(to-do/personal/pagan) A day for reflection/self-care

Blessed Samhain and Happy Halloween, everyone! Despite this cold (which I thought was allergies - I'm sorry to anyone I gave it to!), I am determined to do my Samhain ritual tonight. I stopped at my favorite herb shop (the Mustard Seed in Nottingham, if anyone is interested) - I haven't been there in a long time, because honestly, my practice has gone by the wayside, like everything else. But for me, I consider Samhain the end of the old year and the beginning of the new; this year, I'm reclaiming myself and my pagan practice as the new year begins to spiral up out of the remains of the old. I have a simple ritual planned - just to reacquaint myself with the spirits and rededicate myself to my Goddess. A goodbye to those I've lost this year, and an welcome to those I've met. And a small request - for strength and hope and joy in the coming year.

However, before that (I'm planning my ritual for after dark at some point, not sure when), there are some things I need to do. With this cold making my brain swiss cheese, it needs to be very specific, and not very taxing. :P

To-Do:
- Go out to car to get cell phone, checkbook, planner and cold meds. Found everything but cell phone. I shall have to continue to look for it. Edit: Found it! It was under some folded laundry on the table.
- Pay rent.
- Balance checkbook.
- Check emails: captain_hobbes, vg_ford, val
- Send out email on Spells and Swashbucklers
- Reminder Blog Post: Spells and Swashbucklers Reading Period
- Blog Post: 365 Days of Writing
- Dishes
- Download Scrivener onto big computer
- Pack bags for Monday/Tuesday
- Pay bills
- Food plan for week for Argus
- Finish outline for Rites
- Gather everything for ritual

I think that's it. Maybe. I might bake today, but I'm not sure what. I can't eat on Wednesday or Thursday (yay, colonoscopy!), but I can eat today and tomorrow. We'll see.

(writing) Spells and Swashbucklers!!!

This is your reminder post - the open reading period for Spells and Swashbucklers, the sequel to Rum and Runestones, starts on November 1st and runs through November 30th.

As with Rum, the rules are as follows:
- Pirates and Magic MUST be integral parts of the story
- 8k in length

That's it. That's all. Please keep it close to PG-13, although there's a little stretch room available. If you have any questions, or want to submit, email val@vg-ford.com

If you are emailing your submissions, please email them as attachments - I'm using Word, so I'd prefer that.

I look forward to seeing what comes in this time!

(writing) Making a new commitment

I've talked a lot about writing on this blog. Not as much lately, but that's going to change. I'm making a new commitment to my writing, starting on November 1, 2010 - All Souls Day: I'm going to write at least 250 words a day. Every day. I'll do a running wordcount, to show my progress, and even if it's only a small bit, 250 words, I will write every day.

Every day. Because writers write.