After winning NaNoWriMo, on my first attempt, I followed suggestions to put away the manuscript for a period of time before beginning the edit process. Now I'm ready to unwrap those pages, and start all over. I intend to post updates on the editing process, and the frustrations experienced. This should be good!

This has gone on long enough.

I have ignored this blog, whom I will call Wilfred,  through no fault of its own. I now stand before the judgement of the blog.

You know the kind of judgement:

• What is the password?
• Where do I find the darned blog anyway?
• When was the last posting?

In my defense, though I am not sure that it matters. (An old friend once said "Never explain, never complain.)

I volunteer with three different organizations, teach 3 or 4 classes from September through June, have young grandchildren close by, have 3 blogs, and try to write.

This year, I signed up for NaNoWriMo, and was successful in writing a novel over 50,000 words in the month of November. I have come away from that experience with a new focus.

I will commit to you that:

1. I will contribute to this blog on a regular basis
2. I will make it worth your while
3. I will update you on the steps and progress of my revision of the novel

Many thanks for your understanding, dear blog

Alice Munro

I picked up a copy of "My Best Stories" which is a collection of stories by Alice Munro, forwarded by Margaret Atwood. I ashamed to say that, as a consistent reader since my early years, I had not been drawn to Alice Munro.

Some of my in-laws came from the same, Western-Ontario country, and it was a revelation to read (and hear) the voices with the dry, strict interpretation of what life is and how it should be lived. The story about the turkey farm and how the process of getting the birds to market was both magnetic and distracting. It will be some time before I can eat turkey again.

I just sat through a seminar about cumulative sentences and it has inspired me to re-visit the opening scene of my novel (yes, still in progress!).

I have heard from a number of sources that clear and concise writing is what we should aspire to. This seems to lean me in the right direction insofar as Freelance Writing is concerned. However, as I try to write a novel, or novella, I find that I need more tools to get my vision across.

I can take advice from a number of sources but should be able to pick and choose which specific pieces of advice to use--or try to use.

Using cumulative syntax may be a road that I should follow.

Yes, it definitely HAS been a while! However, I feel goog things coming. I am more focused on my novel and think I know what to do next. I promise to update this regularly!!!

I have been volunteering at the Parkside Centre here in Sudbury ( www.theparksidecentre.ca ) and am on the Board of Directors. I have written the landing page for our new website, and will continue to update it.

I am also the Vice President of the Sudbury Astronomy Club and have just become responsible for the monthly newsletter.

More to come....

Here we go! I've spent the last few months joining groups and following a few different blogs. I have articles and instruction manuals piling up in my computer, and have put the novel on the back burner to move in a different direction----Freelance Writing!

My contact list is current and I can't wait to get my first query.

Homework for tonight is to re-write an exisitng blog or ad--I'll keep you posted.

Pete