Lisa Wright

Working. Working!

2012-01-23T10:32:00.001-05:00

I've been working so diligently lately on refining my sample website on Blogger, located at: www.wrightsample.blogspot.com. What fun it is to see an uninspired, text-less, very bloggy site (okay, I'm just making up words like mad here) come to life and become a real boy! I mean... (sorry, Pinocchio had a real effect on me as a kid) a real website! I'm so excited to send out my sales letters to local businesses to encourage them to utilize my services to get themselves a web presence. These days everyone must have a website!

The sad part is that my own blog sucks. It's so boring to work on your own sites (for me)! Just like when I do bookkeeping, the last thing I want to do is balance my own checkbook.

Anyway, Onwards and Upwards!

Making Paper Out of Paper

2011-12-16T10:47:00.002-05:00

I remember when I was at a work party many years ago, this young girl around 9 with a surprisingly husky voice for her age and gender came up to me with this oddly shaped gizmo made out of paper, plastic, and... oh who am I kidding, I have no idea what the hell this thing was... and proclaimed, "I made stuff out of other stuff."

It seriously was one of the ugliest creations I've ever seen, but her sentiment was one of the most beautiful. I love people who are able to "repurpose" (I hate that word, but it fits) doo-dads (that one isn't much better) into awesome works of art or items of use around the home.

I'm happy to say that I think I'm finally going to make stuff out of other stuff too! I've been dying to make my own paper since I was a kid. I was always too cheap to buy a paper making kit (remember, this was back in the old days before the internet, so you had to order from a catalog), so once I tried to do it without a deckle. Stupid move! The resulting "paper" was more like a mooshy ball of pulp that sat in my mom's breezeway until I had the heart to admit defeat and allowed her to throw it out.

Well I'm a big girl now, and my obsession with paper is about to rise to the next level! What's that? Oh yes. I will certainly keep you updated on my progress. It won't be for a couple of weeks, so do you think you'll be able to contain your excitement until the new year? Hope so!

Oops.

2011-11-29T19:44:00.000-05:00

Sorry to sound like Rick Perry (jeez I almost couldn't remember his name he's so old news by this point), but I almost deleted my blog. Oops.

I guess I shouldn't say "almost", but I switched to a new gmail address, tried to migrate everything over that was associated with the old one, and let's just say it's been confusing as hell.

So what's been going on lately? Work, mostly. Tonight, however, I'm not working... I'm watching videos about making paper. I happened to come upon this adorable youtube channel of some women who are craft-o-mathematicians (this word makes sense to me, so deal with it) and sell their stuff on etsy. I am so terribly uncrafty but would love to be. I can't come up with original ideas of my own, but yet I have this constant yearning to make stuff. As I mentioned in an old blog post I wanted to make some homemade chapbooks. Well that was over four months ago, and... I haven't done squat.

I'm extremely talented at killing time. And that's not a bad thing (trust me). But I need some more wholesome activities. I can spend hours (days) on the internet "research". Research can mean anything from trying to analyze the family dynamic of people on Facebook I've never met by looking through their online photos - to learning about how to make paper without actually intending on ever making it.

And I don't actually have time to do this, either. But, my heart craves paper creation and maybe a little ink to dab onto it in the form of a word or two. I need to do it. I should. I might. I probably won't. No, I should. You're right. I must. I won't. But maybe I will.

Now I think I'll research "free online games". Yes... Yes...

Occupy This Wonderful Life

2011-10-26T23:03:00.000-04:00

I'm watching the Occupy Wall Street protests warily. Firstly, I will say that I support the cause 100% - and cannot, simply cannot fathom why anyone wouldn't. I mean geez... who doesn't get pissed off at tech support for having to talk to someone in Zimbabwe when you need computer assistance? Who doesn't get annoyed at their credit card company when they raise their rates exponentially? Who does loathe their bank for charging hidden fees and being jerks in general.

