Hi,

I have always been a writer, I just don’t write for others to read. I’d like to, but I’ve been scared away by a few negative reactions. If they don’t like it, no problem! I won’t darken their doors with any more of my work!!

I couldn’t write when I was raising my kids. I tried, but I have the attention span of a ping pong ball, and I would always have to leave what I was writing. If it was written by hand, it was hard to go back and get into the place I was earlier. If it was on the computer, I would read it to get into the place I was earlier, but I would want to tweak this before I added any more to that thought. And I don’t like this sentence. Before long, a 5 page work would be reduced to one page. It was hard to get the word count up when I deleted more than I wrote!!

So when the daughter went to college, I started getting things in order in the house, and spent lots of time getting rid of a lot of STUFF, and giving the inside of the house a facelift. I both installed and refinished hardwood floors, and scraped popcorn off ceilings and that kind of thing. That’s done now, and I just need a functional kitchen (I’m a trained chef). The bottom line is that I have thrown about every obstacle into my path that I can, and gotten past them all, and now there is no excuse. I even sold my horse, born and raised here with the expectation of having him till he died, because I couldn’t work with him as well as get everything else done, and still have the wherewithal to write. I have been clearing my calendar because it is Time to write. Sometimes I think it’s not my decision, because some things have gone way too smoothly!!

So I want to make a good living at it, to give the hubs the same opportunity to stay home as he gave me. I need to get a move on, though, because I don’t think it counts if he retires first. “Oh, Sweetie, it’s the thought that counts, isn’t it?”

I finally wrote the first draft to a book that had been in me for over 20 years, percolating and aerating. I must rewrite it into a readable second draft, because parts of it were “spring became winter” and some of it was “she stepped out the door, feeling the young sun warm her cold, dry skin wherever it could find some…. ”

I want to say things so a lot of people can hear. The world is a challenging place, and I have some perspectives to share that could help some. Or invite comment, at the very least. Maybe some hate mail, but I hope not!!

I realized that I tell stories about people and things all the time. I watch people and make up stories about why they are doing what they are doing. I tend to have empathy, so I am not the one shouting “what’s WRONG with him?!??! Hey buddy, get a life!!” Instead, I decide that his mother is in the hospital and he is faced with losing her, his last friend in this life, and it’s all beCUZ HE’S SUCH AN IDIOT!!

I want to create a platform that works. I’m not good at making that kind of thing up as I go along. I tend to fall into the same patterns, and rather than create, I click and share. This will help me see more options, and give me some ideas about timing and wording and pictures vs vids, and whatever else you have to share with us, Joe.

So I’m grateful to be here, so glad that a big part of the point is to create a writers’ community. I need writers in my life. The hubs is a data wonk, so he spends his days categorizing numbers. He won’t read, cuz he spends his days focused on lines on a screen. I have some friends who tease and suggest that they would be interested in such things, but when the time comes around, they are unable to play.

I have a couple of blogs, but they have fallen by the wayside. I will gather their remains to flesh them out and bring them back up to speed as we move along here. I have a new one to start about all the weird decisions we are making as a society. I’m channeling my alien status (see my intro) for that one.

And Joe, after watching the webinar on Kickstarter, I realized that that would be a perfect way to start this website that I have been playing with in different versions in my head for 15 years. The tech has evolved, and now I think I can do what I have been wanting to do! So I will work up the details to see what needs to be done, and I will start on it! You gave me a kick! (get it? I’ll “start” it, and you gave me a “kick?” Don’t try to pretend you weren’t amused! In fact, please pretend that you were!)

By the way, this is how I always wish I could answer multiple choice questions. Are you going to count off for it? When will you give us our grades? Heh heh heh. Just regressing for a moment!

So thank you, Joe, for bring us here together. We are all so focused on being individuals that we forget, in these times, that we need community. Greetings to fellow Cartelistas! I’m happy to be here with you!

Hi, Kate!
Glad to see you here! It sounds as if you are living the dream!! Rock on!! We will make beautiful words together!!

Hi, James,
It sounds as if you have a lot to say!! I’m getting the impression that this is the place to do it! You might find success despite yourself!! I’m right there with you! But I must say, kudos to you for entering contests! The only contest I entered was a children’s writing contest, discovered a week before the deadline, so the story wasn’t even finished. I remember asking them if there might be something redeeming in it anyways. I never heard from them. I decided I will finish my entry next time. It was a hard decision to make, but one that will reap more benefits, I think. Was yours finished?

Glad to meet you!!

Hi, Elizabeth!!
Coolness on the ghostly hymn histories!! It sounds as if you are gathering no moss, Ms Rolling Stone!! Congratulations on your skills and opportunities!!! May they take you places you never imagined!! I mean, they will, but this way, it sounds as if I helped you along just a bit!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!

Hi, Jeanne,
I hope you reveal yourself a little more as we go along. This was just enough to make me want to know what happens next!! And what happened before!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!
Welcome to the gang!

Ya snost, ya lost!!! Gotta love standing at the threshold!! It’s an exciting place to be! Glad to meet you, and glad to be here to watch you bloom!

Jody

Hi, Paloma,
Wow. You come with loaded pen! I can’t wait to see what you do with it! Glad to meet you!

I’m kind of with Joe, here. The hubs and I tried several times to watch it, but I couldn’t get past the gender dynamics. But I know so many who do love it, including feminists!! Tell us what it is that you find so absorptive. Maybe I can get over some things, if it’s worthwhile!

Hi, Yvette,
Good to hear that you are making things intentional now. That is the first step, is it not? Glad to meet you, and see you are hitting the ground running!!

Hi, Lee,
I’m so sorry to hear about your mom. Their loss kind of changes things. But it sounds as if you manage to keep yourself busy and writing, which is the point of it all (or “the quill”). I look forward to getting to know you and seeing what all you have to offer!!

Hi, Sunny Jen,
You seem to be quite the busy one! And another one with lots to learn from!! And what a great group! I look forward to being here with these alums!!

Hi, James,
Wow. Again I feel like an imposter!! You got lit cred!! I look forward to learning from you!!

Hi, Audrey,
I take it that this course could be addictive? How cool is that?!?!
Good to meet you!!

Oh my. I’m feeling very outclassed!! Good to know people I have a lot to learn from! Mroczka on!! (is your name pronounced like ‘rock?’ It looks like it, and that would make it awesome!!)