Not this time.

I'm taking next week off and I am SO ready for it. I have blogs I want to write, articles I should finish beforehand – but it all amounts to doing double the work this week, and I just can't get my head into it.

The good news is I have fallen back into a regular writing routine after struggling for a few months there. But I'm afraid I'll slip right back into my funk when I take the entire week off.

On the other hand, we have some fun activities planned and haven't I said before that sometimes you just need to decompress and be inspired by life in order to have something that's worth writing about?

So really, the guilt and pressure are all self-imposed. How about a little self-imposed pleasure? Dip my toes in the pool, soak up some sun, eat some ice cream and get away for a while, right? It'll all be waiting for me when I get back.

My Works-In-Progress

• Well, it took a few weeks longer than I thought but I finally finished my tweet-inspired tale! Maybe once it finds a home, I'll spill the beans on whose tweet inspired me
• I haven't even started planning my WeSeWriMo project yet, not really! I've tried but keep getting stuck. Maybe my week off will allow my thoughts to settle and the perfect idea will come to me. I hope…
• Instead of driving myself completely insane, I'm going to hold off on my RPP idea until later. I haven't even looked at it since NaNoWriMo – I imagine it will need a lot of reworking, which isn't a bad thing. Sometimes the editing goes smoother than diving into something new
• I've been meaning to finalize my swag giveaway but it keeps getting pushed to the backburner. I'll need to tackle it when I'm back.

So, how to you cope with being constantly on the go and finding it hard to take some time for yourself? Think I'll be able to cope?!

Fellow WIP Wednesday posse:

• Jamie Eyberg – Vacation
• Aaron Polson – WIP Wednesday: "The End" Never Felt So Good

If you’re a writer participating in WIP Wednesday, post a link to your blog in the comments! More info on the WIP Wednesday initiative can be found at Kate Karyus Quinn's blog.

Fellow members of The Creative Alliance:

• Patrick Pillars – From The Dark Side Anthology Video & Interview with Nicole Ireland
• Ro Van Saint – Z-Cast Ep. 2
• David Sobkowiak – Full bios for all From The Dark Side Authors
• Vange – From The Dark Side Antho Stuff
• Nicole Ireland – Interview with Patrick Pillars

Want to know where all the cool kids go? Check out TCA and join us! Writers, artists, musicians – unite!

So, even though I feel like this is the never-ending edit, things could be much worse. Wait till you read what task they are tackling

I plan to take it easy for the next few days, but that doesn't mean I won't still sneak in some brainstorming for other WIPs. Besides, what better way to do so than staring up at the clouds from under a shady tree?

In other writing news:

• One of my fave Brits and constant source of inspiration DJR has finished the first draft of his latest novel, Dog Eat Dog. Cannot wait to read it!
• I hear the first edition of the Red Penny Papers is going to be stellar, with pieces so far from Aaron & Cate. I better finish my submission and hope it gets accepted
• Barry Napier really is conquering the writing world with the acceptance of his poetry collection, A Mouth For Picket Fences. GO Barry!
• I'm completely jealous that my fellow hi-fiver Katey is going to the Mutter Museum to do a little research! Yes – medical oddities are fun!
• Miss Beanses has started posting snippets of stories that will appear in the From The Dark Side Anthology. Looking forward to reading more!

Funny how it's Summer and I seem busier now more than ever. I guess when you're freelancing, it's harder to differentiate between seasons. Or week. Or days. Or hours.

Fellow WIP Wednesday posse:

• Cate Gardner – WIP Wednesday: Tick Tock, Tick Tock

If you’re a writer participating in WIP Wednesday, post a link to your blog in the comments! More info on the WIP Wednesday initiative can be found at Kate Karyus Quinn's blog.

Fellow members of The Creative Alliance:

• Patrick Pillars – Still
• Nikki Ireland – Progress Report #2
  

Want to know where all the cool kids go? Check out TCA and join us! Writers, artists, musicians – unite!

So, the research coupled with a late-night brainstorming session has enabled this story to grow beyond its meager beginnings.

Not that I'm complaining. These little extras have given it an added dose of intrigue as I try to piece the two parts together. Good to know I can still get excited about writing. I don't imagine that I'll ever tire of it – but after a few stalled stories, I'm really enjoying writing this one and happy to be excited about it again.

My Current WIPS

I think I said it all above. Working on that story plus also polishing another. Plans still brewing for #WeSeWriMo.

Fellow writers, do you also work on multiple stories simultaneously?

