Trial and Error: The Quest for Success

a.k.a. Speak Up, Stupid.

Onward and Upward!

I’m glad that you’re back here with me today. I’ve been thinking about the structuring I’m going through. Having to find new ways to write, and sometimes new ways to draw.

For those of you who don’t know, last year in 2022, I had a bit of a breakdown. OK, that’s a complete understatement. My brain fractured. And what I ended up doing in the following 72 hours was UNpublishing everything that I had created from 2004 until that time.

What happened after that was a re-discovery of how to function as a writer and an artist.

That is a huge thing.

So when I moved here to Substack, I already owned all the tools to write novels, publish books, design covers, podcast, anything that I wanted to do. The challenge was, I was a different person. I had additional needs that I didn’t require in 2022. My mind wasn’t the same, my body wasn’t the same, and everything affected my creativity. So I had to experiment.

The first thing I found a challenge was my organization skills.

I didn’t have any.

Which is funny, because my wife is the queen of organization. She specializes in event coordination. She sits around with a free little calendar that she pickes up from the bank, and scribbles all her notes in a little box. Yet, she is the most organized individual I know.

I panicked when I took on the challenge of launching two Substack writing opportunities with multiple releases per week.

I already have health issues. Thing is, I also have damage to my hands from a car accident, which makes typing quite challenging. So I was very grateful to a new friend on Substack, by the name of Russell Nohelty, who suggested that I try dictation instead of typing.

Back in the day, I used to use Dragon Dictation. It was a new novelty, and I learned how to use it pretty well. But as I got older, and bought new computers, I lost track of the program, and I lost interest in using it. So when Russell recommended I try dictation, I hesitated.

After all, I’m trying to be this profound writer, and that means typing.

Doesn’t it?

Well, Russell, I am dictating this entire article. I didn’t even have to find Dragon Dictate.

My Google search revealed most operating systems include basic dictation technology. And while my favorite software for writing is Scrivener, I noticed a little microphone icon in my toolbar — so I looked up how to use it. A bit of digging revealed that it was a text to speech, not a recording or dictation. That article led me to an article from Apple.

The Apple article then showed me that all I had to do was turn on dictation.

It was that simple. Absolutely crazy. Absolutely wonderful.

In under five minutes, I realized I did not forget how to dictate. Or to speak clearly into the computer, so that I could use this feature to its greatest advantage.

Thank you, Russell.

I think with a little of practice; I am going to take your advice and start dictating my books. Because I’ve been sitting here for less than five minutes, and I looked at my hands and they’re not sure, because I didn’t have to use them.

Again, thank you Russell.

Back to the Planner

My wife suggested to me I use a calendar, just like her. I am normally a list guy. Every morning, usually at 3 AM, I get up and I go to my office and I make my lists. I use a little tiny yellow pad and write each and everything that I’m going to do an order, throughout the day. I put little Chuck boxes to the left of each item, just that I can keep track of what I’ve accomplished.

But for some strange reason, since I started writing again, this tactic just doesn’t work for me. I have no idea why.

So I decided to take a chance, and drove to Walmart, and bought myself a weekly planner.

Now here’s the rub. It’s not that I don’t like planners. Even my wife told me it’s not that she doesn’t like planners. It happens to be that both of us detest sitting down and taking the time out of our Busy schedules, to actually fill out the planner.

That’s the problem.

It’s taking the time out of our busy schedule to organize our schedule, so our schedule won’t be so busy.

Sounds annoying, just saying it out loud.

But it worked. At least so far, anyway. I’ve been able to map out my writing schedule, list the items by color. Blue for kidclans.com, red for lifeoffiction.com. I have three items to achieve every week for both platforms. Two articles, one community question, a chapter of a new book, and two podcasts per week.

I now have the ability to keep all tasks organized. Ticking the checkbox reminds me I have already scheduled the task. I just get to move on.

That’s brilliant!

Drawbacks to New Things

This is forcing me to expand my capacity. I’m not gonna lie to you. It’s been really challenging for me. Mainly, because I’ve not been a disciplined person in this area of my life.

But that’s OK. I’m learning.

Things worth their weight in gold always require effort, discipline, and practice. I’m achieving all three with using this dictation and a planner.

And I have to say, I’m excited.

So my suggestion to you, whether you’re a writer, an artist, or maybe you’re just one of my readers (which is awesome), is to try some new things.

Try using new tools. Try to develop new habits.

Or you can sign up as a subscriber and watch me try mine.

SUMMER CAMP UPDATE!

Uhhhh, ya know what? I’ve been so busy scrambling to develop a schedule for writing and making sure you receive material on time, I forgt to start!

…and we got 10 MORE prompts last Saturday.

Looks like I have 10 more items to add to my writing list this week soon, eh?

• An unclaimed, unregulated, or lawless region in your setting (Location)

• A settlement at the limits of the "known" or "civilized" world (Settlement)

• A job that takes its practitioners to remote or faraway places (Profession)

• An animal found in a non-populated area (Species)

• A useful plant found in a wild area of your world (Species)

• A material or natural resource that comes from a dangerous location (Material)

• A character driven by wanderlust or the desire to explore (Person)

• A cuisine from a sparse, barren or remote region in your world (Ritual)

• An iconic building or landmark representing a location (WILDCARD - Building)

• A letter sent in secret by a well-known person in your world (WILDCARD - Document)

Welp, I’ll see what I can do and bring you some good news and updats next week…where…there will be 10 more.

Hmmm.

Have a fantastic week. I need to go and recalculate my spoons.

Not sure I have enought spoons.

Conversation Starter

Is there something that you’ve learned, or something you’re trying that is new? I’d love to hear how it’s going for you!