Lately I have been trying to get back to the writing thing. Yeah, the writing thing. You know that hobby I rarely do yet remain optimistic about turning into a career? Yeah, that. Anyway, I’ve been trying to write more in the second book of my Castle Dynn series. This has brought to mind a serious problem that has been the plagued my writing life: Life get’s in the way.

Before Christmas I had decided to write 600 words a day, no matter what. A measly 600 words a day. I came up with a few simple guidelines to help me stay on course. I wouldn’t have to write in any particular story or for any particular reason. It wouldn’t even have to be good, usable content. Just something that amounted to 600 words. I could copy the phone book, and as long as I made 600 words I was good to go.

To put this in focus, 600 words is about an hour’s work on a particularly difficult chapter, even on a bad day. Half hour if the words are rolling well. Since I made that “commitment”, I’ve logged a total of three days matching my goal. No, that’s not a typo. Three days in three months. And all of those came on the same weekend. Not exactly the model of efficient story creation. Not exactly the way to build a writing career. Not exactly the way to keep these story ideas from piling up and clogging up my gray matter.

Before any stones come flying my way, understand there have been a lot of family issues that have come up over the course of that time, and my priorities have shifted away from writing in order to meet those needs. But putting the writing on the back burner doesn’t help these stories go from ideas to finished works.

I’ve found myself chanting that all familiar mantra, “I’ll get back into the swing of things once life slows down.” Of all the stupid lies a writer can believe, this one has to be at the top of the list. Well, maybe second, just behind, “Smashing the nozzle off the propane tank is a safe way to have a little fun.” Regardless of where this life slowing down idea falls on your list, this is a stupid thing to fall for. Life doesn’t slow down. Not for me, not for you, not for anyone. Once the current crisis is over, another one will pop up to take its place. As soon as my youngest finally gets her molars in and we can sleep through the night, then I’m sure things will calm down. That is, until she’s being potty trained and we hear, “uh-oh” from across the house. Or until someone falls down the stairs and breaks their collar bone. Or the neighbor shows up with two of my boys asking if we’ve been missing any kids. But really, right after that, things will slow down.

Sure they will.

I don’t think the “trick” to going from a hobby writer to a full-time writer is so much creating the perfect writing schedule or plan. It’s how to make the change on the fly when life throws poo at you with all the vigor of a caffeinated gorilla with stomach problems.

Part of me wonders if I need a new system that can better roll with the incoming “debri” life keeps chucking my way, or if I need a greater sense of determination in order to wipe the “debri” from my face and write anyway. Or maybe I need to be okay with knowing that writing isn’t my top priority and sometimes the 800 pound poo-chucking gorilla needs my undivided attention for long periods of time.

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