The need for change

From For Blog

While Russ was home last week, we moved my computer and a few other things out of the back office that I love so well and into the larger, more open area in the dining room/living room area.  There were two reasons for this.  First, I had been staring at those same walls, bookcases, etc. for years now.  While I would change a few things around here and there, the room is too small for any major changes, like moving the computer desk.  I felt that I needed a change.  Part of that change turned out to be a lovely new monitor when mine unexpectedly died.  The timing was good, despite not having a lot of money.  If it had died while he wasn't here for those four short days, I would have had to wait for him to get one and ship it to me.  Not a good thing.  I ended up with a lovely Vizio monitor/television.  I am VERY happy with it.

The second reason I moved out here is because the air conditioner is in the window in the dining room.  Heat, humidity and I are not good friends.  I was suffering through some 100f plus days with the office in the 90's before this.  Being here with the AC is a true blessing.  And the bird feeders are just outside the window, as anyone who checks my Picture-a-Day-Blog can tell.

With the change of office, I have been working on a change of attitude, too.  Not anything really outlandish, but enough to get me moving down a path of less annoyance.  Among things that have changed is Vision: A Resource for Writers moving from every two months to quarterly.  I was barely getting one issue done and it was time to start on the next one.  I most definitely was not getting any of the back issue stuff out of the way that I wanted to do.

I am also closing down my Live Journal and posting everything to the Joyously Prolific Blog after this.  There is no reason at all to have both.  I also have a couple older Blogs that I'll take down soon as well.

Consolidate.  Focus.

Will it make a huge difference in my life?  Probably not.  Zaphod is still here on the desk.  I am still working on the same stories as I was before -- though at least I feel as though I am making some progress on them.  I am looking at my Never Ending List From Hell and finding fewer things there already.  I don't feel as though I am perpetually behind on work, which made it difficult for me to focus on the fun of writing and editing.

Writing is my profession.  Yes, I have to do other things to pay bills.  And I spend a lot of time on sites that help other writers.  There are things I have to do, things I want to do and things that have been getting in the way of everything else.

A few months ago, by pure happenstance and chance, Russ (through work) got a copy of CS5 Extended.  It went on the main computer, which is to say on the one I work with.  I am in the midst of teaching myself InDesign, which I adore so far, even though I haven't gotten very far.  I do play quite a bit with Photoshop, of course.  Whenever Borders sent Russ a huge discount coupon, he'd buy another of the wonderful 'Bible' books from Willey Publications.    I have four of them -- InDesign, Photoshop, Flash Professional and Dreamweaver -- and I plan on the Illustrator one if it turns up as well.  I have every intention of working my way through each book and learning all I can about the programs.

Why?

Because I love learning new programs and these have some fantastic tools for Indie Authors like me.  And, of course, this was the sort of thing that kept getting pushed aside for everything else.  Well, right now I have the InDesign book sitting in front of me.  I've written over 1k today and I'll do more.  However, it's time to get back to work on this stuff.   I'm going to have to reread some sections already.  I don't want it to get any farther away from me.

It's time to start working at more changes!