I Have A Walking Addiction
This is a strange thing to admit because sitting around doing nothing is one of my favorite things in the world. Staying alive is another of my favorite things, so hence the walking.
I got FitBit and secured an invitation to a super-secret horror authors FitBit group that does walking challenges each week. I’m probably risking my membership just by admitting the existence of this organization. If you tell anyone, I’ll just say I made the whole thing up!
As of the time I’m writing this, I’m in a pitched battle to stay ahead of one author who puts up ridiculous numbers. Everyone else had just given up on challenging him. He apparently lives on a ranch and conducts daily cattle drives on foot while wearing his FitBit. By the time you read this, I might have fallen impossibly behind again.
My feet hurt, I have blisters, I’m probably on my way to shin splints, I’m chaffed in certain places, and obsessively walking all day every day to win an imaginary competition that is mostly in my own head may not be the most conducive to maintaining writing numbers.
My plan was simple. I got up the first day of the new challenge and walked ten miles. It rained on me half the time which helped with the heat, but not the blisters and chaffing. I obsessively check the app and when I see he has started walking and putting on numbers, I get up and start walking too. My family makes fun of me pacing through the house trying to beat another author who is mostly putting up his numbers working like a normal sane person.
I can’t maintain these numbers forever and I do have other things I need to do, but I am fighting to stay healthy and alive longer. The number of calories I’m burning is helping me put off weight and feel better. Now, if I could just learn to walk in moderation.
Here are some things you might be interested in:
How Do You Choose the Best Conventions and Writers Retreats?
by Jay Wilburn via LitReactor
As conventions return to normal schedules, there are a lot to choose from, whether you are a writer, reader, fan, or reviewer. Depending on your goals, the best conventions for you may differ from someone else, but generally speaking a “good” convention is one that …
Author’s Note: I wrote this one during my 24 hour writing challenge live on Twitch early in 2021. I reworked it a couple times. I think it's good. Not perfect, but good. The “what if” for this one is what if one of the kids listened to the caretaker's warning in a horror film or story.
“Caretaker’s Warning”
by Jay Wilburn
Quinn’s friend Brielle Thompson crossed her arms at the head of the dark drive and said, “You can’t possibly consider going with him. You can’t be serious” …
This book is the best of my short stories written live on Twitch. If you just read these, you might think I write pretty good short stories all the time. In the book are also links to videos of the writing, editing, and reading of the stories. I hope you enjoy them.
Thanks, Everybody
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Love the walking addiction. I have a running one. Would love to get invited to the group! I love a good competition. Caretaker’s warning was great.