Scribere quid cogitas
A WRITER'S
CHRONICLE
Sunday 28th November 2021
DAY JOB, OR NIGHT JOB?
INDEX
So many times tweeps ask each other 'what is your day job?',
and that sometimes reveals a depth to a person's personality
that we don't normally see in their tweets. I asked the same
question and here's the answer from @SheaBallard
which tells you what he does in his day job, except he works
at night!
Unless your name is Steven King, John Grisham, or some other
best seller who's a household name, most writers are not
making a ton of money doing what they do. In fact, many of us
are not making anything yet. Therefore, we tend to do other
things to pay the bills. "What's your day-job" is a
question
many struggling writers get. Sometimes, we even ask it of each
other, curious as to how our fellow writers are earning a
living until we hit it big.
My "day-job" is actually a night-job. I
work the overnight shift at a drug and alcohol treatment
center in the Phoenix area. My schedule is Tuesday through
Saturday, 11:30 pm to 08:00 am.
My workplace is a residential treatment center, which means
the clients stay there while they're in treatment. My job is
to make sure everyone's safe. I check on the
clients every two hours, and in the morning, I give them
their medication and try to keep them on task. They have
chores to do, and I'm basically trying to get everyone ready
for breakfast.
So, why do I torture myself with such horrid hours?
Because during most of my shift, I have time to write.
Yes, the hours may be hard, but I would argue that an
overnight shift is ideal for a writer, if you can write at
work.
Of course, I'm not only raising my word count for
hours every night. Sometimes I'm world-building,
plotting, working on my website, and
scheduling future tweets. There really is a
lot more that writers have to do besides just writing.
Besides the writing time, it really is a rewarding
job.
Though my desire is to write full-time, I really
enjoy my job. I'm fortunate not to
dread going to work as the truth is I love coming to work.
As most of the clients are with us for three to four
months, I get a chance to know them. I'm not in recovery
myself, but what I've learned in the 5+ years
is that most people in recovery are good people. Addiction
doesn't just happen to "bad" or "lazy" people. It happens to
all kinds of people, from all walks of life. People may
discriminate, but addiction doesn't. Don't think it can't
happen to you.
It's true addicts can sometimes do bad things. Sometimes
they make selfish choices that hurt others. That's the
addiction. Get to know a person with an addiction when
they're sober. I've learned they're really not so different
from me. I've met amazing artists here. I've met other
writers, and gotten to read some of their work. You might
be amazed at how talented a lot of alcoholics and drug
addicts are. I think many could be professional
artists and writers if they stayed sober.
The best part of my job is how I get to help people.
I know
I'm only a small part of their recovery,
but I still feel privileged to be a part of that. My clients
on both the ladies' and the men's units are some of the
nicest people you'd ever want to know. They just happen to
have an addiction.
When I was younger, I grappled with my purpose in life. Now,
I believe I'm here to help others. Whether it's
working at the RTC (Residential Treatment Center), through
the stories I tell, or in other ways, I think I'm here to
reach out to others and help them in whatever way I can.
After all, I've been helped by many others, myself.
Don't ever worry about being "just a writer." There is
someone out there who needs your book, whose life
will be changed by your story. No, we're not scientists
finding cures, but we can help people by connecting
through our stories. We can let others know they're not
alone. One day, someone, somewhere, will read your book and
think, "I'm not the only one who feels like this."
And maybe for the first time in their life, they'll feel
seen and understood.
I help change lives for the better at the rehab center where
I work. As a writer, I hope to continue to help others in
the future. One day, someone will read my book and cry tears
of joy at finding themself in my characters. And on that
day, they won't feel alone anymore.
Maybe that's what our stories are for?
A Rainy Day
Sounds like a rainy day observed from the safety of cover,
just listenin' to the rhythm of the falling rain.
