Making Writing Routine

I didn’t write yesterday. I’m exhausted. This week has been an emotional roller coaster for my entire family really. I haven’t been sleeping well anyway, I injured my shoulder about a month ago and I only manage a few hours before I have to adjust positions, which inevitably wakes me up. More than that, my husband is out of town and there just seems to be more noises, more phone calls, more adulting to be done when he is gone. I know it’s because, even though I deal with the majority of homelife, the thought that I will see him each night and can vent or just tag him in if I need him, is comforting. I am privileged to be part of a team and lucky enough to still love and be in love with my teammate after over three decades of being together (we’re not that old, just childhood sweethearts.)

Recently, I started going to the gym. I am not big on the medical profession – just an overall fear and distrust of doctors from years of experiences. I know… I know… but I am doing what I need to to keep myself healthy. So I go to the gym for nearly an hour each day, unless I am doing something at home (like mowing the lawn. Hey, it’s equivalent if not more than a gym work out. You cannot convince me otherwise.). Every day, I continue to learn French and I spend time playing games to stimulate my brain. My father at the end of his life was very sick and developed dementia in conjunction with prostate cancer. I don’t ever want to go through dementia and hoping to prevent it by keeping my brain engaged.

My point is – if I can do these things with regularity and discipline – why cannot I not make myself sit down to work on the book whose plot, characters and dialogue float through my head all day long? I know that I lack confidence and knowledge about the ability to get anything published. I know I can self-publish but I need the easy course – Dummies Guide to Self-Publishing and Promotion. It’s the new way. I just have to learn it. This blog is kind of my first step, until this blog all of my stories sat dusty in computer files. I have a novella that has been there so long I can no longer open it (good thing I printed it out years ago). I need to carve out time and push myself to create. I can do it (if this magical glowing box was not so distracting).

Is this something you all struggle with – making yourself write, keeping yourself on task – or are you all more disciplined than me? Do you have tips or tricks that keep you motivated? Comment down below and keep imagining new worlds.