Write Every Day

It has been several days since I’ve written a blog post. It’s easy to come up with excuses as to why I haven’t, but none justify how I feel when I don’t write. The days blend into one another, with miles-long to-do lists that result in my feeling too exhausted to sit down and write. Sometimes it is body-fatigue, more often than not, brain-fatigue is my excuse.

Doug was away for a few days, which meant I was solely responsible for getting the boys where they needed to go, and back again . . . coupled with my own set of work-related responsibilities. Letting myself off the writing-hook was easy . . . too easy. The days I planned to devote to writing while he was away were soon in my rearview mirror. And I hadn’t written a single word.

After my class last night, I celebrated the six work-free days I had ahead of me. I told myself that the few items on my USAFA to-do list would take minutes to do, and then I'd have all the time in the world to write. It is now 1:25 in the afternoon, and I haven’t done either. I did get word from Frank that I won't be picking him up right after school as he has a project to work on. He’s not sure about swim practice either. Neither of these affect me that much, except afternoon pickup usually gobbles up a half hour. This way, if I can manage my to-do list so I can start writing by 2:00 or 2:30, I won’t have to take a break moments after I start.

It is important to me to write every day. When people tell me they want to write a book, and ask me how to get started, I always say the same thing. Write. And after that, write some more. The only way you’ll know whether you can do it or not is to write. If you want a legitimate (spelled money-making) writing career, you have to write. Every day.

When I wrote my first book, LINGER, I wrote every day. I carved out specific writing time. I was disciplined and intransigent about that time. I didn't let anything interrupt it. That’s what’s so great about NANOWRIMO. Fifty thousand words in thirty days. While some achieve their goal in a few days time, it takes most of us all thirty days, and making sure we write every, single day. Without doing so, there is no way to achieve the goal in that amount of time.

I’ve lost track of DARE's word count (I looked it up, it’s 18,113). I’ve lost track of the last time I wrote (that’s more difficult to figure out). I read and edited yesterday, which means I’m caught up and ready to write. 

This was my warm up . . . by the way, I love this book. I say it every time, but I do. I love it. I hope you will too when I finish it.