Life without writing

In the last few months, I've let my writing slip. I suppose you'd say it was about time. I used to write in every available free moment, but in the last year, I've let those free moments become, well, free.

I still enjoy writing, but I think it's not as important as it used to be. I've accomplished what I wanted: I have 27 books out since 2007. That's very productive, you know? In many years I had 3 or 4 books release. One year I had 6.

I don't do much promo anymore, but my books still sell. Not great guns, no, but they sell. And how much they sell and the reviews just aren't that important to me any more.

I don't know if this represents a new phase of my life, but it seems like every decade or so, I find something new that I try to excel at. In the 1970s, I studied and received 2 college degrees. Likewise the 80s: 2 more college degrees. In the 90s I got one college degree in a totally new field (horticulture) and I excelled at needlepoint and other handiwork, as well as garden design.

In 2002 I decided to pursue a lifelong dream of being published. I joined RWA in 2003 and in 2004 I joined my local (then) RWA chapter. In 2006 I had my first contract.

It's been 10 years pursuing the dream, and I wonder if I am starting to wind it down. I still have stories to tell, but I don't feel as compelled to write them down.

What will the next 10 years bring? What will be the Next Big Thing for me? Will it continue to be writing, or will I move on to something else?

40 years ago I wouldn't have thought I would be where I am, so who knows what will happen?

::Chagrin::

Well, the "catchy goals" weren't catchy enough.

I'm doing fine on "Eat right". In fact, I'm doing the Clean Program and am in week 2. It's been fine so far. Oh, I admit I'm a bit tired from no caffeine, but surprisingly enough I don't miss the booze all that much, and I don't miss much else except bread and chocolate. So I'm cheating a tad by having some cacao chips after my meals, which is a substitute for a Peanut Butter Cup (no, it really isn't a substitute, but it'll do). I'm doing fine and figure I can continue this easily for 2 more weeks.

Write daily: not so much. I'm having a hard time getting into the writing habit again. I really need to work on my Dream series, but have not been able to get in to the characters' heads. I am doing some writing-related stuff every day. I'm getting Righter prepped for release, and I'm prepping items for conferences, but writing? I don't know. I'm just not motivated.

And daily promo? Pfft! No, I managed that for about a month then it slipped off the radar. I just hate talking about my books and constantly touting them. So that quietly got lost in the crowd.

In my defense, I've been crazy busy with Paycheck Work and Legal Bullshit, but that is all subsiding. So I really have no reason not to dig in and focus. Which I will ...

... tomorrow.