It took me fifty years to name myself a writer. I´m proud of trying to be one. And I´m grateful that I have both the time and the necessary resources to spend my time writing, It makes me happy to write, and it gives me a life quality that is difficult to describe and show at the same time.
But I dare to try for I cannot resist the temptation to sit down every day to write. It is to kiss the dragon´s tail, it is calming and life-affirming, and it is a true gift. Thank you, dear Ancestors, for leaving such a legacy.
My lifestyle is partly pagan, partly mundane. My lifestyle as a writer is direct, consistent, and dedicated. I take it very seriously and use every opportunity to get behind the keyboard or to grab a pen and paper.
There is always something to write something about. The world is full of opportunities if you only dare to live life in the present moment and enjoy it. Even on the worst possible day, there is always something to say and do.
I don´t preach any particular doctrine, my self-respect is not for sale, and I never back down. What I write about, I know about. I know that change is inevitable in life and that the response to fear is not to run, but to fight back and stand your ground.
To make the best out of everything is my motto. In life, you have to adapt to both fair and unfair terms, Sometimes there are challenges to overcome and learn from. Sometimes there are sweet moments without stress and worries. And sometimes there are both at the same time.
I believe that I might as well try to have a positive outlook and I try to do what I say I will do. I can be brutally honest at times, but I prefer that to any attempt to avoid the truth. I hate lies and what they bring with them to the people involved.
The positive outlook has helped me overcome quite a few direct blows from life. I carry it with me always, for you never know when the shit hits the fan again. Best as you feel sure that nothing else is about to happen, there it comes, just as unexpected as the one before it.
I´m getting used to deal with life as it is. I´m grateful for all my experiences, though. It gives me the inspiration to write stories worth reading. They have all played a part in who I am becoming as a writer and as a human being.
My aim with my writing is to write in a way that will make the readers feel that they are in the middle of a motion picture. It is the genre that thrills me, for a psychological thriller touches all the senses if written well. And I want to touch the readers, to thrill and to entertain.
A small glimpse into my writing world
Today, I´m in my living room with two lit candles, I listen to epic orchestral music, and I´m inspired by the motion picture “The Godfather” that was shown last night on TV. A masterpiece in writing, directing and acting. My favorite motion picture has taught me many things.
I have watched it so many times that I don´t count anymore. And every time there is something new to discover. That´s art, and I love it. The characters, the setting, the plot have an outstanding dramatic effect.
The following two evenings, I´ll be watching the second and the third motion picture in the “Godfather” trilogy. So tonight and tomorrow night, I ´ll take a well-deserved break from my writing adventures and enjoy art when it is best.
A small glimpse into my writing world includes my setup at my writing station. I have my notebooks and pen and paper ready because I write in hand as often as possible for my osteoarthritis. Next to that is my little basket with pens, my calendar and the book that I´m currently reading.
At this time of year, I´m either here or in my creative den, depending on my mood for the day. It is too cold to sit at my permanent writing desk, and I need to arrange better light in my witchy den before I can use it for writing purposes as well.
But in the Spring, I expect to switch between my working stations, depending on what feels best on the day. And of course, to sit outside in the garden and write too is a major goal for me. When the weather is fair, and there are green leaves on the trees.
Until then, I stay inside and allow myself to enjoy this dark season. It is perfect for writing on a daily basis. And day by day, my daily writing routine evolves. Now, it is a perfect daily routine after and between my mundane chores and my work with witchcraft and other creative purposes.
To write has become a daily pleasure that overrules any sign of a bad day. It calms, it soothes, it heals to write. I spend about two hours warming up with emails and interesting blog posts of the day. After that, I begin working with my notes from the day before.
Then, I either write new notes or practice a technique I have studied. And last, but not least, I spend about an hour contemplating the plot for my novel. In the evenings, I always have some notes to rewrite and something to do if there are no plans with family and friends.
So I work a lot, every day. But I also have many days where I can´t work effectively due to pain or other side-effects from ailments and prescription medicine. Then I work with the voice recorder on my cell phone instead. It took some time to adjust to but now it is both practical and fun.
