My plan needs a plan

My plan to blog every week has not materialized. My plan to write every day has also not been achieved. I ask myself what is going on with me. I have been able to read several more children's books and viewed a few movies made from those books. The most recent book, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. I got the animated movie from Netflix yesterday. Not enough to feel like I accomplished much. I've detoured from my plan. It's time for a new plan.

I attended a writer's seminar a few weeks ago on a Wednesday night with Brian Howie through The Better Class. The cost was $20. Brian originally started a novel and wrote a screenplay instead. He sold his first one. He refers to him writing screenplays as "cheating". Write the dialogue and state "hi-jinks ensue". Let the director figure it out. He now publishes non-fiction books, the most recent is Debt U. I learned more in those two hours than I could have imagined. Some of the things we covered is how the book distribution and publishing industry has changed with the advent of Amazon.com. It is easier to sell a screenplay than a book as Hollywood has more money to spend. You need to be able to do your own marketing. You can publish an e-book on Amazon and in a few months keep more of the profits. That is just a few gems. We also talked about the fact that you must WRITE!

So if you aren't writing you need to find a away to write. If you can't seem to write your book, write SOMETHING. Other suggestions included leaving your house and going to another location like it is your job to go there and write. I have found a few places this could be possible. Amelie's French Bakery in NoDa, a library, several coffee shops and Refuel@24/7. Things I looked for: noise level, background music, peak times, parking, cost of drinks/food, comfort, free wireless internet.

Today was my first day to implement this new plan. HA! I set the alarm for 7 am. Proceeded to lay in bed until 8:30. Yes I stayed up too late last night trying to watch some shows on Hulu. My bad. Then I drank my agni tea, took a shower, got dressed. So I was not at a new venue writing at 9 am. Then I decided to hose the gross yellow pollen off my front porch and car, then I watered houseplants, fed the cats, cleaned litter boxes, took out the trash, organized all my stuff by the door. This included my purse, phone, laptop with power cord, mouse, headset, notebook, two children's books, cut apple slices, etc. Then I washed hands, put my hair in a pony tail, changed shirt and left the house. Got in the car and couldn't find my phone or glasses. Went back in the house. Found the glasses, the phone was in my laptop bag in the car. Arrrgh! I pulled into Amelie's parking lot at 10:30. Of course I ordered a small decaf coffee and the guy behind the counter queried in that make you feel guilty tone of voice "is that all"? So I bought 2 flaky, buttery, sugary treats too. Cost: $4. Not too bad. Most of the tables and couches were taken so I settled by a window and realized it was too bright so I moved to the table behind me. Within a very short time the place filled up, it's spring break here so lots of mom with kids, baby buggies and such. Seven moms & young daughters crammed into the corner table near me causing passerbys to constantly bump into my table as there was very little room for them to pass through. They left and another large family took their place. The noise level is a little high. Music is OK. I spent way too much time checking emails and Facebook. Its after 1:00. I'm sitting in a wooden chair so I my butt is numb. Maybe not any more numb than my desk chair at home. Over all not bad for the first morning. I planned on going home for lunch and trying a different venue this afternoon.

New plan: write for 8 hours several days a week. Preferably Tues, Wed, Thurs. Write for at least 4 hours on Friday and Monday. That leaves Sat & Sunday for chores and socializing. Set priorities and stick to the plan. Read at least 2 children's books a week. Also make sure to fit walking to the park into the schedule to counteract all that sitting at the laptop.