It's 9AM
Remember when I talked about experimenting?
I like to test and learn and grow. If I learn one thing new every day then I think I’m doing okay.
It’s when I stop learning that I get scared.
My grandfather knew a lot.
He had an opinion about everything, and if you had done something, he had done it too, and somehow it was “more” than yours.
Not really a know it all, but close.
I had a nephew like that too.
I would make a joke, an obvious whopper, and he would say, “Actually…”
Anytime I hear the word “Actually-,” I stop listening because I know someone didn’t get my humor.
Usually I’m just kidding.
And since I read a lot, I try not to tell people “Actually-.”
Sometimes I forget. I don’t mean to be a know it all, but I like to share stories and when someone tells me something, if it sparks a memory, I want to tell them something too.
A fair exchange, right?
Unless it comes off as trying to one up them. Which I don’t mean to do, but the constant experimenting and learning means I have a lot to share.
It happened this weekend.
A dad at the ballgame talked about breaking his arm. He asked if I had ever broken a bone.
I have.
I broke my leg in three spots.
He fell off his bike.
I did mine jumping out of an airplane.
It was at a race I really wanted to do, and there was so much adrenaline in my system, I didn’t feel it.
I told them to duct tape my ankle and I could just run on it.
They did. I took a step and fell over.
That’s when they took me to the hospital.
My experiment didn’t work out so well for me that day.
But telling him that story felt like trying to one up him. Which I didn’t want to do.
So I downplayed it.
Which made me feel bad, because why should I shine less or be less awesome just because someone isn’t doing what I’m doing?
I think it’s an awesome story to skydive, break a leg and try to run a race still.
I think it’s even better that two weeks out of a cast, I ran a trail race and broke 3 titanium screws in my ankle from blunt impact running.
And two weeks after the surgery to remove the screws, I completed a 100 mile race in thirty one hours in Key West.
To me, that’s awesome.
It’s grit. It’s tenacity.
It’s stupidity. Sure, my leg and ankle hurt every time it gets below forty degrees, but who wants to go to the grave whole?
I’d rather keep experimenting and playing, and striving and learning.
What did you learn yesterday? What new thing have you tried recently?
I’m trying to write on different platforms, moving some books from Amazon exclusive to Kobo and Barnes and Noble.
I’m trying to get different stories done.
I’m trying to be better at time management and expanding the business side of writing which means more learning.
I’m trying to grow.
It’s an experiment, because the technological platforms we use for marketing change and evolve.
Which means I’m trying to focus on craft and telling fun stories too.
I promise to keep trying.
I hope you try too.
Something new.
Something experimental.
Something fun.
What do you want to try this weekend?
How about this?
Loved this book growing up and maybe started my love of revenge stories/flicks.
The Count of Monte Cristo FREE
The Sundance Revenge: A Mystery Thriller FREE
Murder at the Coffee Cat Cafe - a cozy mystery FREE
AND
What do you think of this new cover for Judged?
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