So I was going to write a short NaNo Novel this month and failed, but started an interesting story and made more headway on an old one than I ever had before, so there's something.
I also edited a few pieces and got them submitted to contests and publications. 4 done for April, which means apparently I am doing that thing again. This time, I am not going to work myself stupid and burn out. This time, I have a plan, which includes several publications that accept things year-round and only doing this maniac submission marathon stuff for a few months. If I meet my goals for the next 3 months, it'll be more than 20 submissions, same as 2015.
One day, I might just be a writer, but this year, I'm not pushing myself too hard.
Last week I developed 5 canker sores at the same time, so I am trying to take things a little easier for a bit. I've also prescribed myself one glass of wine per day in an attempt to clean out the sores and chill out simultaneously.
So far so good.
My thrift books form thriftbooks.com finally came in the mail and I let myself start reading I Sing the Body Electric last night, which makes me feel a lot less like my writing is too weird for publication. It's not too weird at all. It's just not polished. Yet.
GISHWHES registration is open and I am excited about that. If you have questions, ask me! I love GISHWHES. August is going to be amazing.
Book recommendations are not a thing I usually do, but I have to say something here. If you ever feel like you're so weird and alone and crazy and sad and useless that no one can help you because no one is like you, read Jenny Lawson's Let's Pretend This Didn't Happen and Furiously Happy. They are both amazing books for us weirdoes and anyone who is feeling a little out of sorts.
Bonus points if you're in Texas and like road trips-- you can occasionally catch the author herself at Book People in Austin doing surprise signings before whisking off back to her family and home.
Also, we had the best road trip I think we've ever had as a family yesterday. We went to Aizuwakamatsu city in Fukushima prefecture, saw a castle I had not seen before, visited a historical samurai compound, and had lunch at Denny's. That probably doesn't sound special except that 1) there are no Denny's in Miyagi that I have seen and 2) this would be my 4th time eating at a Denny's in Japan in the 8 years I have lived here. Also, the menu is completely different than American Denny's. The Japanese alternative is something like a middle to high class department store restaurant. It's a little weird, but its the only place I can get a club sandwich, and I will get one just because I can.
And that's April in a nutshell.