However, I do feel a little bit like the protestors are anxious to be arrested. And not in a "I took one for the team" way, but in a "dude, I totally got arrested" way. I don't like hearing whispers about folks antagonizing police officers - throwing things at them and such. Now I don't even know if that's true, but chances are, when you get a large group of people together, someone's gonna do something stupid. I just hope they keep these protests peaceful. Poignant, effective, and principled... but peaceful.

However number two, I just have to return to those who say things like, "Why dontcha occupy a job?" or, "I went to school, worked hard, and I'm doing fine. So whatever, corporations/government/whomever don't effect me." It's really easy to lose a job. And on top of that, if big corporations weren't given an easy ride, there'd be more to go around. Why would you not want all you're entitled to - since you clearly act entitled?

In conclusion, I just want to direct your focus to a little movie I once watched called, "It's a Wonderful Life". You may have heard of it. The star of the movie is a charming, caring, lovely man named George Bailey who had his life ruined by the greedy rich old Mr. Potter. Yes, George learned in the end that his community would be there to support him, because of his kind heart...

... but that still doesn't mean we shouldn't turn Mr. Potter over in his wheelchair and beat him up like Dana Carvey did in the old SNL sketch.

Too lazy to check this post for typos, so posting now!

Waking Up

2011-10-21T10:24:00.000-04:00

Jeez, I start taking B Vitamins after a long break and all of a sudden my brain is working again.

I've been 10 times more productive than usual (wait, 10 X zero is still zero, though... ) I'm currently working on a concept for simplifying web content for clients who are too confused/unmotivated/overwhelmed to create a website. It's going to be called the T.I.P.E.S. Model (unless I fiddle with it). More information on that to come when I finalize it. I should really call it the B-12 Model, but maybe I'll save that for my "Wake the Hell Up and Get Some Work Done" project.

I'm also developing a sample Wordpress "website" for clients who don't have much to spend, but really need a web presence. In my opinion, EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS A WEBSITE. Every business - no matter how small; no matter what kind of business.

Here's where I'm at with it at the moment: http://wrightsample.wordpress.com/about/

Anyway, just checking in for all my cyberstalkers to read what I'm up to. :)

Golly, I Love Blogging!

2011-10-16T09:11:00.000-04:00


My new biz card... Beiging it up! (Not to be confused with "Beijing It Up", an experimental musical from the 70's.)

Jeez. Day jobs can certainly suck the life out of you, can't they? It's so easy to blog, especially about your own life (with the exception of having to filter out any personal or possibly offensive information). But I keep up with it so infrequently that every time I log into Blogger, there are all new features, interfaces and gadgets. So not only do I have to keep up with writing, I have to re-learn half the stuff that's on here.

Anyway, I'm trying like mad to brainstorm ideas on how to get writing jobs. I really would love to increase my work for individuals (as opposed to businesses), because I think they are a very unique and often bypassed type of client. So many people need help writing letters to government agencies, businesses, and even loved ones. I just think it would be a fun idea to help individuals write - mostly because the benefit of writing for businesses is to increase cash flow, but the benefit to writing for individuals is to increase peace of mind (or improve quality of life). I just can't get quite the right angle on it though... but by all means, if you need help writing a letter (or something else), please let me know. I can certainly help with resumes, but let's think out of the box a bit!

The other thing I'm trying to figure out is why people keep clicking through to my Vegetarianism Blog by googling about vegetarianism and astrology. What are you guys looking for, exactly? Tell me!

I'm getting new businesses cards soon. Can't wait!

Etsy, I Guess-tsy?

2011-07-18T18:20:00.001-04:00

Oh my jeeeeeeeeeeez I am going out of my mind with boredom. For the past few months - well a year even - I've had enough going on in my life to keep my brain challenged. That came out wrong. Anyway, after beginning a book on writer's block, I promptly shut it again in search of something to do. After pursuing one intention, I immediately derailed myself and started investigating Etsy. I honestly can't even remember having the initial desire to do so, but I did and it's done. I've got a shop, and I'm selling off copies of "Instant Love Advice".

Buy Instant Love Advice for Women on Etsy

Of course you can get it cheaper on Amazon, and it would save me some time and energy, but who am I to judge where you shop? I plan to create some homemade chapbooks - which I've wanted to do for a longgggg time. I'm really excited about it... until I actually have to start working on it. (Yeah, I'm one of those.)