Submission by @bionicanadian
#FromOneLine 126
The melodies that play
in my head
a ribbon of colors
strumming along
perfect pitch played
chorus lyrics poem
my front porch emotions
that come from
my tin roof... singing
In The Cards
All I can say to this is... 'watch out for collectors of
cards'!
Submission by @SilverJLaine
#Vss365 (#vulnerability)
"Sir, we have a #vulnerability in our security," Quint
declared.
James blinked. "You assured me it was airtight."
"Actually I said 'as close to airtight as possible'."
"What happened?"
"Mathews apparently loves Yu-Gi-Oh cards and was bribed
with a Blue Eyes White Dragon."
Gossips
Gossiping? Fun, isn't it?
Submission by @Bettyvstuff
#Vss365 (#conversation)
The song of gossiping teacups
and a thousand whispered rumours
you used to do it too
then a hush in conversation
and the sudden realisation
that the subject is you!
#Vss365 (#journal)
#Haiku
My journal records
my words and my memories
My lies matter not
Submission by @moscowdandelion
#Vss365 (#conversation)
#Haiku
bare trees in the wind
practicing a conversation
that will never happen
Curated Poems
A different, quite positive take on vulnerability in this
nice tweet.
Submission by @Tanweer_Dar
#Vss365 (#vulnerability)
#Poem #Poetry
#Vulnerability is what makes us human
Though it be, at times, a weakness
It is also the source of all our strength
From it flows the milk of human kindness
With every heartbeat, with every breath
Are all hearts like this? There is so much hope in this
wonderful poem, that it must be true.
Submission by @adivayeatts.
#Poem
My heart is a book
Eager to be read
Word by word
Line after line
Chapters lived
Blank pages left
Still to be weaved
Open ended thread.
Ever asked yourself 'how many hashtags can anyone fit in a
single tweet? No? Neither had I until I found this tweet.
Now I'm curious to know how many there are out there.
I found her #journal. The fairies have a #ploy to get us
up #early. They're going to hide behind the #hedge and
#sing. They don't want #interactive holiday cooking. We
cook, they buy us #sea #art to show their #gratitude.
Their idea of art is #morbid, but we'll act thankful.
A Special Message
Submission by @GeneVatow
Inspiration : @sanjaraic1
#Vss365 (#Hesitate).
#lovepoetry.
Her charm
broke through
my hesitation
Silver tinted brocade
long dark locks
and a nuanced portrait
The face I fell
in love with
The world
she makes complete
Unbidden perfection
every day
and kisses
Ohh so sweet!
Image: #MyLadyLoveSanja
The above article is published with the kind permission of both
@GeneVatow and @sanjaraic1, author and inspiration
for a poem I am so pleased to be allowed to present to the
readers.
Riding with dolphins
Not one dolphin from this pod was touched by my seadoo
in this footage I captured.
They're the most beautiful and friendly creatures in the
ocean.
Sound on is recommended.
Scott
***Be careful, it may be a little loud*** (Owen)
Video courtesy of @scottrprice
ARTICLES FOR FUTURE EDITIONS
There are certain areas of the writing community that are
under-represented here, which is mainly due to my lack of
involvement in those areas. That does not mean that these
genres/areas/topics are excluded. If you have any articles
tweets, stories, anecdotes to share then do, please, submit
them for consideration.
This is meant to be a publication for the entire writing
community, along with artists, editors, cover designers,
etc.
Possession
When love is little more than being the owner of a possession
it can be heartbreaking, or worse.
Submission by @DzintraSullivan.
#Vss365 (#vulnerability)
Her alabaster skin
Glowed in the setting sun
Even in death
Her beauty fascinated him
She offered him herself
He saw her #vulnerability
And as his fingers tightened
Her limbs falling limp
A satisfied sigh
She was his
Forever
Disbelief
Here's a rather chilling poem despite the baking sun and the drifting
on the sea with a hand in the water.
Submission by @kitkatpoetess
#Poem
Eyes glazed over in a state of unconsciousness, a tear
escaped the duct of her beautiful brown eye.
