Checking In
Jul. 2nd, 2018 09:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yonkyuSo, I've realized that it's been a while since I posted anywhere and shared an update.
The last time I was here I inquired about some simple challenges that I could participate in to help support my writing in baby step form. So, I signed up for spn_summergen this year and received my six prompts to fill and interesting enough I was able to fill more than I thought I was from the beginning. I wrote over 4K words and I can't believe it and the best part of it all is that I'm really happy and excited to share it. It's been a long time since I felt happy with my work and what I was creating for a while. I can only hope that the person likes the story and surprise coming their way. I'm happy with how my writing is coming along. I felt this time I took my time with writing it and completing the first draft, then reading it multiple times and fixing anything that seemed off, whether I picked it up or my betas. Most of the time I get so upset in the editing stage from what is shared with me by the betas that I shut down and get so emotional that I fear I can't fix up the story. Then I take some time to breathe and put the story away for a few days and then I'm able to work through my edits and get it done. So, I have to say I'm very happy with my entry for spn_summergen that I hope you are on the lookout for it. If not, I'll claim it once I'm told I can!!
Another thing I've been doing has been karate tournaments. I've been training for 20 years now and for a long time, I thought I was just ok and good enough to get by. I'm happy to say that I've made some nice progress in learning that I have the ability to compete with my skills. That I belong in the senior's division of amazingly talented women. They help inspire me to keep pushing myself and trying to get better. My kata, open hands form, has improved greatly and is more powerful and strong compared to what it was. I've gotten some great feedback to keep improving on my kata that I've placed 2nd and 1st place. Placements don't matter to me, it's just nice to see the improvements and feel the improvements in my body. I also started competing with a weapons kata that I knew about 10 years ago and recently just learned over again. I've competed with it 3 times now and it's getting better slowly. At least my handling of the weapon is better and stronger.
Anyway, I've been reminded to think of my writing journey like my karate journey and it's helped me understand more about my journey with writing. Knowing that I need to take the time to complete my first draft to start off with. Something I realized I wasn't doing in the first place. And I was pushing myself quickly into the editing process and being upset with feedback that I took on a personal level when it wasn't meant towards me in a personal way. Anyway, with my newest story, I completed the first draft, took my time reading it and fixing what felt off, and not getting overly upset by feedback and thinking about what is being said about my story and not about me. And then I read it multiple times before I sent it off to beta and then submitting it. So I'm feeling better about my personal growth in karate and writing!!!
The last time I was here I inquired about some simple challenges that I could participate in to help support my writing in baby step form. So, I signed up for spn_summergen this year and received my six prompts to fill and interesting enough I was able to fill more than I thought I was from the beginning. I wrote over 4K words and I can't believe it and the best part of it all is that I'm really happy and excited to share it. It's been a long time since I felt happy with my work and what I was creating for a while. I can only hope that the person likes the story and surprise coming their way. I'm happy with how my writing is coming along. I felt this time I took my time with writing it and completing the first draft, then reading it multiple times and fixing anything that seemed off, whether I picked it up or my betas. Most of the time I get so upset in the editing stage from what is shared with me by the betas that I shut down and get so emotional that I fear I can't fix up the story. Then I take some time to breathe and put the story away for a few days and then I'm able to work through my edits and get it done. So, I have to say I'm very happy with my entry for spn_summergen that I hope you are on the lookout for it. If not, I'll claim it once I'm told I can!!
Another thing I've been doing has been karate tournaments. I've been training for 20 years now and for a long time, I thought I was just ok and good enough to get by. I'm happy to say that I've made some nice progress in learning that I have the ability to compete with my skills. That I belong in the senior's division of amazingly talented women. They help inspire me to keep pushing myself and trying to get better. My kata, open hands form, has improved greatly and is more powerful and strong compared to what it was. I've gotten some great feedback to keep improving on my kata that I've placed 2nd and 1st place. Placements don't matter to me, it's just nice to see the improvements and feel the improvements in my body. I also started competing with a weapons kata that I knew about 10 years ago and recently just learned over again. I've competed with it 3 times now and it's getting better slowly. At least my handling of the weapon is better and stronger.
Anyway, I've been reminded to think of my writing journey like my karate journey and it's helped me understand more about my journey with writing. Knowing that I need to take the time to complete my first draft to start off with. Something I realized I wasn't doing in the first place. And I was pushing myself quickly into the editing process and being upset with feedback that I took on a personal level when it wasn't meant towards me in a personal way. Anyway, with my newest story, I completed the first draft, took my time reading it and fixing what felt off, and not getting overly upset by feedback and thinking about what is being said about my story and not about me. And then I read it multiple times before I sent it off to beta and then submitting it. So I'm feeling better about my personal growth in karate and writing!!!