Anyway, that's about the only thing I accomplished this morning. Well, not the only thing, but it's the only thing I'll tell you here.

Sorry, I'm trying to be more mysterious. Is it working?

Listening to Nature's Conversation

2011-07-15T08:52:00.001-04:00

The best part about listening to Mother Nature speak is that you can't really become part of the conversation unless you are silent.

This is the latest of my 50 billion "projects". I purchased a Flip camera a few months ago, and I want to start taking some videos. Not sure of what yet... or how many. Flip videos take up an enormous amount of room on my now 4+ year old Dell. I definitely need to buy a new computer, but I'm loathe to take that expensive step.

Anyhow, I just wanted to share this one with you today, because I think it's a good one. One of the reasons I took these is because I want something to watch in the dead of winter... just to give me something to work towards... something to get me through. (Hopefully it comes through as HD in this posting.)

So enjoy. And Happy Friday!

From Expression to Action - But Is It Wrong Still?

2011-07-11T22:54:00.000-04:00

In my last post I complained about the lack of purposeful protest of the placard-bearers at the Casey Anthony trial. However, admist all of that "all talk and no action" I was heartened to hear of the a new bill being proposed, the eponymously named "Caylee's Law", after the victim in this case. After all, of all the wrongs Casey Anthony committed, not reporting her daughter missing - well... ever... it was her mother who finally made the call, so it wasn't 31 days that it took her - she was simply forced into it - was an act no short of criminal. And thusly, Oklahoma native Michelle Crowder pulled a petition up by her grassroots bootstraps in an attempt to make it a felony not to report your child missing within 24 hours.

And amazingly, states are listening. I haven't researched how many and who, but I've heard New Jersey, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky are among those considering the law. And, of course someone has to rain on the parade. The Huffington Post declares it a "bad idea", stating that the petitioner didn't consult law enforcement and had other criticisms of the bill.

Now I admit I know next to nothing about online petitions and how they mature from a .com to a .felony (Schoolhouse Rock didn't have internet, so I'm at a loss... ), but is it the responsibility of the petitioner to write up valid legal copy? I mean, do lawmakers just take the bill and vote on it without any revision? I dunno, it seems like it's more their responsibility to sort out all the details. If they don't like the 24-hour deadline (which I tend to agree is a little harsh... in all the movies don't they say you can't report a missing person until 24 hours has passed? So at what point exactly can or should you call?) - then they could have made it three days or so.

Regardless, I feel like any time anyone tries to make a little positive change, it makes a mess instead. Basically what I'm saying is:

Boy. This world is messed up.

I much preferred the other HuffPo experience I had today - they posted this awesome video below of a young Anthony Wiener having his first gay experience. No, it isn't. But if you watch it, you'll get the joke.

Mobbed by Mob Mentality

2011-07-08T08:50:00.000-04:00

I'm a little grossed out by humanity lately.

The Casey Anthony verdict was shocking. I'll admit I didn't think they had enough specific evidence against her - for instance, she theoretically could have left Caylee with a boyfriend for a little while, and he could have been the one that actually killed her. However, she is definitely guilty of being an accomplice - beyond a reasonable doubt. I personally do not believe their was sufficient evidence to give her the death penalty (a sentence which I used to support, but as I get older it seems more and more repulsive), but she should have been found guilty of Aggravated Manslaughter.

Anyway. Of course I'm perplexed by the NOT GUILTY NOT GUILTY NOT GUILTY verdicts. However, the national uproar, the angry mobs, the 24-7 coverage of the outrage... why is everyone so upset over this case? Children are murdered all the time. God knows child molesters frequently "get off" on their charges. While I completely and entirely support their expression, I wonder why they don't join a group that helps find missing children, or volunteer at a battered women's shelter. You know, do something instead of just shouting.

