IWSG Day, Writing Update, Time, Plans & AI

Happy IWSG Day! It’s the third IWSG bloghop of the new year. Another opportunity to share our ups and downs. And give and receive encouragement on our sometimes thorny path of authorship. Thanks as always, for bringing us together goes to ninja extraordinaire Alex Cavanaugh.

The co-hosts for the March 6th posting of the IWSG are: Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

Interested in joining us? Click on the badge above. Our Twitter hashtag and handle are #IWSG and @TheIWSG.

So what’s going on with me this month?

I’ve shot my health and wellness plans to hell and back. Since I’ve returned from my cruise I’ve been gaining weight. And though I’ve been trying to increase my protein intake, my carb intake is still higher. So, I’ve planned to reinvigorate my workout routine. I’ll continue with my weight lift and strength training three days a week. But I’ll also include cardio and core workouts two days a week. Increasing it by five minutes, with fifteen to twenty minute workouts.

I’m a sedentary person and have a desk job. As I’m sitting down in front of a computer a lot…a lot, a lot, a lot, increasing the days I work out is a must. Especially if I actually want to realize my goal of losing 20lbs by my birthday in three months. Which also means, I need to stop night owling and get a decent amount of sleep. Take breaks from all that sitting. Continue taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Stretching before going to and after getting up from bed. And amp up my meal plans with even more high protein foods in my diet. Learn how to make quinoa and couscous taste good.

National Poetry Month is only 28 days away. It’s been awhile since I’ve done a poetry blog special for the month. And due to its popularity I plan to post once a week, about the remaining four types of erasure poems next month. Going to start planning and gathering my materials now. Will need newspapers, magazines, articles, markers/crayons/beans…

Tomorrow is my youngest’s 13th birthday which also makes me a mother of two teenagers. Thinking this makes me realize how time flies. It was just the other day where I’d made plans to go away for college and live on campus. Then after college I planned to move into an apartment with my longtime bestie in NY. Marry by the time I’d become 30 years old. And work in the book industry at a publishing house either as an agent or an author. Or as an editor or writer for a magazine. Maybe even as a librarian. Now here I am with two teens, the eldest hopefully heading off to college and the youngest to high school next year. Working at a non-profit. And still paving my author’s road.

Now here’s my writing update for February.:

WIP	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Total Words
	February 3 – 0 words	February 4 – 92 words	February 5 – 134 words	226 words
	February 6 – 230 words	February 7 – 0 words	February 8 – 108 words	338 words
	February 9 – 0 words	February 10 – 0 words	February 11 – 106 words	106 words
	February 12 – 0 words	February 13 – 213 words	February 14 – 165 words	378 words
	February 15 – 0 words	February 16 – 122 words	February 17 – 0 words	122 words
	February 18 – 113 words	February 19 – 224 words	February 20 – 197 words	534 words
	February 21 – 0 words	February 22 – 121 words	February 23 – 0 words	121 words
	February 24 – 0 words	February 25 – 0 words	February 26 – 0 words	0 words
	February 27 – 62 words	February 28 – 0 words	February 29 – 413 words	475 words

Although I missed a lot of writing days last month, I still managed to write 2,300 words! And with at least three WIPs nearing completion, I have to start thinking about many things. Like how many proofreads and edits should I do, before sending them out to beta readers? What should I ask my beta readers to look for and  especially pay attention too?

With WIPs from the random wheel completed, should I replace them with new WIPs? Or should I keep what remains as is but increase the allotted writing days for each? After the many rounds of edits, beta readings and proofreadings, should I self-publish or submit them to a publishing press?

With a word count less than 7k words, “The Anniversary Present” would have to be self-published. Or submitted to an anthology. But which press or anthology would be a right fit? And if accepted by a press, how should the cover be designed? Should I use a pseudonym for my erotic stories? And what should my pen name be?

See, so many things to think about and do.

March 6 question: Have you “played” with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI’s impact on creative writing?

I’ve not played with AI. Seems like it might turn into a slippery slope where I’ll end up being over-reliant on it if I use it to write those nasty synopses. Even if it’s supposed to be a useful tool for writers to become better writers. I’m a bit concerned it’ll affect my writer’s voice in the long run.

What’s going on with you this month? How has your life changed from your original plans and/or goals? Will you be participating in #IWSGPit on March 27th? Have you “played” with AI and how do you feel about its impact on creative writing?

Happy Birthday Thing 2 (and to all the other March babies)! Happy Women’s History Month! Happy International Women’s Day! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Happy Easter!