Write, Write, Write!

Okay, so I've been back to work for two weeks now, which - as you can imagine - has left me with very little time for myself. I was also busy preparing for my one-year-old's birthday party (I just had to mention that). However, I have been keeping up my writing and I promise that my new super short story series is coming soon! (Ish. Soon-ish.)

However, I've been writing something lately that I have no intention of letting anyone else read. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but just that I've been rediscovering the meaning of the phrase "write for yourself." Trust me on this - writing something you know no one but yourself will read is one of the most freeing exercises you can try. And it's completely motivating. Much like during nanowrimo, I barely read back, I don't edit, and sometimes I write complete nonsense. But you know what? That's not a bad thing. In fact, it's rather cathartic in a way.

So that's what I've been up to (other than helping a certain little man learn to walk on his own). Again, new stuff to read is coming very very very soon!

- Natasja

Books and also, more books

I have just one week left of my maternity leave before I return to my job at the Clarington Public Library. And as much as I love love love my little guy, I am very much looking forward to going back.

Every job has its ups and downs but fortunately for me, mine has more ups than downs. The biggest one being the obvious - I am surrounded by books upon books upon books. Not only that, but I am surrounded by book lovers, my favourite type of people. It's kind of like... being an alcoholic who works at a liquor store, except my addiction isn't as unhealthy.* My first year I worked there, I got so attached to two certain books** that my sister ended up buying them for me that Christmas and I think I've maybe read them about 5 times each.

So what will I do with my last week of "freedom"? Probably the same thing I did before I had a baby and during my maternity leave - write!  I've been writing so consistently the last week and a half that I would hate to interrupt the flow and lose my sense of purpose. It isn't easy to get away with writing every day when you have a baby that needs attention and it certainly won't be easier when I'm back at work, even though I'm only part time. But I've already made my promise to write every day and I'm going to stick to it.

Here's to many, many more books in my future!

- Natasja

*Symptoms of a book addiction include, but are not limited to: lack of sleep from reading too much, seeing words everywhere you look, inappropriately falling in love with fictional people, feeling naked while not holding a book, and utter horror when people say they "don't really read."

** Here and here

2013 (Or, Why the World Didn't End)*

I've never put a great deal of effort into celebrating the birth of a new year, but that doesn't mean I don't remark on time passed. I guess I don't find it as significant an event as others, but it is still fun to say that I've lived in two different millennia. And of course, I got a kiss from my husband at 12am. (12:01 by my clock, but who's keeping track?)

Nonetheless, I have to say that I had a pretty fantastic 2012. What did I do again? Oh yes, published a book, got married, and upgraded my job. But that was just my summer... (You'll have to forgive me my tiny moment of bragging.)

After all that, however, I'm still hoping for another fantastic year and years to come. My husband asked me what resolutions I was making, and I told him none.** Though maybe I should be more honest and say this: I still plan to send out Less Than Perfect to publishers, but if none choose me by the end of the year, I will publish it on my own. And that, my loyal readers, if my promise to you.

Happy New Year to you all. I hope 2013 is your best year yet!

- Natasja

*You were seriously worried, weren't you?

 

**I also ascertained that there are two types of people when it comes to New Year's: those who make resolutions and don't keep them, and those who don't make resolutions and don't have to worry about failure. I am the latter.