A couple of weeks ago, here, I talked about how I’ve come up with a new approach to organising my work day so that I do more writing and less admin…well, maybe not less admin, but at least a bit less compulsive admin. I’m here to say so far so good. Since that blog post, I’ve:
* started to research Novel 4
* wrote a new poem and read it at an open mic. No one stormed out or threw rotten eggs, so I guess it’s okay
* wrote a short story, on a whim and a challenge by one of the best short story writers I know, Tania Hershman. This was a bit of a big deal for me, because I don’t write short stories very often, and I really loved writing it. I’m even starting to submit it around to see if I can find a home for it in some lovely magazine’s pages.
So, I’m pretty pleased and think I might be on to something, although it will all go cablooey (sp?) for a while as I’m about to embark on the big travel section of the year. Next week, I’m visiting family in New York and Boston, and then, on February 14, I fly off to Cambodia, with a quick stop over in Bangkok where I hope to grab dinner with my friends, Jennie Beattie and Helen Kara. Although I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the piddly details associated with planning to be away for so long (I’ll be home for a week between trips, then I won’t be back from Asia until the end of March), I am getting very excited. I’m starting to plan the next session of my Anjali House Writing Workshop. And I’m fantasizing about how the kids will react when I show up chattering away in the rudimentary Khmer I’ve been learning over the past nine months. Khnyom reyan niyay p’saa Khmai! *
I’ll be blogging about the trip while I’m in Cambodia, as I usually do. I hope that those who have come along with me in that way before, will follow me again. And I hope some new readers decide to join as well. And do leave comments if you do. Although I do now have an entire life over there, it’s easy to feel disconnected, too.
* I am learning to speak the Cambodian language! Writing this in the Khmer script is another thing altogether, though.
I’m very impressed that you’ve been learning Khymer. ALL my Thai is learned phonetically although David says that Thai is much easier to pronounce when you can read the script! (I don’t think I’ll be doing that any time soon!)
Can’t wait to catch up with you.
I agree with David. I had NO intention of learning the script, but then I realised I had to if I was going to be able to differentiate between all those sounds. The script is a b*tch, but knowing the little I do is already helping.
Congrats on your short story. Please let us know when it is published. Enjoy your travels and good job on learning the language in Cambodia!