The writing life, recently, has been more research than writing. I have a character that I am working on who does nothing with anyone. She goes to work and comes home, and that is the extent of her interaction with people, save an older woman, possibly a neighbor, until the entrance of someone else that's the crux of the story. So, I've been developing a routine for her through my own repetition of the same things everyday. It's boring me out of my mind. It's not hard though, as I don't have much time or opportunity for social interaction with anyone my age. I lead exactly the type of life this woman will lead.

Now I have to build the woman up, make her a real woman who has a distinctive way of talking, walking, thinking--a way that is very different from mine. I like people, but this character does not. I am bored and want something else to do while living her life, but it's the only way that she can function at the start of the story.

At least I have things to think about...That's more than I had before.

The type of writing I want to do: That's a big question mark. I haven't tried everything yet, not short story writing for one. I have tried novel writing and even poetry, but I don't think I've found my niche yet. I've thought for a long time about turning my attentions towards Christian Fiction, and I've been tossing a few diefferent ideas around in my head, but so far I haven't come up with anything concrete. It's still a great possibility.

My Christianity is a big part of my writing life, whether I've always realized it or not. There isn't much that I've written that hasn't at least alluded to the big themes of the Bible, and some of my better received pieces are those that directly address spiritual truths. Maybe that's where my calling truly lies, in writing Christian literature. I don't know. I don't mean to be wishy-washy. I think it's the writer's block that makes me so.

I've never felt so empty of ideas and theories. I'm empty of names, places, time period, themes, plotlines, motifs--everything. I don't see anything like I normally do. But maybe my eyes aren't even open. Maybe my creativity is asleep, continuously hitting the snooze button, only dreaming she is up and getting ready to start out.

I'm going to go on anway, and sit around watching the cursor blink until something worth punching the keys comes along.

So, I've decided I don't just have to stick to the topic of writing in here; I may as well tell you a little something about me. In real life, I am a college student, but in this mystical universe called Summer Vacation, I work at a group home, doing a little bit of everything--cooking, cleaning, paperwork, technical assisting, activities coordinator, manager-- which is fine by me because it keeps me from getting bored. I work with six adults receiving services at the group home. I do everything with them from eating to playing tennis. It is not a very demanding job physically from day to day, although it can be when some of the people get aggressive. Gitta go...about to get off. More in depth later.

I am in Florida again, and I am going to get some really good writing done. I wrote a really crappy first draft to what I hope will be my third novel (I have yet to complete any of them, but that is another issue entirely). The thing is, this particular novel should have been the first, but it's been hard to get the idea together. There are two main characters, one male and one female. I was trying to decide whether or not the characters will be friends or become a couple. That is the most crucial problem; it is the hinge the story will pivot on, so I have to choose correctly.

The novel I am the furthest on is having a very different problem. The problem is that I need to figure out some of the plot twists and turns, to get the story to move a little freer. This story appears to need a good haircut: you know how you get one of those hair cuts that allows your hair to feel less weighted, to move more freely.

The third novel is not having any of these problems. The only problem is direction. Where the heck is it going? The plot that I do have is moving swiftly, the characters are coming together well in personality, the language--jazzy, bluesy, colorful--flows so beautifully, the dialogue is realistic, and I have no idea where it is going.

I haven't written a bit of poetry in a long time, but I will try my hand at the art again. n

I will keep in touch more.