Drifting -
A hand dipped in the clear blue ocean as her skin baked in
the sun...
Blood stained her dress as his body set in
repose.
Her name was death but he didn't believe her.
WordSquare
WordSquare #008
Words must be a minimum of 3 letters long.
They must contain the letter in the shaded square.
Only the letters in the square can be used.
There is at least one 9-letter word in each square.
WordSquare #007 Solution
9 letters
WITHDRAWN
Sunset on a beach
An idyllic setting for an evening walk along the beach. Sunset
being quenched by the ocean as we peer between the palm trees.
Photograph courtesy of @VictoriaRosePhD.
Sociopath
Here's one carried forward from the #VssMurder weekend,
with my apologies to @WriteEthan for being unable to add
his #bit to the last edition.
Submission by @WriteEthan
#VssMurder (#bits)
#ForDawn
He wasn't a public person - they rarely are.
He collected
little #bits from each of his victims and hung them in his
dining room.
He had worked his way into the living room by the time they
found him, felled by the hand of someone more disturbed than
he.
3 letters
AHI, AID, AIN, AIR, AIT, AND, ANI, ANT, ARD, ART, AWN, DAH, DAN,
DAW, HAD, HAN, HAT, HAW, ITA, NAH, NAT, NAW, POH, RAD, RAH, RAI,
RAN, RAT, RAW, RIA, TAD, TAI, TAN, TAR, TAW, TWA, WAD, WAI, WAN,
WAR, WAT, WAW, WHA
Warrior's Respect
Remembrance of a warrior's code. To fight without malice,
treat loss with respect, and wondering...
Submission by @TunnelroadUS
#Vss365 (#worry)
Death does not worry me
Friend or foe
Unavoidable
An inevitability
The ones who have been taken
Stones mark the acres
Memories of loving existence
Do they carry on
Watching from
Another place
Grieving o'er my sin
Webster Cemetery
'Uncle Bob'
Image courtesy of @TunnelroadUS
Obvious
In love and discreet
but unable to hide it.
Submission by @CribbOwens
#Vsslocation
They chose the #booth in the back, hoping for a bit of
discretionary concealment, but people couldn't help but
notice them.
Their frequent kisses and hand-holding were
too noticeable, all the more so by the lines on their faces
and gray hair on their heads.
A Novel Novel!
Many authors produce a novel.
Submission by @demonrobber
#Vss365 (#text)
A text novel spread across the nation.
Each writer added one line with great anticipation.
The novel topped the charts.
A worthy addition to the arts.
The citizens of Nova Euphoria were in a state of elation.
Reminders
Can you imagine what it's like to be in love, try to
discreet and not be able to hide it?
Submission by @MackenzieLitt13
#Vss365 (#journal)
She lay awake, letting the hours flow cruelly into
nothingness.
She reached for her #journal, searching for
reminders and remnants of a self that had been surpassed
and no longer existed.
The lists should provide a wide variety of information
from suicide helpline numbers to #hashtag prompts.
Editors, Artists, Graphics designers, alternative software,
writing utilities, beta readers, etc.
Newcomers and old hands alike, sometimes find themselves
asking questions that have been asked and answered so
many times before. I hope to make finding those answers
easier by listing the
information so many of us ask for.
If you would like to be included on these lists contact
@Owen_G_Richards
and have a chat about what you'd like
to include in the entry for your particular talent.
You can help others by allowing me to help you by providing
constant visibility on the lists.
NO FEES. NO MEMBERSHIP. NO MAILING LISTS. Just your entry
visible to those who may be interested in your skills or
expert knowledge.
Want to make a contribution to the content of
this newspaper?
Get in touch with Owen.
All *polite* suggestions considered.
Produced by and for Owen G. Richards
and anyone else even remotely interested or
amused by this stuff.
With grateful thanks to my 'research assistant'
@therealSIR3
First introduced September 2021 in an alternative format.