About my new lifestyle as a writer
It is still all so new to me, being a writer, spending countless hours in solitude. But I can´t help loving it all the way. Writing gives me the mental surplus necessary to cope with life´s many challenges. When I´m writing, I feel happy, content, and at home.
Writing reduces my level of anxiety, writing is my favorite tool for coping with my physical and mental ailments, and writing makes my daily life a lot easier. Without it, I would feel lost. For here I can express myself in the best possible way.
I have stories to tell, ideas to evolve, and opinions to discuss. Every day, I wake up happy and ready to work with something I love. To write my first novel is one of the best decisions in my life. Already I have learned so much and tried so many new things.
It is a lifestyle for me now. Now, I can´t imagine life without writing. It is something that I will keep on doing no matter what. Although there is more work to it than expected, it is the perspective of reaching the last sentence with the words the end that hooks me.
I admit it freely, I´m a writing addict. I feel restless when I´m not able to write for a longer period of time. I feel calm again, the moment I´m back behind the keyboard or with a pen in my left hand. So it has become essential to write every day.
But the mundane world and my family and friends come before anything else. Writing is therefore always second to the real world, and it should be. It must never overshadow life in general, so I´m careful to plan my writing so that there is always time for other important matters.
There is also my second passion, witchcraft, to consider. I have daily mini-rituals that I cherish and enjoy for at least twenty minutes every day. It covers my spiritual needs in more ways than I have words to express.
So, I love writing, but it does not overtake my life. My most cherished moments are related to family and friends. However, writing makes me feel that I use my talents for something positive, rather than sitting on the couch all day with nothing to do. Been there, done that.
Being early retired means that I have to do something myself to stay occupied with some kind of work. And why not writing, when I have my way with words, and it makes me mentally alert and happy. So, yes I name myself a writer.
I´m very serious about my writing, If I want to invest time and other resources, I must also be prepared to do the necessary hard work. My deadline for the first draft is December 31, 2020. It should be an attainable goal. I want to give it a try, and I believe that I will reach my goal. So it is.
My writing and reading plans for the remains of the year
My writing plans include the last four blog posts this month, grammar notes, and ideas to the plot of my novel. I prepare for my father´s visit from Friday this week. So I´ll write the blog post for this week and the next in advance.
I have also planned the work for the Christmas holidays, and it is restricted to taking some notes while my father has a rest in the afternoons. That week is dedicated to family time, but my family knows and accepts that I need to write something every day, so I still have an hour or two daily to write.
This way I get to practice how to keep a deadline and write at least 3-500 words daily. And in only fifteen days from now, I´ll be practicing the writing techniques I have studied this fall and winter so far. It is e.g. stream of consciousness, foreshadowing, and the difference between to tell and to show.
Soon also it will be February 2020, where I´ll use the month to plot and outline my novel. After that, it is writing time for real. Then it will a goal every day to write between 3-500 words daily for the novel. There will be some days with less or more than that. But it is my goal to accomplish it.
My reading plans include that I finish “How to write a damn good thriller” by James N. Frey and a novel that has been left alone for a couple of months. It is part of a series of historical fiction, so it takes some time to read through.
Living a writer´s lifestyle is exciting, demanding and fun. There is always something to read and something to write. It never gets boring because I´m my own boss. I write because I can´t resist the temptation to try.
I´m happy and content that I choose to become a writer. I dare to be proud because it is a great pleasure to be one. It is mentally stimulating to write. And the art is to try to make it better after each writing session, to make music out of words, and to make the reader want more.
I get up every morning in the hope of this day to find the right words to write. Some days get pretty close to that but there are also many days where even a single paragraph feels like going uphill. Today has been a little bit of both.
It has been one of the tough pain days, but I have managed to write this blog post anyway. It still hurts like hell, but I don´t mind it today. I´m too inspired, too happy, and too content to worry much about something that I only can change my attitude to.
What´s left for today is to wish you, dear readers, a fantastic week, and to relax to the second motion picture in the “Godfather” trilogy.
The Northern Witch' s Blog 