And that makes me feel like a jerk to feel that way. I am just so tired of angry mobs. It seems like in the U.S. that we excel at complaining, but fail to change anything. Many who know me personally might find this a hypocritical statement, as I'm fairly proficient at running my mouth. In fact, I'm doing so right now. Regardless, there are many more peaceful nations in the world. Let's try to emulate them instead of spreading more anger around. What was it that Ghandi said?

Heavenly Hell in the Courtroom

2011-06-30T08:40:00.000-04:00

So, I'm pretty much completely addicted to the Casey Anthony Trial. It's almost like a religious experience for me because Jose Baez resembles the Devil, while Jeff Ashton (the new platonic love of my life) is kinda like God. Of course, like most people, I believe Casey is guilty as sin, and I have to admit I'm pretty happy to see that she does not have the most effective legal team. After watching the OJ trial (another past obsession) and seeing him get off, I'm happy be confident that history will not repeat itself.

Ashton's brilliant cross examinations have been rapturous! His incredulous squints and palms-to-the-sky shrugs may very well come across as immature elsewhere, but I have to say that I enjoy his exasperation at Baez' incompetence. But what really moves me about the whole case is the fascinating dynamic between the members of the Anthony Family. I know, most people think that all four of them are full of shit. Call me a sucker, but I feel enormous empathy for Lee, Cindy and George. They've all had emotional breakdowns on the stand and, in my opinion, are entirely sympathetic creatures.

So why am I writing a blog about this? Because I'm obsessed, you dolt! I had to admit it before the whole thing is over. Are you watching with me? Are you watching today, when I won't be near a TV? And are you going to take copious notes so I don't miss a thing? If I miss Casey on the stand, I'm gonna be pissed.

A Note on Day Jobs

2011-06-22T10:44:00.000-04:00

"Day jobs" are the bane of any artist's existence, unless you are lucky enough to be gainfully employed by some wonderful organization that pays you to create, express and enhance. I have some side jobs that don't involve writing. These jobs enable me to bolster my bank account and alleviate the guilt of extraneous purchase like a pint (or three) at the bar, or those beautiful little $5 tubes of Burt's Bees lip shimmer.

But as reluctantly grateful I am for extra bits of cash earned from very "jobby" sources, I'm realizing that I need to thank these jobs for something else. They're reminding me that I love working alone. They're allowing me to remember how much I love writing, and how writing completes me. Through a very gentle sadness in my stomach, I recall that I need something different than rote office tasks to satisfy me.

The point of this is to remind all of the artists out there to appreciate their days jobs as avenues for financial security - and that they're okay! Jobs give us artistic people the opportunity to get a little money in the bank, while we write/paint/sing/dream up a storm at 7 a.m. or 8 p.m. I was just having a chat with a fellow writer and friend of mine, Gretchen, about writing and day jobs and how they seem to always be at odds with each other. Later on in the evening she said that you just have to keep at it and write every day. Same advice my father has been giving me for the past 25 years.

It's not easy, becoming a writer. But it's not easy being a bookkeeper, either. I know the hurdles I have to overcome in order to be a successful writer, and I will use the time I'm spending at these day jobs in order to get over these obstacles. In theory, having a day job to supplement your freelance writing income, is perfect. It is in reality, too.

So let's get going.

Attention, Cheapskates!

2010-11-04T10:12:00.000-04:00

That's right, I'm talkin' to YOU!

If you want to enter to win a FREE copy of "Thunder Destroys Me", check out John Valeri, the Hartford Book Examiner's page HERE. All you gotta do is send Mr. V. an email (follow the instructions on his page) and that's IT.

So no excuses. You can't win if you don't play. And if you don't play, that makes Jack a very dull boy. Eh? EH?!

NOW you can go.

2010-11-02T14:33:00.002-04:00

Hey, my book's out now. Whoopee!

Not much else to say, but just go out and buy, read, and enjoy. What else could there be to add?

Almost Ready.

2010-10-18T19:38:00.000-04:00

We're getting there. November 1st is only TWO weeks from today. Hard to believe it is almost here already. And now it's time to get hustling and promote this thing.

