As I mentioned, I've picked up some new freelancing work, so I'm trying to keep up with the old stuff while getting some new topics going. I'm also finishing up the design and content for Miss Write, which will be launching by the end of the weekend (I hope!). It won't have much content to begin with because I was going to wait until September to launch it, but I'm running an ad in the digital edition of Shroud so I wanted to get the site up now. But just you wait! I've got many things planned for the site and I'm super-stoked and inspired about it. It will include some of my writing articles plus tons of new content, so stay tuned!

I decided to make the decision to drop WeSeWriMo. I hate to do it but things are just too nuts right now. We just came back from vacation, and we go camping in about 3 weeks. All of this, coupled with my juggling of work stuff, and I needed to let something go before I go b-a-n-a-n-a-s.

I hope to get at least some fiction writing in these next few weeks – because I will certainly become Miss Grumpy if I don't – but I'm not sure how much it will be. 

Summer is supposed to be for vacation, right?! I feel busier now more than ever.

• the I'm-so-brilliant stage where I can't believe the amazing idea I concocted
• the this-is-the-worst-thing-I've-ever-written stage, which comes when I am ~this~ close to being finished and am trying to avoid the inevitable ending and having to find something else to work on

The good news is I'm now at the it's-really-truly-finally-finished-and-I-kinda-like-it stage. Which means one more read, final polishing, and then I'll submit it.

I've been in a funk since Christmas and have started about a billion stories but haven't finished one so this is extra good news for me.

Thankfully I had a few good beta readers point out some places to improve, so I snipped the dead lines and now it's all shiny & pretty (or at least as pretty as a horror tale can be).

So, after I take my editing cap off, I'll be donning my brainiac cap for some new articles I'm working on. I picked up 3 new columns, and 2 of the articles I've claimed are new territory for me. I hope I don't blow it But it'll be nice to branch out from always writing about writing. And having actual deadlines will help, since with Examiner I can post whenever I feel like it.

Anyway, you can check out my first article in the Books column at Bright Hub (okay, so I'm not in completely foreign territory with that topic. But feel free to comment!). I'll be sure to let you know when my other articles are out.

So, there you have it. Busy, busy as usual but it's all writing so it's also all good.

Right now it forwards to my articles as Toronto Writing Examiner, but I hope to expand it and build a full website, highlighting all my writerly pursuits (including my fiction & copy writing).

You would think all of these endeavors would burn me out (and occasionally they do), but I love writing ever so much, and being able to explore it in all its facets makes me the happiest girl!

Today, I'm working on that totally-crazy-so-not-me-yet-devilishly-addictive story idea I mentioned. Chris (my fiancee) gets a little impatient because when I'm working on something new, I don't like to share many (read: ANY) of the details until I have at least gotten the first draft down.

By then, I am usually stuck, and like to bend his ear for tidbits to unstick myself, but right now, I am holding my cards close to my chest because I lovelovelove this idea and really want to find the words to make it work. Eep!

When you get a story idea, how do you keep yourself from falling too much in love with it (just in case it doesn't go the way you hoped or envisioned)? Or do you think you do have to have that level of intensity about every story to make each one a success?

I'm still freelancing, but everything else has suffered. I did manage to open up a few of my stories this past week. But I quickly felt lost, completely taken out of the flow of words and not inspired at all.

Whether the stories are just not holding my attention or I just feel like I'm staring at a big chunk of clay that needs some serious slicing and shaping (and punching), I seem to have hit a slump that I don't see any way out of yet.

So, what do I do? Use it. I've got a few articles on writer's block coming up this week (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?).

I'm trying to get some of my week's work done today so I can sit my butt at my writing desk all week and make some progress. Because there is nothing worse than feeling like everything you've written sucks and you will never have a good idea again.

Which brings me to my favorite article this week. It actually comes from last week – Develop a story idea in five minutes.

Sometimes, after working all day, I end up feeling as though it's "too late" to dive into writing. I see this as sort of a self-defeating mindset, as you have all heard my talk of being an insomniac (and there really isn't any right or wrong hour of the day to write). Why I do this to myself, I don't know. Laziness, fear of suckage, what have you. But I figure I should take my own advice, and let this method of quick writing sprints get me back into the flow of writing.

So, how do you beat writer's block? How do you conquer that nagging voice in your head that tells you that you are no good? What's the longest you've gone without writing anything new?

I do know one thing that can only help – chocolate. Email me if you need my mailing address.

If you missed 'em, my other writing articles this week include a few on travel writing (both from home and abroad), a boot camp for writers who need a little discipline (like me) and one on how using your unique writer's voice can translate into sweet book sales.

[NWC]

Toronto Writing Examiner

Although I do have to try to do as many of my articles as possible with a Toronto-specific focus, my favorite article this week was more generic, but I really loved writing it. 

As writers, I think we can all use a little help from time to time, and for some of us, it's also fascinating to read about the processes of others. So, my piece this week on brainstorming techniques may have been my most popular one so far, but I also hope it will be beneficial to other writers who need some tips to refresh their writing process.

Toronto Fashion Arts Examiner

Although I've only just started writing the Fashion Arts column, I really like this piece. It was great to get some feedback from Adriana, who is running The Bazaar of the Bizarre, and it was also nice to put my print journalism background to good use!  I really enjoyed the interview process and I plan to do longer interviews of local indie designers in the near future.

Adriana also has a totally cool, modern-yet-futuristic line of industrial-inspired clothing that I lovelovelove, so I was glad to be able to get to know her a bit better.

The Challenge of Freelancing

Now that I'm working on two columns, I really need to be more organized than ever. I'm still juggling the columns with all my other work, and still haven't found the perfect mix of work and play (my fiction writing).

But I'm determined to get things sorted – whether I try to do a bit of everything everyday, or set certain tasks for specific days of the week. Because, as my fellow writers know. strange things sometimes happen when it's all work and no play…

[NWC]