First, it's not easy to come up with a good idea for a short story every week. I haven't been entirely pleased with every story I've written. I am in the process of going through and reviewing what I've liked about them, what I would recommend changing if I were the editor instead of the writer, and how I might refine my writing style. I am also going to figure out approximate figure end dates for the Dragon Valley and Metro Hill storylines I have running.
Second, sit up straight. Seriously, maintain good posture. Take periodic breaks. Blink. All those safety issues you hear about with computers. Actually, safety is a good thing to keep in mind even when you’re not dealing with computers.
I've also learned the importance of maintaining relationships. Whether online or off, relationships are the key to life. My friends and family have been amazing supports offline, and the people who follow me/have me in their circles (and the people whom I follow) have helped me to focus on what I'm writing and get posts up.
I need people around me. I need to be helpful, if not needed. I need to be wanted. I need conversation and time with others. This is not news to most people, even given that I’m pretty strongly introverted, but it has been interesting to learn about myself.
I’ve also learned the importance of schedules. Sometimes, I’ve learned this from falling behind. But guess what? Without a schedule, I might not have any idea I was falling behind, and I start drowning before I know to point myself to shore and start swimming. And there have been times that having a schedule has helped me to be immensely more productive.
I should mention I’ve also been taking some online courses. Which brings me to another lesson: don’t overload yourself. Make sure to give yourself enough time. Be sure the cost of the time you invest is worth the benefit you reap.
Given these lessons, I am preparing for the future by tightening my schedule. I have been trying to do this organically, by figuring out what works best in my new living situation. But when you look at the results over the last two weeks, that approach doesn’t seem to be working very effectively. So tight schedule it is.
*Sigh.* That will not be terribly easy for me; unfortunately, I missed out on that useful bit when I got my flavor of OCD. But, isn’t there a saying that nothing worthwhile ever comes easy? In any case, schedules are an important part of being prepared. I won’t bore you with further details of my preparations; suffice it to say, nailing down the details and reviewing my preparations are part of my schedule.
Finally, there is the matter of “be”. In this case, I am being grateful. I sometimes have a hard time telling my friends and family how much I appreciate them and what they do and have done for me, and I don’t want to make it some soap opera drama moment. But I try to thank them, by helping where I can. I also remember the things that people have done for me in the past.
You know what? Being grateful feels a lot like being happy. I’m liking it.
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