Thursday, February 18, 2010

I've Been a Sad Little Blogger

It's been a very long time since I posted mainly because life has gotten considerably more difficult in the past year or so. With a tanked economy, folks like me who weren't doing that great before everything went spiraling downward have only experienced more difficulties.

The month after my last blog, I was told that I quit by my employer because they knew I had just finished a certificate for medical transcription and panicked, thinking that I would just up and leave. I told them I would give them more than sufficient notice, but they didn't believe me and just went ahead and hired my replacement before I found a new job. And they made sure I wouldn't receive unemployment by putting on my separation notice that I had quit.

It took me a month to find a new job. I loved my new job at a medical office. I made good money and had great insurance and worked with incredible people. But then the economy tanked. I had ALMOST caught up from a month of ZERO income when they laid me off. At least I got unemployment benefits.

It took me four months to find my current job. It's okay, but there are no benefits and I only get paid once a month.

For these reasons and being trapped in two houses in a row that I am not comfortable in (places I rented out of desperation and not because I liked them), my more precious pursuits (writing, blogging, music, being outdoors, etc.) fell tragically to the wayside.

But I've gotten a number of signs lately that suggest several things:

1. I need to start blogging again - I'm so flattered that I've gotten so many comments on my last post recently. A post from nearly two years ago. Reckon the net is not as silent to my thoughts as I had assumed.

2. I need to start a website for unpublished writers - not the usual that is either all about publishing or all about submissions, but a site that focuses on the pursuit of writing. I've got a million ideas for this site. All I need is to play with GoDaddy once I can spare the cash for the domain.

3. Once the site is established and if a following develops, I'd like to start an online writing course that would offer several free lessons and a full course that I would offer for VERY cheap because I know we writers aren't known for our golden bath tubs. The only problem with this is that folks tend to give little credibility to writers who haven't published. But I think it's great to get advice from writers who are learning themselves. We'll see.

4. I need to try to get published. This will involve me learning how to write a short story. I suck at short stories. I want to tell the whole story, so I thrive on novels. But short stories are what gets you published to start out. I need to learn how to write essays or articles too.

In any case, thank you commenters for spurring me to this point of blogging again. I have missed it very much. I've already got some ideas for future blogs, so y'all should be hearing from me again soon.

16 comments:

  1. By the way, I'm going to be updating this tired little page very soon. Will play with the format and add some of the fun-looking gadgets and such. I probably derive way too much enjoyment from such things, but there's certainly nothing wrong with too much enjoyment.

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  2. wow, youre definietly on my watch list - that website for unpublished writers is very interesting! i'm taking a journalism and english class currently (double majoring in both) and it's so odd how both are all writing, but in such different ways. in english we're encouraged to write nice long and elaborate sentences with plenty of adjectives. meanwhile in journalism 1 sentence equals one paragraph, and that paragraph needs to have as many details as possible without going over 30 words.
    its definitely a challenge going back and forth between the two, but i'm hoping it'll add to the experience.
    anyhow, great post. i sure hope things start looking up for you, and everyone else. the way the economy is now makes it seem like all of us treading on the nations calluses

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  3. I understand your possition, please come to my blog or write my i could help you

    http://candaceflinn.blogspot.com

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  4. Your blog is refreshing. I will look for more from you. Take care.

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  5. I too am going through a similar process: balancing staying afloat with pursuing my passion. I can't wait to visit your writing site once its up and running. It's a really great idea.

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  6. dats nyc ;)
    hey dear.. wud u mind if i'll say that plz leave some comments on any of my blog posts? not in the chatterbox.. but in the blog posts itself.. if u dont mind.. i need it for my grade. :) thanks a lot..

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  7. Hello fellow writer. So glad I stumbled on your blog.

    Good luck with the short stories (I just had my first one published last year) and with the novel.

    DON"T GIVE UP.

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  8. i CAN only say wow! I'm already seeing you bouncing back up in style!

    good luck - you need it.

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  9. Chin up Chick :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl1rRxG251s

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  10. Hello, I was just Blog-Hopping and ran across your blog. Very Nice!

    Be Well...

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  11. Hi Jennifer love your blog, I very much the same, trying to write a novel. I am more of a fruit and nut bowl myself. Love the idea of web site for would be writers to get their work out there. I've tryed to post chapters on my blog but the formate is no good... Anyways I wish you all the best. Hannah

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  12. You do not have to write a short story to publish. I sold two books with nary a short story before them.

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  13. I know exactly how you feel. I am going through an amazingly difficult time right now and it is everything I can do to keep my head up and move forward. But I'll make a deal with you...you stay strong and keep moving forward for me and I'll stay strong and keep moving forward for you...okay?

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  14. Jennifer, your writing capabilities come through you blog. They can be seen believe me. Found you by following next blog. Mine is called ' Beauties of creation'. All the best for the future and one piece of advice- Keep working at it. Dave

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  15. Ah, a fellow writer enjoying the pursuit of a completed and published product. I too sometimes struggle with finding the time to maintain my blog but always think of it as my "workout" for my writing.

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  16. You strike me as a kindred spirit ... :)

    foodfloozie.blogspot.com
    twitter.com/foodfloozie

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What would you most like to see on my new website for unpublished writers?