Dana Sitar's Blog, page 2

Nice Things (Another Day in Polyamory)

He thinks I never have anything nice to write about him. I told him my blog isn’t an autobiography; it’s a collection of the writing I like best. And that usually comes out in my most lonely, anxious, unhappy moments.

Lately most of those moments are precipitated by something to do with him. Not necessarily his fault, I’ll cede, but often with him at the center. So he doesn’t shine too brightly in my blog posts.

That’s unfair.

To even the score a little, I don’t think I shine too brightly in...

Sleeping in the Middle of the Bed

I’ve never been single before, but it seems to involve sleeping in the middle of the bed, which I think I can get behind.

Even when I’m alone, I sleep on my side of the bed. I leave his pillows intact and don’t roll past center. I used to be alone sometimes because he would go on the road without me. Then I was alone because he was with his other girlfriend. Tonight I’m alone because he’s gone on the road with his other girlfriend.

I guess I’m ready to sleep in the middle of the bed.

I wanted...

Sleeping in the Middle of the Bed (Today in Polyamory)

I’ve never been single before, but it seems to involve sleeping in the middle of the bed, which I think I can get behind.

Even when I’m alone, I sleep on my side of the bed. I leave his pillows intact and don’t roll past center. I used to be alone sometimes because he would go on the road without me. Then I was alone because he was with his other girlfriend. Tonight I’m alone because he’s gone on the road with his other girlfriend.

I guess I’m ready to sleep in the middle of the bed.

I wanted...

How to Juggle Multiple Clients Without Dropping Them

Illustration by Ramiro Roman, Jr.

As freelancers, and presumably people who have had at least one nagging (caring) parent, we’ve all heard the warning about putting all our eggs in one basket. It’s too risky! Especially when it comes to clients.

But having multiple clients has its own set of risks!

Think about the last time you had a good friend over to visit. You both had a great time, right? Good conversations, plenty of food to go around…? Now think about the last time you had, oh, t...

Insomnia Redux

3:30 a.m. Central. I was lying awake and panicking, worried I may have forgotten how to write, so I better go ahead and give this a try.

It’s insomnia or caffeine or Stefan snoring beside me; I’m not sure. The three always swirl together to form this cyclone of energy that keeps me awake, and I can never tell where it started.

Maybe I have forgotten how to write; this is just awful. I haven’t published anything in weeks. It’s all tucked away in my journal, which I thought was some attempt at...

Welcome to the Shit Show (Essay Collection Only 99 Cents on Kindle this Weekend!)

You might not have known this, but my first self-pub book was a 2011 collection of essays and short stories titled Welcome to the Shit Show. You probably missed it, because shortly after hastily releasing it as an ebook, I unpublished it with the intention to edit, polish, and re-release a stronger second edition.

Then I got busy with this business of writing and building this blog, and creative writing fell by the wayside. The collection has been “out of print” for the past two years…

Until...

Publishing 101: 5 Decisions You’ll Have to Make

You’re ready to have your bookpublished, but don’t know where to start.

Your head is cluttered with information. Do you need an agent? How should you go about getting one? Is it all even worth it?Should you self-publish? What are your other options?

One of the hardest things about writing a book is the never-ending parade of decisions you need to make. The same is true of publishing a book.

Whether it’s a question concerning the placement of a comma or that of submitting to a particular pu...

These Resources Will Help You Become a Better Writer

I know you’re here to learn how to make a living as a writer and/or improve your craft, so here’s something you won’t want to miss: The Writer’s Bundle.

I’m excited to join my friends at The Write Life in our second year of offering this killer package for writers (with all new products)! The Bundle includes nineebooks and courses on freelancing, self­-publishing, marketing,productivity ​and more — at an incredible discount.

You’ll recognize many of the names of the creators of these products,...

Overcome Writer’s Block by Going Back to Basics

Guest Post by Sarah Anton of writingleo.com

Did you ever just sit in front of the computer screen, staring at the blank page on Word, wondering how in the world you’re going to fill itwith insightful words?

Chances are that you’ve been there many times.

It’s absolutely frustrating and terrifying, especially when you’re just typing and erasing sentences for thirty minutes straight. Even the best writers experiencewriter’s block every now and then. But how can you get over it more quickly?

Go...

How Has Writing Positively Influenced Your Life? (Writing Contest)

This is my entry to Positive Writer’s 2015 essay contest.

How has writing positively influenced your life?

It’s a simple question, wide open to interpretation. And it’s one we probably don’t stop to ponder often enough as we wander through this journey of “being a writer”.

You have to stop to ask it occasionally, because the answer to this question is thereason you write.

And don’t say money. Everyone can say money. But that’s not good enough.

I used to feel compelled to write to share a message w...