Fellow WIP Wednesday posse:

• Jamie Eyberg -Doing No Wrong
• Aaron Polson – WIP Wednesday: It is Wednesday, Right?
• Barry Napier – The Person We All Become

If you’re a writer participating in WIP Wednesday, post a link to your blog in the comments! More info on the WIP Wednesday initiative can be found at Kate Karyus Quinn's blog.

Fellow members of The Creative Alliance:

• Drew Beatty – Winking Existence: Parts 1, 2 and 3
• Patrick Pillars – Solstice
• Morgan Elektra – Interview w/ Scott Sigler

Want to know where all the cool kids go? Check out TCA and join us! Writers, artists, musicians – unite!

My WIP pile is evidence of the creative chaos in which I work. With a billion and one projects on the go right now, it speaks a lot to my need for some sort of schedule.

When I am working on a story that doesn't have a specific deadline in mind, it's easy to get caught up in every minute detail or simply flit from one project to the next and never finish anything.

[ Photo: Ali Taylor  ]

So, when I heard about WeSeWriMo (Web Series Writing Month), I was instantly curious.

NaNoWriMo is good for me. Sure, it's a crazy undertaking, but having that specific deadline and daily word count to work toward is made for me.I've been wanting to offer some free/minimal payment content for a while now, and an online serial has always been on my to-do list.

So, I have decided to take up the challenge. I'm a bit worried that our annual camping trip might hinder my progress a bit – but then again I tend to get up early when we're camping – and what better setting to jot down some words than sitting lakeside every morning with my cup of brewed-over-the-campfire coffee?

Come August, I'm taking the plunge. Care to join me?

In other news, I've got a pile of stories to be read that rivals my mountain of WIPs. With tales from Jenny Hudock, Barry Napier, Aaron Polson, R. Van Saint, and Jason Tucker, to name just a handful, I've got loads of inspiration just waiting for me to partake.

I've also started reading Melissa Jones' Black Wreath. M is actually the culprit responsible for letting me know about WeSeWriMo in the first place, so if you are looking for a dark mystery with an exquisitely distinctive voice, check it out!

All in all, there is always a lot going on and that's how I like it.

My Current WIPS

• final edits to tweet-inspired tale, i.e. sprinkling it with Creep and Cringe
• lightbulb moment with one of the stories from my NaNo 2010 collection; plan to finish and submit it next week
• ideas brewing for WeSeWriMo

Fellow WIP Wednesday posse:

• Jamie Eyberg - Not enough coffee in the world
• Katey Taylor – Sensational!

If you’re a writer participating in WIP Wednesday, post a link to your blog in the comments! More info on the WIP Wednesday initiative can be found at Kate Karyus Quinn's blog.

Fellow members of The Creative Alliance:

• Jenny Hudock – Dark Journeys Returns: The Handyman
• Patrick Pillars – The Vigil 

Want to know where all the cool kids go? Check out TCA and join us! Writers, artists, musicians – unite!

I'll bet you didn't even know that yes indeed, we do have a beach here. And the good thing about going to the beach on a Monday in the middle of May is the place is virtually empty (or at least compared to how crazy it gets in the warmer months).

Sure it was overcast, and at times a little breezy but it was a relaxing day nonetheless. I saw a house for sale that literally backs onto the beach (and will cost a cool $2.5mil for any serious buyers).

So, although my hopes of sitting in the park or on my deck overlooking the beach & writing everyday while enjoying a mocha have been dashed, I did find the perfect spot (which I refuse to share…unless you want to meet me there) for those times when I do happen to be lakeside with my notebook in hand.

Pair the above with a little hike, a trip to the movies and a drive to Kingston for the best wood fired pizza (which we watched the chef prepare from our front row seat at the bar), my WIPs haven't seen any progress in the past few days (and I seem to have fallen off the blog wagon for a week, as well).

And I'll be honest with you. It wasn't all that difficult to let go of it all and relax for a while. I'm still not sure whether that's a good or bad thing, but I'm about to find out as as I open up my WIP for the first time in 5 days…..

Fellow WIP Wednesday participants:

• Aaron Polson – WIP Wednesday: Guns and Ammo Edition
• Cate Gardner – WIP Wednesday: Death to the Red Pen
• Barry Napier – piles & piles of poetry

If you’re a writer participating in WIP Wednesday, post a link to your blog in the comments! More info on the WIP Wednesday initiative can be found at Kate Karyus Quinn's blog.

Fellow members of The Creative Alliance:

• Acadia – Lost Spoilers
• Guest blog from R. Van Saint at The Feckless Goblin
• Interview with Jennifer Huddock by Edward G. Talbot
• Patrick's pTelevision
• Drew Beatty's wonderings…
• More of the Jenny Huddock blog tour with Morgan Elektra
• Another in Nicole Ireland's author interview series