Jazz music take me away…

Decided on the new rendition of Misha’s coffeeshop today. Came here several weeks ago to meet a lovely old friend. Much bigger than the old spot around the corner, same artwork, same jazzy tunes, perfect sized tables for two (or one with a laptop). Lots of sunshine, more coffee and food options, and I parked only a block away. I don’t come to Old Town often due to parking and traffic issues, but having daytimes off is a bonus of my (paying) job. Just saw Misha himself walk in, hasn’t aged in 15 years! Glad to know local businesses can still thrive and grow here.

So I came here to do my journaling today, my three pages of unloading whatever is on my mind, ideas, etc. It’s a great tool to clear out the junk, state your intention for the day, perhaps even find an original idea. I’ve been much better at getting words down lately, a trend I hope continues without any more unnecessary hiccups. It’s hard, writing, and whoever says it’s easy can lick my shoe. It’s hard because for so many of us, making this our full-time venture isn’t possible, yet if at all. Right now it’s my part-time partner, my relationship, and I have to make time for it, nurture it, educate it. So I’m gathering all the books on how to write, what made others write, what pushed them, and I’m taking yet another class online on how to make money from my writing. Multifaceted. That’s the way to be. Unless you’re Steven King, Nora Roberts, or JK Rowling herself, you need to be everything you can on paper. Find whatever niche and nook someone will let you slide into and get your words and your name out there.

My name. Your name. Yes, it’s a very personal thing, but so is a pen name, and finding or tweaking your given one or your made up one can mean the difference of people taking notice or moving on. Being a woman, and a minority, also presents its own roadblocks. I use my mother’s last name professionally, but plan on making it legal as soon as I stop making excuses to go the courthouse. Point is, make your name. Say it out loud, write it down, get a giant piece of poster board and get fancy with it. Take a look. How does it make you feel? Would you read that person’s book?

#noexcuses #writerightnow