I Can't Do It Alone

So last weekend I did get to go to some of the workshops run by Mischief Man, as well as (yay!) lots of panels on the YA Lit track and the SFLit track. And I realized a few important things.

1) I really, honest-to-goodness have NO interest in writing professionally.
2) You don't get to talk about books and/or the craft of story unless you're a published author.
3) Authors get to talk about books A LOT.

This is incredibly frustrating, because THAT'S what I want to do. I was constantly, constantly biting my tongue at the panels I went to and OMG it was torture.

And I only get to do this once a year! If I don't find some sort of outlet for book-geeking I am going to go crazy. I am going to go EVEN CRAZIER THAN I ACTED TODAY DURING FOURTH BLOCK!

So I need your help. (Very, very mild profanity behind the link.)

To be a more effective teacher (by setting a good example for my students and demonstrating the behaviors I want them to practice), I need to write more.

To be able to talk about books A LOT and thus preserve my sanity, I need to write more.

So. I am going to write more. (Imagine me doing one of those hitting-my-own-palm gestures.) This month, I am going to update Epic Adventures with original content three times each week: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Plus the Carnival on Wednesdays, but I'm not counting that. Next month, I am going to complete a series of exercises designed to get me thinking about fiction - specifically, a novel. And then the month after is November, which means NANOWRIMO, during which I will write The Damn Amazing Book (working title).

(This should not, of course, be confused with the Damn Book.)

(Also: I told you it was mild! You naughty thing, you!)

There weren't (alas!) any workshops called "Writing Is Like Broccoli: You'll Learn To Love It." But I did get a chance to corner Mischief Man, who suggested - in all sincerity, though he was chuckling a bit - that I tell myself that it's fun. That I love doing this.

Guys, I am just not that good a liar.

I need YOU to lie to me.

Tell me it's worth it. Tell me that it gets easier. Encourage me to keep going. Tell me that adversity builds character. Tell me you can't WAIT to read my next post. Oo, here's a good one: remind me that I said I would, because it's WAY harder to let things slide when I feel like someone's counting on me.

Lie - and maybe I'll believe it.