I intended to write everyday when I created this blog. Of course, like most best laid intentions mine fell by the wayside. I thought I could manage to post a little something, even if just a short poem, everyday. However, it proved more difficult for me than I had first anticipated. Although, I think that has a lot to do with the fact that, to this day, I do a lot of my daily writing with a pen and pad of paper.
I started this blog in August of 2012. At that time, my daily responsibilities were relatively low. The kids were out of school for the summer. No one really had to get up or go to bed at any set time, most days. Therefore, I was able to get up in the morning, do a few things around the house, and write for a little while before anyone else was up to disturbed me.
However, as the month wore on, things started to add up. Our schedules started to become more rigid and we had to do all of those pre-school tasks (such as physicals, dental cleanings, shopping for clothes and supplies, etc.). Then, of course, school started back up – for everyone, including me. All of a sudden, everything became about the clock and calendar. It was strict mealtimes, bathing routines, and bedtimes. It was fighting with people to get out of bed in the morning, praying we didn’t miss the bus, and driving children to school when they did.
All of a sudden, the to-do list got longer and my available time got much shorter. Then, before I knew it, it was November and I had no time to spare. I had commitments to fulfill.
I participated, and won – if you like, NaNoWriMo this year. It was my first time participating, but I have to admit that writing 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days takes up all of your spare time, and then some time you don’t even have to spare. I was running, for most of the month, on only a few hours of sleep per day just to find a little time to write. I also have to admit that I didn’t always find the time I wanted and needed – if any at all.
On Thanksgiving (which was also my 36th birthday), my computer crashed due to a failed update. I lost everything, including the 40,000+ word rough draft I had already completed for my final NaNoWriMo submission. I was ready to crawl into a cave and hibernate until spring. However, after some whining and complaining, I pushed on (with even less sleep and motivation than before), and rewrote the entire draft finishing on the final day, with one hour to spare, at just under 51,000 words.
When the contest was over I had won, but I was seriously behind on housework, schoolwork, and most everything else in my life – including sleep. When I woke up from my much needed, and deserved, two-day nap, I realized (sadly) that I had not written in my blog for over a month.
All I can say is I hope to do better, and I hope you keep reading about my foils.
All my best,
Raven
Ink Well My Raven Quill 