You thought I was joking, didn't you...

I called it a haphazard writer's blog because I knew planning to write regular posts in addition to trying to squeeze writing time into my schedule would be as difficult as trying to squeeze discipline out of my typical "avoid writing at all costs" writer personality. But two years...wow!

Ok, so the two year mark is not entirely my fault. I was in the midst of writing Regency Historical number two when my life decided to take an unpredictable path. I say my life in the most passive voice, but really, I took an unpredictable path. I began the process of divorce. Funny how difficult it is to write a romance when you're in the throws of the deconstruction of seventeen years of couplehood. Ok, no so funny. 

At any rate, I knew my other artistic vocation--that as professional belly dancer/instructor/studio owner--would not be enough to support me and so I threw myself into a job search. After carefully removing the words "Belly Dance" from my resume, I discovered that running any small business gives you some pretty decent experience that translates into administrative work. I was fortunate enough to land a job as the program administrator for a university music department. I say "fortunate" but really, I think the universe was really looking out for me there. After ten years as a self-employed dancer/hippie-ish mom, the thought of having to take a job in corporate America was rather terrifying. A university campus is a great environment for one such as me, and to be surrounded by music, well, that's really the best part of the job.

The other best part is that now that I've got a handle on the various projects and life cycle of the school year, I have substantial stretches of time to fill each day. I started out bemoaning this. I wanted to earn my salary, darn it, and I'd had my fill of reading articles online and planning house remodels I couldn't afford thanks to Pinterest.

Fortunately, part of the reason for my unpredictable path change was the desire to be the true me (well, after discovering who she is). I knew I had to return to writing and the next time I started to complain about being bored, I mentally smacked myself on the forehead and said, "You idiot! The universe gave you this plum job so you could support yourself and work on your dream. Don't waste it!"

So the biggest thing I've learned--and I really wish it hadn't taken me 46 years to learn--is that when you want something, don't go a single day without doing something toward that goal. Whether it's re-reading what you wrote last week, knocking out 1,000 words in a sitting, or just thinking about who your character is and what they shout when they stub their toe, you've got to keep plugging away. And multi tasking, because the book ain't gonna sell itself, so you'd better get some submissions out there.

At any rate, Writers Write. That's what some pin on Pinterest said, anyway, so I'm going to write--the book, the query letter, and this haphazard blog...