FIRST POST, NEW YEAR 2026

 Hello

I'm feeling weird about posting again. Like, restarting an abandoned hobby.

When I started this blog in 2009 by suggestion from an irl writers group friend, I never expected it to go anywhere. I'm not a real life social person, joining the writers group took a lot of courage. The in-person writers group immensely helped my writing career. The group leader was one of the most awesome people I've ever met.

I immersed a lot of my writing personality into the blog life. First, I found people that supported writing activities that encouraged new authors to stretch themselves. To invent, to challenge, to work together. I grew as a writer. I miss those early days of blogging, when the writing journey was everything.

Now, those same blogs are about the sales: how many stories have been written, how many submitted, how many sold, how much money was made, how many good reviews were written. To me, the blogs became a QVC sales event. I couldn't/can't compete; I'll never make it past amateur author. I still like a lot of those people/bloggers though. A "I knew you when" type thing. When the posts were about writing journeys. The writing world has moved on . . .

I admit, I became disgruntled when all the blogs I followed did not publish my writings. But really, I miss those days of writing for the joy of putting words on (computer) paper and enjoying the creation of a story. So, back to the proverbial drawing board for me. I have written. I continue to write for my own pleasure. I have published my short stories in off-beat venues. I may indi-publish my novels, or a collection of my short stories. Someday.

My new year's pledge to myself is to write several times a week. Something new, something I lost, something that may not go anywhere except as a diary entry. Sort of. But all just cuz I enjoy writing, even if no one but me ever reads it. Cuz, ya know; I like writing stories. Even if those stories never go beyond my computer.

New Year's resolution: post twice a month, write three days a week. That qualifies as several times a week to write; yes?

Happy New Year every one. I hope all your writing/publishing/sales dreams come true.