Yet Another Technology Certification

My writing schedule has been, and will continue to be, curtailed while I study for another technology certification. In this case, Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator, which requires that I pass three exams. The first of which was completed yesterday, earning me the nifty badge below.

Afterwards, I treated myself to a few hours away from my studies to add over 900 words to chapter five of my novel-in-progress and begin editing a short story I finished last week. After a minor home improvement project, I’ll jump back on the certification trail again.

Stay tuned for more writing updates as two of my short stories that were accepted last year will be published in the coming months and I’m waiting for a response on another story I submitted at the end of February.

Microsoft 365 Identity and Access Administrator Badge

 

Write Stuff Conference Recap

I enjoyed presenting three sessions over Zoom at the Write Stuff Writers Conference yesterday. I wasn’t feeling one-hundred percent thanks to a lingering sinus infection (and a new bout of depression and anxiety that sank its claws into me a few weeks ago), but I gave it one hundred percent as always and all three seemed to be well-received.
 
My first session of the morning, “Anatomy of a Compelling Short Story” was brand new. It covered a lot of ground and I had to rush at the end despite practice. I realized afterwards that it lacked one topic, which I added this morning for the next opportunity. Might trim out one of the other slides. We’ll see.
 
“Time Management and Self Care for Writers” was, to me, my best session of the day. It received an overhaul in the five years or so since I last presented it and now has more substance in the Time Management section. The brief self-care portion was added after COVID.
 
My final talk on self-editing was one that I’d given three times before, but for some reason (possibly due to my propensity for speaking quickly), it ended about ten minutes earlier than any previous occasion, even with the addition of three slides. That allowed more time for audience engagement, which was wonderful and inspired me to add two more brief topics to the slide deck.
 
Between and after my sessions, I attended Sara Karnish’s wonderful presentation on “Putting Research to Work in Your Writing” and all three of Lawrence Knorr’s classes on self-publishing and ebook creation, which were helpful given my future goals.
 
Overall, a fine day with my tribe. I look forward to next year when we’ll be able to gather again in person at the conference hotel and I’ll be off the hook as a presenter. 😁 Many thanks to conference chair Charles B. Kiernan for inviting me to speak!

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Anne R. Allen explains the need for sensitivity readers and the consequences of disregarding them. Also on Anne’s blog, Stefan Edmunds presents The Adversity Cycle as a method for storytelling.

On the Screencraft blog, Ken Miyamoto offers advice on how to secure a manager and agent for your screenplay and David Young shows us effective ways to describe our characters beyond mere physical appearance.

At Career Authors, Brian Andrews delves into methods for managing backstory while Erica Ferencik provides valuable guidance on navigating the writing life. Kathryn Craft and Barbara Linn Probst discuss ways to breathe life into our secondary characters.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

Screenwriting Basics: How to Sign with a Manager (and Agent) by Ken Miyamoto

7 Unusual Ways to Describe Characters in Your Screenplay by David Young

The Difference Between Jeff Bezos and Me by Bradley Graham

The Adversity Cycle by Stefan Edmunds via Anne R. Allen

Writers, Do You Need a Sensitivity Reader for Your Book? by Anne R. Allen

3 Successful Strategies to Write a Short Story by Sarah Gribble

4 Tips for Writing Backstory by Brian Andrews

11 Hard-Earned Lessons from Three Decades of Writing by Erica Ferencik

Are You Drowning Your Story in Your Imagery? by Dave King

Secondary Characters Deserve a Life of Their Own by Kathryn Craft

Secondary Characters with Purpose and Pzazz by Barbara Linn Probst