Grateful to have found you guys.

Hi everyone! I’m here to learn and maybe occasionally share insights to help others if the opportunity arises.

Like so many of you, I’ve been writing in some form or another for as long as I can remember. My career began right out of college as a TV news features producer, so I got my start writing very, very quickly—sometimes in a news van en route back to the station. I ended up working in video production for years until I met my husband and went to work with him in ... wait for it ... highway construction. What?? This new fish was a fish out of water for sure. Anyway, flash forward 15 years. Companies are sold, and now I have all the time in the world to write. (A luxury—I’m aware, and hate to squander it.) The hardest part is keeping my rear end in a chair. The golf course beckons, or a pile of laundry waiting to go into the washer, or a chicken in the fridge needing marinating. Look, a squirrel!! I need some discipline.

I’m sort of the “idea” person. I have a list of great ideas for novels that I want to start. I just have trouble with the word FINISH. My first one, 15 years in the making (Anyone else out there with a novel this “old”?) is probably 3/4 done, but I find myself asking “Where’s the beef?” It’s a little lacking in plot, AND I’m having trouble figuring out how to wrap it up. Maybe there IS something to be said for an outline...? Is it too late to apply one of those here? ha.

Anyway, thanks for reading this. I look forward to getting to know you all.
Happy New Year!

Thanks for the welcome, Druid. If I figure out a sure-fire way to keep my butt in the chair, I'll report back. *wink*

bleep said:

I've found that sticking to a routine as hard as I can, whether or not I *feel* like it, seems to work. Also, there are some fun ways in here to crow about your milestones. Welcome!

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Working on making writing for an hour a day into a habit. Looking forward to crowing about milestones. LOL

Introversion said:

Hi, CarolynLeslie!

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Izz said:

Welcome to AW, CarolynLeslie, the premier writing place (in my opinion) on the nets.

I hear ya on the whole finishing thing. I've really only got my head around that in the last few years (outlining works for me, there). Still have a half-finished novel I occasionally revisit that's been a work in progress since I was a teenager. I probably should let it go, right?

Izz

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Thanks for the nice welcome Izz. I'm definitely going to figure out a post-process outline for my current novel. As far as the one you've been working on since you were a teenager, I probably would not give it up as much as re-write it, making it relevant for today. Even since 15 years ago, so much has changed technologically, much of mine has needed to be tweaked, changing faxing to scanning, etc., relating to the "work scenes" in my book. In the grand scheme of things, it's pretty minor stuff. See you around the boards.