If you are interested in offering me an author interview, would like to use an excerpt from my book, or any of that other fun stuff, contact me at:

lwright5131 @ charter.net

Aaaaaaaaand yada yada yada...

Did You Know I Had a Blog?

2010-10-16T14:11:00.000-04:00

Holy crap, dude. I have been suh-LACKING!! I'm going to get back to updating my blog. In fact, "update blog" is an entry on my (now misplaced) To-Do List. Let me give you a quick rundown of what's been going on in my life:

1. Nothing.
2. "Thunder Destroys Me" is coming out in two weeks or so. Holy crap, Lisa! Get cracking!
3. Personal life drama to the max... of the high school variety. (Everyone's fave.)
4. Laziness, lack of sufficient income, and a general sense of dissatisfaction with my life. I am a writer, after all... throw in some irresponsible drinking and I've got potential for posthumous recognition of my talents! (That was a joke; did it make any sense?)
5. Over the summer I had a wonderful tan, and have already lost it. 'Tis a sad affair. Back to what I call "Cadaver Countenance".

Anyway, I will try to keep up with this soon. In the meantime, feel free to pick up a copy of "The Prophet" by my personal friend and fellow Bucks County Publishing author K.J. Dahlen!

Full Steam Ahead

2010-07-12T20:45:00.000-04:00

Despite my personal life being in a state of ~insert vomit noise~ lately, I'm still quite happy that I will soon have a new novel to coddle, then cuddle. (What, you don't sleep with your books?) I have to admit, I don't love the editing process, but I can appreciate moving toward an improved version of my work. I have been slacking mercilessly on writing lately, being distracted by non-writing related jobs, laziness and...well, a sour mood. Whereas beer used to fuel many a late-night scribble, now it only produces late morning wake times.

All that nonsense aside, I'm trying to daydream about marketing a newly pressed novel - like I did in the old days: with carefree abandon. My last experience in the publishing industry was such an incredible nitemare, it's taking some mental reprogramming to remember that not everyone in publishing is evil - not to mention that I'm not personally destined for failure in all that I do.

Has no one yet told me I'm too honest in my blog entries? I just can't be anything but. I actually like to read others' blogs that are mercilessly candid. Why be anything else?

Anyway, I need to get back into "marketing mode" - which is about as foreign to me as...well, I'm a half German, half Irish woman living in Connecticut, so...as foreign to me as...the Ghetto? I don't know - I'm at a loss for analogies tonight.

Soon I shall be blissfully enveloped in the weekly two hour "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" Happy Hour on Comedy Central. Care to join?

Oh, hello...

2010-07-02T13:40:00.000-04:00

Well I'm finally just getting back into Normal Brain Mode (whatever that is). About a week after my last posting I got dumped by my boyfriend (in name only), and then did that whole "Where the Hell am I?" thing for about a month.

Then, things started getting better. Unfortunately it happened right after I printed I.L.A., so that project got pretty much sh&t on.

But onward and upwards, right? Out of nowhere, I found out a fellow author who wrote for my previous publishing company had started his own publishing company. Long story short, I sent him a manuscript and he has since sent me a publishing contract.

So "Thunder Destroys Me" has life in it yet. Which is wonderful. I have had a major hankering for fiction (instead of the very left-brained work I've been doing almost exclusively lately), but haven't had many good ideas. Here's hoping the new book will get me back in that mindset a little.

So, all is not too bad here.

In closing, an enjoyable video.

Dylan Moran

Headaches, Among Other Things...

2010-04-17T14:34:00.000-04:00

There are few things more satisfying than viewing the listing of your own book on amazon.com. Well, of course I also get excited for brand new office supplies, the ABC Family dramedy Greek, and green smoothies. So maybe you can't relate.

There are drawbacks to this listing, however. The worst part about having a book listed on amazon means that it's the beginning (or shortly after the beginning) of the marketing phase of your book. This is my least favorite part about writing. I revel in the long hours staring at blanks sheets of paper, I enjoy coming up with dozens of bad ideas until a good one comes, but trying to sell others on my creative expression? Oh God...it's horrid. It's like having a child that you love more than anything, and then having to parade them around on stage while shouting through a bullhorn, "Look at this kid! Look at the way he walks around - isn't he something? And look at that face? Don't you just love him?"

