What's Going On?
A little of this and some of that.
While working on a few Halloween articles about some of my favorite television horror hosts and illustration icon Leroy Neiman, I thought I’d just throw a quick update post out there.
Writing:
Hot on the heels of my last post about struggling with writing motivation, I got a burst of inspiration and finally (after 11 years) put a bow on what started as a NaNoWriMo project and became my very first Kindle Vella story, “The T.E.M.P Agency”. I felt proud, relieved, and satisfied to bring that story to a close. I remember it being stuck in my head about a year before I started writing it. Of course, back then I had no idea just where the story would take me and how the characters would develop but I knew it would be a fun ride. I guess it just goes to show that letting things simmer, sometimes, is worth the wait.
For whatever reason, I’ve found that journaling doesn’t do a whole lot for me. Maybe I’m doing it ‘wrong’ or missing a component, but I’m not getting any sort of satisfaction from putting my thoughts down every (well, almost every) day. People keep saying it’s therapeutic but, honestly, it’s been more of a chore than anything else. I would still like to stick with it and maybe I’ll have some sort of epiphany, and all will become clear in the journaling world. Then again, maybe it won’t.
So, if you’re an avid journaler (and I know some of you reading this are), drop some tips or tricks in the comments to make me enjoy it because I really want to. I even bought a new Traveler’s Notebook to take the place of my old journal (on the left) when it’s full. I like Traveler’s because you can just pull one notebook out, store it, and replace it with another when you’ve filled it. My original journal, while it looks cool, isn’t very utilitarian in that way.
Entertainment:
My wife and I were happy to hear that Doc Martin is back, even if it is the final season (booo!). We fell in love with the show last year and have already binged all 9 seasons…twice. If you’ve never given it a look and like smart, British dramedy you will enjoy it. We also gave the new Quantum Leap a try. We were both big fans of the original and, after the first episode, we’re on the wait-and-see side of things, but we’re interested in seeing how it develops and willing to give it a chance.
Life:
Finally, for anyone who hasn’t heard the state of Florida was hit by a Category 4 hurricane named Ian. It made landfall on the West Coast, cut across central Florida to the Atlantic, then slammed into South Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane. I live on the East Coast, and it crossed just a bit north of us as it moved across the state. We were lucky because it kept tracking south and east as it moved across and if it had kept on that track, we would have been hit head-on. I thank God that all we had was a 2-day power outage and that was it. A bit inconvenient, but nothing like what people in the Southwest have to deal with. My wife’s brother lives up the road and they offered us a room in their new (and huge) home to stay in until our power was restored. We were very fortunate, no doubt.
So, what’s going on with you? Any new shows/movies that we should check out? Any new writing projects? How is Substack treating you and do you think it’s worth your time as a writing platform?
Let me know!
Until next time—
Whew! Glad you fared well through the storm, Mark. That one was really bad! I’ll have to check out The T.E.M.P. Agency--always looking for my next read, and it seems a good way to celebrate your milestone!
I was a journaled for years and years, but you know what I’ve just realized? I may not be anymore. When I sit down to write, it’s a letter. Whether that be a letter to a friend, a child, or a letter that I intend to post here, that’s what it is. So I guess I don’t look at it as journaling anymore. I jot down notes of things I want to recall when writing, but I can’t say I truly journal.
My writing techniques have definitely morphed this year in unexpected ways. I think you just have to find what works for you and go with it.
Great post, Mark! Glad you fared okay in the hurricane.
I have a Traveler's Notebook too - their passport size, so that it fits in my pocket. I use that to make any notes that come to me when I'm out on walks, at work or doing the ironing! I don't use it as a journal though.
My A5 bullet journal is a lifesaver - I'm a proponent of the original method as seen in Ryder Carroll's 'Start Here' button on bulletjournal.com - it's a very short video (like 5 minutes) which explains the whole system. It's not artsy - which is what put me off when I first came across what many people seem to call 'bullet journalling' on social media!
I don't really do any longform journalling - I rapid-log, as per Ryder Carroll. So if I'm feeling something, thinking something, I write down just one line, or even a few words, to get it out of my head and make it real. Just the act of writing - 'bad day - I hate that I have to get up in the dark' or 'Mum saw a KINGFISHER by her pond' or 'I love how J made dinner - I'm so lucky' - can make these things real, tangible and, if they need to be, dealable with! Just making tiny notes about things I want to download from my fizzing brain is an incredible tool.
It's not just a journal, though - it's a calendar, a to-do list and a wonderful friend and supporter in paper form.
:D