Michele Venne's Blog, page 7

Getting Closer

This week marks the end of the summer sessions and the beginning of the fall sessions. It’s been a lot of hours in front of the computer! Next week is part two of the rolling transitions. I’ll be on a community college campus as I begin the final class for recertification. Next week is part three of the transitions. If all goes well, I could find small pockets of time for writing.

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The Scent of Transition

With this week behind me, I can eye my calendar and know I’m five days closer to the transition that will flip my schedule. In two weeks, I’ll be straddling another transition. After three weeks, the first transition will be complete. That will open up writing time. I can’t help by peer down the calendar to the middle of October and know that at that time this rolling set of transitions will be…

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Published!

It’s finally here! My Voice: A Flash Fiction Compilation, Volume 2 is published (click the link to download for free). Completing the last three pieces wasn’t difficult. It doesn’t matter that I decided to leave out the last piece because it doesn’t detract from the whole. I’ve refrained (mostly) from telling myself, “It should have been done months ago,” so I can enjoy the feeling of achievement.

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A Pause for Breath

I like where this fella is standing. I miss being in and near water. I used to go to lakes often. Now, I’m away from water, and I don’t think I’m any better for it. Especially this time of year, which is my least favorite, I miss everything that water gives: life, buoyancy, calm, a focus for meditation, coolness. Perhaps someday soon I’ll make a trek to a body of water. In the meantime…

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Let Things Rest

I’ve learned that sometimes it’s best to let things rest. An idea, a completed manuscript, myself. As a high achiever, this concept of rest goes against the grain for me. I feel compelled to push through, to try the new idea, to start editing a manuscript right away, to tell myself I don’t have time to slow down or take time off. But when I do let things rest, everything is better for that space…

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One Day

Too cliche to add the rest of the words to the title: at a time. This morning, I was thinking, as I always do this time of year, how fantastic it would be to live in a place where there are seasons and green grass and trees and rain and less pollution and an easier cost of living (I could go on…). I reminded myself that I’m nearly half-way done with the credits needed for my recertification.

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Writing Focus

I’ve finished 3 of my 8 required college credits for my recertification. I’m almost half-way through the next class (online), working ahead in the hopes that I’ll finish early and be able to have a couple of weeks before the next and last class, a 4-credit hybrid 8-week math class, begins. During that hoped for time off, I have visions of finishing a short story for the illustrated collection and…

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Fitting Into a Box

There are parts of our lives that can easily fit into a box. Maybe our commute to a day job, family dinner on Sundays, or time at the gym four days a week. Some of the things we do fit inside our expectations. If we wanted to shake up our commute, we could take a different route. If we chose some excitement for Sunday dinners, maybe make it a potluck or ordering out instead of a home-cooked meal.

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Energy

The day has a flavor of full moon energy. I felt it in the wind blowing around smoke and dust. I saw it in my clients who weren’t prepared and had a hard time paying attention. I recognize it in my own focus. It took me a few minutes to start a flash fiction story. I thought it would go one way, and it veered hard to the left. I’ll finish it this weekend. Knowing that things can be wonky…

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Moments

This week I’ve been thinking about moments. I’m not sure if it’s the season of life I’m in, the changing of seasons where I live, or if my paid work is catching up to me. I find myself falling further and further behind on my to-do list. I wouldn’t call it “brain fog” but focusing on the present has been challenging. I’ve relied on routines for a long time to help me complete my tasks and limit…

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