I am learning. It’s exhilarating and exhausting. A lifelong journaler, at the age of 48 I am finally learning the craft of writing stories. The annoying thing about it though, is that I want to just get started on *actually writing* this memoir. But I know when I look back it will be fully clear to me that this all was a necessary part of the process. All of the brainstorming, list making, drafting, crying, praying, discussing. All of it is part of the design and foundation-laying of the manuscript. Right? Please tell me I’m right. Thank you. The craft part that I really don’t know much about is storytelling. I think that’s the reason I’ve been stuck all these years. I just really didn’t know what I was doing, or where to go next. I needed someone to teach me. And this memoir coach is doing that! Giving me the tools I need to accomplish this task I have so strongly desired to complete for years. But I titled this blog hinting at an a-ha moment. So let’s get to it.

After this week’s writing lessons I am ready to begin writing the scenes for my story. I was journaling about that as I sit here in my local coffee shop, writing about what might be holding me back as I move into this new phase, and I realized I was feeling overwhelmed about organizing the scenes once I write them. Where do I write them? Where do I store them? I need to start with an organizational system before it gets out of hand. (Side note, I have been drafting lame attempts at this memoir for so long, it’s already out of hand. I’ve since moved all my old drafts into an old draft folder, likely never to be seen again.)

I have been using two programs for writing: Scrivener and Microsoft Word. I don’t love Scrivener for writing because I can’t get the contrast I need to see easilly what I’m typing. But I love it for the organizational tools. I do 90% of my writing in Word, where the contrast is perfect, and I’m familiar with all the formatting tools because it’s been around since the 1900s. So. My decision was that I would Write in Word, Store in Scrivener. And just so y’all don’t feel left out of the alliteration: I’ll keep Blurbing on the Blog.

Ever since I’ve been more intentional about writing this book, and telling more people about it, I hear from people who tell me they can’t wait to read it. (No pressure, Mel. No pressure.) But that got me thinking, how will they know when it’s done? Maybe these people would like to get updates on how the process is going? I looked into starting a mailing list, and it’s downright overwhelming. I’m not super tech savvy, and also – partially blind. So, I don’t really wannt start a new thing. I do have a Substack, so I’m considering actually doing some posting there. I have a love/hate relationship with social media so that kind of stresses me out. So we’ll put a pin in that for awhile.

And now I’ve kind of entered into rambling territory, which is my signal that I need to rest. Thank you all for being here! If you are on Substack, you can follow me there: https://substack.com/@melinda6213796. I do intend to start posting there soon, as I start writing into the scenes for the memoir, so you might get some early snippets! Shalom, my friends. Until next time.