IWSG: The After

Oops! First my introduction:

I’m Donna, a social worker in my day life, three time divorcee (still dating the last ex), and mother to five children. I’m over fifty years old and looking forward to the empty nest syndrome. I’m an expert procrastinator so writing is more a hobby than dedicated obsession. I have several published short stories, have completed a women’s fiction trilogy, and have many unfinished works of various lengths in fantasy, urban fantasy, contemporary, erotica, romance (dark, no HEA) and thriller/horror. I read and write in adult fiction with only occasional forays into non-fiction and YA/NA. Lastly, I’m an excellent critique partner, although my blunt feedback and snarky comments might be offensive to some.

Welcome to my blog!

The first post of 2015. How exciting; the last year has gone by so fast. As Roland Deschain (Dark Tower series; Stephen King) says: time is speeding up. School starts earlier than when I was a kid, the seasons are shorter - even though the calendar dates have not changed - and the weeks fly by like nano-second's on the geologic clock.

Christmas has come and gone, and New Years resolutions have been contemplated and possibly posted to make them official. Are you excited? Inspired by the start of a new year, a virtual blank word document of writings to come? Or are you already behind, seven days into the new world? Have you been anxiously awaiting the first Insecure Writers Support Group of 2015 (hosted by Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh and this month's helpers: Elizabeth Seckman, Lisa Buie-Collard,  Chrys Fey and Michelle Wallace ) so you can send those new year's insecurities into the blogosphere and know that you are not alone in your End Of Year transitions?

Me? Nah; I learned a long time ago that goals and resolutions were made to break, and feel guilty over. Ya know, I’m this glass-half-empty girl, so long term plans have an expiration date – whether I know the specifics or not. I've had so many upheavals in the past year or so: change of job, relocated, availability to family, changes in lifestyle and finances. I never know what is next for me in my day life or writing career. 

But I am surrounded by people who consistently plan for The After. Sometimes I’m a member of the

collective, sometimes I dig my heels in and refuse to participate - at least pro-actively.

My working family plan for their retirement: how many years until they can retire, how much they have invested, how much the monthly pay-check will be at what age, how soon to pay off house/car to live off the fixed income. Is that nagging medical problem worth filing a disability claim? Should I up my life insurance or obtain extra pharmacy/health care coverage?

Of course my very young family members are thinking about starting that retirement fund: 401k or IRA? How much can they afford to invest now and still comfortably raise a family? Should we allow for occasional WANTS in the long term NEEDS assessment? Do we invest in life insurance or gamble on health care? Is my credit report more important than my daughter’s extra-curricular school activities? Will having a college savings account deny financial aid?

And how about the writing community? The novel is written, the critique partners and beta readers all give a thumbs up it is ready for submission, the query guidelines have been adhered to, and the waiting has started. Do you write on a new project? Visit that dusty project that never seems to go anywhere but is too good to trash? Take time off to catch up with family and friends? Take a vacation or clean up around the house? Watch NetFlix until you’re so bored your Muse has to rescue you?

For me, there is always an After to THE END of . . whatever . . How do you cope with The After? After The End is written? After the end-of-year sales statement has been received and the meager income figured into the taxes? After Christmas presents have been opened and liked or disliked; after the book lunch has posted on the last date: after you click send on that query; after whatever planned celebration/event has ended? After . .  happily or not.

I'm in limbo right now; not sure where my future will lead for writing, career, family. I'm kinda okay with this lack of a plan - I'm a pantster as an author, and have always had the "luck o' the Irish" when it comes to real life destiny. Not that all my endings have been Happily Ever Afters, but they have normally been on the acceptable, even satisfactory, side. I've been UP, but rarely depressively DOWN; nowhere near a devastating bottom. Life just seems to go along in a stable consistency for me.

How about you? Does January bring a sigh of contentment and a month of new possibilities? Or are you already lamenting the months to come and all you have not yet adequately planned?