A Day Off. . .

I had today off work, so I ran errands in the morning and then in the afternoon, I parked my behind in a coffee shop and wrote for a solid two hours. I got about an issue and a half completed for Blood on an Appalachian Sunset written. I still have to type and edit it, but I hope to send if off to the editor tonight.

I haven’t heard anything from any of my outstanding submissions but I still have more acceptances than rejections. I can’t feel bad about that now can I?

I’m slowly getting back into the writing groove but still plan to plan out a schedule so I can work on both my serial and my novel. I don’t know how successful I’ll be, but I won’t be successful at all if I don’t even try. I need to create both the structure and the obedience that I had when I worked full-time. There, I knew that if I didn’t get my work done, there were consequences. With writing, there are few. I need to get the mindset that writing is my work and when the work doesn’t get done, there are repercussions. But how do I discipline myself? Can I fire myself?

I write most of my initial drafts in a notebook and toss the pages after I type them out. I’ve thought about keeping them but why? I posed this question to other writers and most of them not only keep their notebooks, some of them even keep multiple electronic drafts of their work. I probably will start keeping mine, but my bookshelves are full and I have a pile of children’s book on the floor that I need to find room for.

I have a small Christmas list this year. My husband and I don’t get each other Christmas gifts because when we want something, we normally just go out and buy it. My mother-in-law always gets us things. My mother gives us cash. I asked for the LOTR – Return of the King extended version which goes on sale 12/14. I also asked for The Coal Tattoo by Silas House and a new compact umbrella. I discovered “someone” had stepped on mine and bent it to the point it wouldn’t open. I “discovered” this as I was walking to the office in a torrential downpour. Those darn kids! I have a big golf umbrella but it was in my husband’s truck. He even made a special point to call me that same morning and tell me it was there. I didn’t bother to get because I had a spare. Next time, I’ll bother.

Tonight is a free skate night at the skating rink. I suppose I’ll have to go. I’d rather sit alone in a booth and write but I’ll have to socialize. At a basketball practice not long ago, I sat on the top bleacher and had my nose in a book. I was told by a friend jokingly that I looked like a snob. Oh well, I am the misunderstood writer.

BK