Settling back in is a process; and, International Sendout Month.

One way I know the settling-back-in thing is happening is that our family whiteboard instantly filled back up with places we need to be and things we need to do. Another way is that I'm making bread these days (note to those who are interested in such things: add a generous double-handful of grated parmesan and an equally generous teaspoon of fresh-ground pepper to your next batch of bread — mm, mm). I haven't been back to karate class yet, but that will be in the next day or so, so I can start tormenting my lungs back into something like functionality. Houston has begun to go to cricket practice again, and he'll be playing on Saturday. Margaret played and sang in a school concert last night. The hecticity is back in action.

I'm also writing fairly consistently, which is one benefit of not travelling, and keeping track of progress on my dozen-or-so current submissions. Once NaNo is over, I will be unilaterally declaring December 2008 as International Sendout Month. Join me in the pledge:

I, ____________, do solemnly swear or affirm that by December 31, 2008, every single bloody piece I've written that is ready to send out will, in fact, be out.

Simple, eh? You do it, too! Poems, plays, stories large and small, novel synopses — whatever you got! Even if December is a slow month for editors, there is certain to be at least one market (or agency, in the case of the novels) for each piece you don't yet have out, and probably dozens. You could start researching them now! Try ralan.com or storypilot.com, or go to the library and use the Writers Market or similar. Get back to me on December 1 and let me know if you're playing at home! (And feel free to blog about it — the more, the merrier.)

In other news, there's a new writers' site called redroom.com. I've signed up, as it's free, but I'm interested to hear if anyone else has heard anything about it, good or not-so-good...?