Michele Venne's Blog, page 12

Finally

Finally, it rained in Phoenix! Last year, the monsoons began at the end of May and continued through October. This year, they’ve been absent until last night. Some parts of Arizona have seen rain. Not a lot, and not often enough. Most of the day was cloudy. A chance of sprinkles is still possible through the night. Finally, the relentless, brutal summer temperatures have been broken.

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Making a Plan

About this time, for the past few years, I’ve started thinking about the next calendar year. Maybe it’s because my first career as a teacher meant my “year” began in August, so planning was on my mind. Or maybe I felt I needed a jump start on the next year, so I started planning earlier than December. However it began, it’s stuck with me. And though I haven’t purchased a 2024 calendar yet...

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Balls in the Air

It’s good to have a to-do list. For me, it gets items out of my head and onto paper (yes, I’m old school) so I don’t forget and so I have more mental space. I’ve found I sleep better (less tossing and turning, which is saying something), and it keeps me from feeling overwhelmed when I try to remember everything. This isn’t to say that I cross off all the items on my list every day. In fact, I don’...

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Another Obstacle

About 4 months ago, I bought an author bundle. It included ebooks, discount services, master classes, and pre-recorded webinars. I downloaded all the books, read them, took notes if they held nuggets of information, then deleted the files from my computer. None of the services were ones I use. I’m on the last master class, and about halfway through. Out of 20 classes, I got something useful from...

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It’s in the Pivot

Just as I settle into a routine, something gets snagged or shifted, and I have to pivot my time and energy. This is usually the time of year when my day job amps up. As I finish the summer sessions, I see gaps in my schedule. I know it will take a few weeks before others log time on my calendar. In this space, my mind conjures projects. The conjuring is one part, and often the easiest.

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Retreats in Two Styles

A week after the in-person writer’s retreat, and I’ve noticed a few things. First, I’m still just as resistant to write when I have other tasks to do as I was before the retreat. Second, the comparisonitis has faded. Mostly. On Sunday morning, I attended a Freewriting session. It was exactly what I had spent over seven years doing in three different writer’s groups! I was so excited!

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Writer’s Conference

Even before the pandemic, it had been a while since I attended a writing conference. Once all of my writing peers quit writing and the pandemic ended, I struggled with continuing the journey on my own. I’ve since found others to help with the steps of publication… but even this introvert likes to interact with people on occasion. When this conference came up, and only a couple of miles from home...

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Time Out

When do we notice that something mechanical doesn’t work? Usually when we need it. When is the worst time for an air conditioning unit to quit working in Phoenix? As the temps reach 116 with 35% humidity and a dew point of 65 degrees. As the unit on the roof tried pushing cold air (puffing out lukewarm air), I spent one day at home, then opted for a staycation at a nearby hotel for a couple of...

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Surreal

Surreal: something that is a bizarre mix of elements; jarring; seemingly nonsensical. This is how I would describe the space I’m in. I completed all my admin tasks (something I didn’t think would ever happen). I met my publishing deadline with The Secret Gift (available on all platforms, including my website www.michelevenne.com for $.99 until July 12). This coincides with my Tanner Trilogy...

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Moving Forward

When I plan my year, making (extremely) optimistic notes about book production and admin tasks, I don’t think about how I’ll feel when it all gets done. I’m driven more by offering stuff to readers and crossing off daily tasks than I am by celebrations. I know, I know… the little wins are important… it’s about the process, not the product… there’s more to life than just work… Half of 2023 is...

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