jobs (not including writing), but thankfully all are fairly flexible in schedule. I *could* get in 40 hours a week if I scheduled myself for it, but generally I work 30 to 35 hour if the day time data entry job has work for me. I also am going camping from Thursday to Sunday at SOAK, which is the Burning Man event for Portland. Meetings about that with the group of wonderful ladies I'm going with has also been a time sucker. When I get back it's time to get back on the writing wagon and make myself a schedule!

Very excited about the weekend after- B and I are going to hit a coffee shop and writewritegossipwrite! Hopefully this will become a regular thing for us. I could definitely use the encouragement. Now if we can keep writing and not distract each other with chatter...