It's as gruesome as that for me. Yuck.

But, I'm plodding along, trying to find some way to learn a little humility through this whole thing. Sometimes I could use being embarrassed/cut down to size/publicly humiliated. It does a soul good, you know.

Time

2010-04-14T18:33:00.000-04:00

It's not just me, is it? I feel as though I had more "free time" when I was gainfully unemployed, than now - when I am woefully underpaid and overworked. I think part of that is due to the fact that when you work for yourself you feel as though you have to get everything done. When you're working for someone else - you (unfortunately) just don't care as much. Let's face it, business owners and the self-employed have a lot more to do than most employees.

Maybe that's an unfair blanket statement. But I think those of us who work for ourselves can understand exactly what I mean. It's not just the workload, it's the guilt of "did I do enough today?" and the worry of "should I even be doing this at all?" All of these type of factors make the day much more draining.

However, it remains to be vastly more rewarding and enjoyable than any 9-5 (or 7-3) I've ever worked.

Agree/disagree?

Oh dear!

2010-04-05T20:39:00.002-04:00

What length has separated us! I have been remiss in updating my wildly popular internet blogular.

There is much or none to report as of today. The final draft (well, one of five) has been submitted for approval, and a proof copy should be on its way to my humble abode in a couple of weeks I think. I'm pretty excited, but a little tenacious at the same time, considering my last foray into the publishing world was less than spectacular - and more than disastrous.

I do love finishing a project though - those who know me, know that I'm often rambling about being a "goal oriented person", and feel much more satisfaction from a completed task than the journey.

So, "Instant Love Advice for Women" will be in mine - and your - hot little hands by the time Summer comes. Ooooh, goodie!

How Do You Write an Email?

2010-02-25T10:18:00.000-05:00

I love email. In fact, I love it to death. Some people say that email and other Internet-related communications are going to make people less sociable. I couldn’t agree less. Facebook (though it does get on my nerves at times), has reconnected me with people I haven’t seen in years, and email is the best way to reach me. I’ll answer right away, and I’ll be much less cranky than if I have to answer a phone. (Not to mention the fact that I have limited minutes, so I feel like I’m always on a timer.)

However, writing business-related emails is often a very long and involved process. If you’re having some trouble writing an important email, I want to give you a step-by-step list of how I get my emails completed in no less than two hours. Behold.

#1.    I write the greeting of my email.

#2.    I call my mother, asking her opinion on how I should respond.

#3.    I ignore my mother’s advice, and head over to youtube for “research”.

#4.    I find a good video of David Cross doing stand-up. I sample as many David Cross videos until I find one that’s offensive, and then I get irritated that all stand-up has to degrade into such vulgarity.

#5.    I write the first paragraph of my email.

#6.    I check my facebook. Not enough time has passed since I last checked it, and none of my lazy bastard friends are multi-taskable enough to update at their stupid jobs.

#7.    I think I’ve earned a seltzer. Psshhhhhht.

#8.    I write the second paragraph of my email. Badly.

#9.    I check youtube for a new David Cross video, but come across The Strokes video for “Juicebox” with Cross in it. Although I hate the video, I love The Strokes, so I let it play in the background while I finish off my email.

#10.    After the song ends, I reread the email over. It sounds horrible, and needs some major editing. It’s about this point I realize I’m hungry, so I make lunch.

#11.    The phone rings. Why does everyone interrupt me while I’m busy? Don’t they know I’m in the middle of lunch?

#12.    I get off the phone. Now having some distance from the first draft, it’s much easier to edit. I rewrite with ease.

#13.    Finally satisfied with my email, I hit “send” and get back to my videos. I have an epiphany about the connection between stand-up comedy and life. We are all comedians, testing out our material on an audience: the world. No wonder we are all uptight nutcases – we’re on stage. All of life’s a stage. That’s good shit. That’s original, right? Sounds familiar, but only because it rings so true. Where’s my pen?

