I didn't sign up for the July Camp, on purpose. I didn't just miss it. I KNEW that I'd never make the time to write and then I'd be disappointed in myself. I didn't even check in on the boards to see how everyone else was doing. (I like to read some of the boards occasionally. I have actually had a few ideas to use while reading the boards. They plant a seed sometimes.)
I'm also not planning to do Nano in November this year. I still have The Piper Story to revise. I haven't given up on her yet, though I'm starting to think she might have just been a practice story. I still have the story from Nano 2011 in my head. That one never got completed. It's written in a style that isn't typical of me and took me some extra effort. I do think it's a good one to finish though. Even if it stays rough forever, at least I can finish. And the story I began for Camp in April '13 needs telling still. I have an outline started for it. And a rough idea of the middle. The beginning and end, both important pieces, are still beyond my reach.
Rather than writing, recently, I've been reading again. I used to read a LOT. I'd read a couple books a week. And if it was a favorite book, I'd read it again and again. After college I got a job that required me to be at the carpool at 4:00 am. I'd end up in bed early and would read a chapter, maybe, before falling asleep. Eventually, I stopped reading daily and only read on weekends. I don't know when it happened, but I do know that I missed it. A few years ago, I was introduced to two series of books that had me reading regularly again. I'd finish one book and head to the store for the next. One was campy and fun (Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris) and the other involved history, romance, adventure, and some time travel (hello! Time travel is right up my alley!) (Outlander Series, Diana Gabaldon). And now a friend and I are reading books together, in a kind of pseudo book club. And that has been fun as well. I've been a little behind, summer got in the way a little, but I'm all caught up and ready for the next book.
Have a great August! Do some reading and/or some writing!
