Ira Heinichen's Blog, page 213

Day 2,322: The Turning Point

I got some clarity today on the job front. Praise be. I was made an offer by a new company, and I’m deciding whether or not to accept it. I think I will. It’s a decent offer. And I’d get to continue doing the work I’m doing right now, which I know is valuable to my coworkers.

So…that’s exciting, a relief, and stressful all at once. It’s change.

I also have some clarity on the writing front. A new step I’m going to take this year: I’m going to reach out to an author and see if they want to...

Day 2,321: Corona

We doomsday prepped today.

I was reading last night about the American Hospital Association’s predictions for Coronavirus over the next several months and it’s not good. At least for hospitals.

Here’s the thing…relatively healthy persons such as myself and Liz don’t have much to fear from this virus. It’s similar to the flu in that regard. It’s a serious health problem, but mostly for other people.

But, man…that’s enough. That’s enough for this to be a major problem. I spoke with my mother...

Day 2,320: Social Butterfly

Today was so much socializing! It was great

Day 2,319: It was a rough week

This week was a rough one, y’all.

I’m spent. I worked over 40 hours in the span of just three days, including a 16-hour day on Tuesday. Followed by news that my work situation is changing slightly. Hopefully only slightly. There are a couple opportunities in that regard that I’m hoping come through, but they’re not guaranteed.

Working as a contractor is always a bit precarious because of state laws that prohibit employers from using contractors as they would employees. So, nothing in the...

Day 2,318: Late

It’s late so I have to make this a quick one.

I had a good day today. I decided on what to do next with the shift in work, and in much less time than I thought I would. I usually don’t need pokes and prods in order to jump at an opportunity either, but this time, it did.

Which doesn’t surprise me. I’ve been seeking safety recently, needing it. And maybe I’m finally feeling ready to step out again a bit and stretch myself. Which feels…good.

Good day today, y’all.

So grateful for Liz and my...

Day 2,317: Change

Change is always scary. At first. And sometimes second.

But change has always been good to me. I don’t know how I forget that, but I do. And it’s true, it’s always been good. Without fail. Even deciding to write full-time in 2017 that failed in every respect save that I HAD to do it, or it would have felt like true failure: giving up. And I learned some things about myself that I didn’t know, the kind of things that will serve me for the rest of my life.

My work situation is changing. Soon....

Day 2,316: Oof

It’s 12:37am. I just got home from work

Day 2,315: Pillow Punching

Liz is punching her pillow right now for some reason. Tenderizing it, perhaps? And Coco is under the covers because it’s cold and she has he nose pressed right up against my torso. I can feel it.

It was a long, loooooong day today. Work has been crazy. But, hopefully after another sure-to-be long day tomorrow, it will be less crazy.

Going to sleep. Need to be up bright and early tomorrow!

Day 2,314: Craft

Writing craft is hard.

How do you suck in a reader with words? How do you make something come alive to them, reveal the story and its characters in a manner that makes them feel real and alive, and therefore worthy of our joy and pain?

And its not as simple as knowing what the problems are with a written piece, it’s also knowing how to FIX those problems. When someone says “this didn’t work,” or “I didn’t understand this,” how do we rewrite those problematic or confusing words in a way that...

Day 2,313:

Boy. Today was…busy for a Saturday. Which is weird, because I do actually feel kind of rested. Not completely, and I don’t know honestly if I’m going to get that from this weekend, just because of how much stuff is going on, but I did quite a lot today.

It started out with Coco waking me up right at 7:15, like she always does when I try to sleep in. But, it woke me up, so I got up and fed the pups and then took them on a walk, which was just fine, given that Liz and I were going to a special...