All this in only 2 ½ hours. People think when you work from home, you’re not actually “working”. I beg to differ.

Forgive Me Conan, for I Have Cynned...

2010-01-27T12:59:00.000-05:00

I've been a positive thinking advocate for many years now. Notice I said "advocate", not "practitioner". Well, Conan O'Brien schooled me about being cynical on his final show, which by now I'm sure you've seen.

So now, whenever I say something cynical (which doesn't happen entirely too often, only because I spend the bulk of my day alone in silence), I feel compelled to joke, "I'm being cynical." All joking aside, however, I am surprised at how often this phrase is applicable to my words. How'm I gonna break this habit? Any suggestions?

Hmmph. Nobody's probably gonna have advice for me anyway, so why even ask...

(P.S. I love Andy Richter!)

New Year, New Book, New Challenges

2010-01-20T20:59:00.000-05:00

Out of nowhere, a couple of weeks ago I restarted an old project from the Summer of '09. It originally began as something I kept calling a "Choose Your Own Adventure", but for advice. Let's see if I can explain this: You would turn to page 1, and it would ask you, "What is your problem about?" It would give you a certain number of choices, including a relationship problem, work problem, family problem, health problem or whatever. If you chose "family problem", you would turn to the indicated page, where it would then ask you what member of the family was causing the issue - and so on, and so forth, until you got to the exact nature of your dilemma.

Though it's probably already obvious to you, it took me some time to realize, despite my initial excitement for the project, that it was going to be one hell of a doozy. I thought I could cover every problem imaginable, and give a brief suggestion to help. (If that doesn't sum up my neurotic need to solve people's problems, then don't know what does.)

Anyway, I whittled it down to women's romantic relationship problems only. But now, the exciting part:

I printed off my first draft today! There is no better feeling than printing that first complete draft, on lily white paper (well, on one side, at least), just waiting for its virgin read. 'Course I can't say that I'm excited to begin the editing process, but I am excited that the first step is done.

The next step was beginning my relationship blog, which I (sleepily) titled "The Relationshipper". You can find it at www.relationshipper.blogspot.com. I have about 10 questions ready to answer and post. I'm so excited, but a little daunted by the challenge. I didn't think it would actually upset me, but some of the questions really tugged at my heart. Some people have so much in life to deal with, and I send them my sincere love and best wishes.

Anyway, off to attempt to organize the zillions of things I have peripherally signed myself up for when I decided to self-publish a new book.

Don't forget, you too can send me a question to be answered. Just write me at: lwright5131@charter.net.

Writing Away From Home

2010-01-11T10:14:00.000-05:00

I don't get away much. I'm actually loathe to travel - for various reasons too numerous to list here - but had to make a trip to the Boston area, which is about 3 hours from where I live. Long story short, I was excited to have the opportunity to write for a few hours in a hotel room without my usual distractions, such as my neighbors, my cat, and even my "stuff". You know the "stuff" I'm referring to: the snack closet, the bed, the television, and the plethora of doo-dads that can single-handed obfuscate your focus and diminish your productivity.

So, after a long drive, and an even longer social event, I arrived at my hotel room after taking a confusing and swear-strewn route determined by "Jill" my GPS buddy and receiver of many fowl nicknames. I was able to work for a couple of hours, pushing through my exhaustion and malaise. I completed one obligation, and the next ones on my list were met with less than stellar concentration.

I eventually gave up and went to bed around 8 p.m., drifting off to dreamland and waking up periodically to the sound of stomping feet and screams of children in the hotel hallway, surrendering to the fact that I would not be enjoying my much-anticipated private writing time that night.

Upon arriving home, the second my butt hit my beloved couch, I knew that everything would be all right. The familiar sounds of my neighbors arguing, snoring and talking to their pets was somehow comforting. I knew once Monday morning arrived, that I would be a stronger writing machine than ever.

So the question is, do you write better at home, or away from it all?

P.S. As an aside whine, I found out too late that Julian Casablancas was playing a show only one night before I would be in Boston. The depression has only just subsided, mostly due to a forced repression of my heartbreak.