Welcome to my blog titled ‘Five Things’ where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can also follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

In class, we’re starting a section on mysteries and thrillers. While I’m quite comfortable writing thrillers with twisty plots and high stakes, I have to admit, I don’t know much about mysteries. I don’t really read them, and I’ve never written one. That’ll change by next month since our next creative writing assignment is a mystery, so wish me luck!
It’s October already! When we started this journey, I wondered if the fall would still be my most productive writing time, and I’m pleased to report that I’m writing all the time! Much of this can be attributed to school, where I have no choice but to make content, workshop it, and move on to the next thing. It’s a fast pace, but writing faster was one of my goals for 2024. I’m also trying to find a home for whatever I create in class, whether that’s a podcast, anthology, or expanding the work.
When I’m starting a new writing project, I’m totally stressed out until I have the infrastructure worked out in my mind. Before I know where a story is heading, including the major plot points and character arcs, I spin. For me, the heavy lifting happens in the planning. Last week, I had to write a synopsis for a novel I haven’t written yet. A synopsis, for those wondering, is a two page summary of the entire book, complete with the ending. Most writers would rather have a tooth pulled than write a synopsis. Anyway, since I loved the premise for my short story ‘Run, Harry, Run,’ which I wrote for my last workshop, I wondered if it would make a good full-length novel. Once I worked through this synopsis exercise, I decided that yes, it will, so I’m adding it to the pile of projects on my list for this school year! If you’d like to read the opening scene, you can check it out on my alter-ego’s blog post here: Short Fiction Fun!
We’re still in Nashville. All our repairs were finished, and we got our brand new windshield, but just as we were about to head out of town, no hot water! That should be fixed by today, and then we’ll continue our westward trek. If all goes according to plan, we’ll be in Albuquerque by Saturday.
“Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape.” – Cate Price

Recently, I wrote my last blog post for Inkitt, the innovative publisher I’ve freelanced for over the last three years. Usually, the topics I covered were focused on writing craft, but a few of the pieces were interviews with authors, employees, and, most recently, with Inkitt’s CEO.

When I’d prep for an interview, I’d have a few questions in mind I wanted to explore, but I’d also leave room for the conversation to evolve organically. I’ve never been disappointed by the results or by the theme that often emerged from those discussions.

The last article, titled ‘Perseverance and Flexibility: The Secret Sauce of Success,’ was a nod to the important qualities needed in a start-up, and by the team behind it, in order to thrive. As the article developed, I started thinking how those qualities applied to more than start-ups and entrepreneurs. In fact, a good balance between perseverance and flexibility seems a recipe for success in any professional environment, including a writing career.

If I’d given up on my first novel when I got stuck in a plot tangle, or when I needed to do a full-on re-write of a main character, or when I got my first round of rejections, my writing career would have fizzled out before it ever had a chance to begin. Conversely, if I wasn’t willing to pivot when my plot had gone down a murky rabbit hole, or recognize new professional opportunities that would help me develop as a writer, the resulting effect might have been the same.

I think if we consciously reflect on where we’re at with a particular project, or with our career as a whole, we’ll know which quality we need most and why we need it.

“It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.” - Albert Einstein
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” - Albert Einstein

Five Things - October 7, 2024

Monday Musings 1-17-22