A life cut short, a deadline and my writing

A life cut short

Its 11.00am on a Tuesday, the house is still a mess, I’ve achieved a bath but that’s about it. Those of you that have read my other blog,  Just muddling through life, will know that my ex-husband passed away last Saturday 14th December. He wasn’t well but he died from Sepsis, something we never expected and a shock to his family, children and friends.

I never told him about my blogs, he read and enjoyed my poetry years ago when we were together.  I was too scared to show him my writing now.  I’m kicking myself now for hesitating.  He might not have been interested, but I never gave him the option.  Yes, his life proved to short for me to worry about it.  Deep in my loft is poetry that he wrote back to me. It would take me hours to find it now, our loft is full of kids stuff and junk.  Important sentimental boxes I think are probably under everything, and at the back.

He will never know about my aspirations with my writing or that this Christmas I have a writing deadline to meet,. Though I’m sure there is a lot that I didn’t know about him, we parted many years ago.

My morning

I’ve spent my morning so far, just lying on my bed, reading messages, knowing that I really need to come and write this post.
As a worrier, my friend passing away has really highlighted to stop it. We don’t know what the future has in store. He was hoping to be here a while yet, and I’m sure there is plenty more he would have done if he had known that Saturday was his last day. We don’t know when that last day is. I think the message here is to try and stop the stressing, relax a bit more and enjoy life. I need to keep telling myself this, but it is easier said than done.

My writing

My deadline (unfortunate word in the circumstances, but that’s what it is) is fast approaching for my paranormal anthology piece. I have revised it a few times, and friends have advised on it. One writing friend emailed me with a huge amount of support and kind words which I then read to my husband. He made me feel that actually I can do this, I just need to keep going.

I have a friend in America who has messaged me with endless support and encouragement. In this life we sometimes need people to help keep us going. To help cheer us on towards that important deadline.

The craft of writing is hard. It’s not just thinking of a story, I’m good at that bit, that’s the easy part. Its writing it in a way that will pull in the reader, to make them want to read. As I’ve said before, its then the many redrafts to get it right. Asking for feedback and accepting it, taking criticism and wanting to cry. Submitting work to places thinking its good and then getting rejected. It is certainly not for the faint hearted, it requires a lot of work and determination.

I’ve been advised that I still have a long way to go with my story and the deadline is next week, I want it submitted by Christmas. I think I will be emailing with a message saying that its not quite completed. They might read it and think it’s finished but I will know it’s not. There are things I still need to work out and the end needs re thinking.

My submission

I submitted my Christmas day poetry poem  to Spillwords.com, and I’m happy that they are publishing it on their website Christmas Day as a featured piece.

Writing on my blog, Just muddling through life

If you do read my other blog, you might feel that the writing is raw. This is because it is. I have spent weeks writing my 5000 word paranormal story. It has been rewritten and feedback received and there’s still a long way to go with the deadline fast approaching.

The writing on my blog is written that day with no plan at all. For Blog Battle, I will read the prompt word and then sit and think of an idea and then write. My Ruby and Freda stories follow a sentence or photo prompt. Again, I read the prompt and then start to write. If I stopped and planned these stories and made them perfect, there would be very few stories on Just muddling through life.

The writing here is written the same day. I’m sat in my kitchen knowing that I need to tidy up before I collect the children. So again, no time to tidy it up properly. I will often go through later and correct mistakes that I notice. Yes, I do care about mistakes, but it is trying to get my work out there. Life is so busy, and I am so busy and I do love both my blogs.

Facebook Live

Here are my latest Facebook live videos.

Yesterday new blog post and Christmas – 11th December 2019

Todays new blog post and Christmas – 13th December 2019

Today

It’s school Christmas parties today.  My daughter has worn her pyjamas to school as requested.  She announced last night that she is to old for Peppa Pig, which made me feel sad.  Apparently she will be teased if she wears her.

My son is wearing non uniform and his Christmas jumper. Both children were excited and looking forward to party food.

Me, I’ve achieved very little today.  I’m now cooking some food, then I have the children to collect.  I need to tidy the front room today, though most of the mess belongs to my six year old.  The window sill has become her art table which is not good.  one day I will need to buy some white gloss paint and repaint it.  Maybe when she stops drawing on it.

I hope to do Facebook Live later and more of my paranormal story this evening. I’m working closer towards my deadline.

Anyway I’m now going to go, I need to eat and make more tea.  Then have a few minutes before collecting the children and all the stress and their noise.  Yes I do enjoy my quiet times alone.

For more see, Writing my stories, revising and redrafting