This is MLT-at-Large, written by me, Mary Louise Tucker. Some call me MLT, some call me Lou, Louie or Mary Lou. I’m a recently retired Technical Writer and Editor and enjoy reading, writing, singing, travelling, language learning, eating and riding my bike. You wouldn’t say I’m an expert at any of these things, but then, I have always had a diverse range of interests.
Starting in 2009 I’ve blogged on WordPress, mostly here and here with a few location-specific travel blogs for recording long trips. These travel blogs started as newsletters or postcards to my siblings and close friends. But, my day job as a Technical Writer and Editor often drained me of the desire to sit in front of a computer any longer than was necessary. My blog posts became more photo-filled (once smartphones made it easy to always have a camera on hand) and less about ideas and writing. I learned a lot about taking reasonably good photos, but I skimped on the text.
Workwise, these days I only do the odd short-term editing job if the work seems interesting. COVID-brain and the freedom to not always need to work for money have changed my priorities.
For a couple of years now, I’ve been a keen reader of other Substack publications. In 2021 I joined the London Writer’s Salon and most weekdays I join a daily group on Zoom to write. During the ‘writing sprints’ I’ve been journalling, scribbling ideas, making lists, revisiting posts from old journals and blogs, and working out what my post-COVID, retirement writing life is going to be about. After a long Technical Writing career, I think I’ll leave the Technical topics behind. There will probably be some travel, food, memoir, music and everyday thoughts and ideas. Maybe some short fiction too.
MLT-at-Large will probably reflect how I am moving disgracefully (yet gratefully) through this world.
If you got this far and you’d still like to come along for the ride and see what happens, please subscribe (it’s free). You’ll get an email when I post.
And share if you like.
Ciao for now,
MLT