Back to writing Part IV

Something came up.

The writing was starting to go well. As always, however, something else began to interfere in a big way.

It's almost promotion time. The boss lady is quite adamant that I invest extra time at home in my learning to get that next post. So I've been studying and working on presentations. I need this gig in a bad way.

Then I realized that something is always going to come up. This is just a matter of time management. The writing doesn't always have to take a backseat. It just might not get to be the star all the time.

So I've decided to try this: Fit in at least an hour of writing every day. I can sacrifice watching one reality TV show or another, right? Or sleep.

Back to writing Part III

RAIN!! Thank goodness! After 40 consecutive days of 100+ degree heat and no rain, I couldn't be more grateful that it's been raining all morning.

Now I can write. I've got my coffee. The GF is out for an extended walk (14 miles as part of her training for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure). The puppy is curled up on the carpet in front of my desk.

Let the words flow...

Back to writing Part II

It's definitely not easy... First there's finding the time, then the ideas all seem to be lame, and it's too damn quiet in the house. I have a ton of crap on my mind -- little of which has to do with writing.

Luckily, I have discovered a new way to multitask: Turn off the iPod and work out the plot while exercising at the gym. I just need to keep a notebook with me to jot down stuff other than weights and numbers of reps.

I'm off to the gym...

Back to writing

I took a long break from writing to sort out my life.

But I'm back.

After clearing out 3,000+ messages in my yahoo e-mail account, removing dozens of farmville and island paradise requests from my facebook page, and tracking down the passwords for this blog and my Web site, I'm ready to get back to basics.

Projects are definitely in the works. I'm hunting down leads and calls for submissions (primarily short stories and/or flash fiction for anthologies). My idea folder is open and ready to be updated.

A year without writing feels like half an eternity, like I have to start from scratch. Telling myself I've written three books already and published other stories and articles doesn't help much.

Like running, a year off changes everything.

Today is just day one. We'll see where it goes from here.

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I quit smoking six months ago -- cold turkey. I used to write at the bar, while smoking. Maybe I need to find some candy cigarettes. The writing is coming... slowly.