DON'T STOP WRITING NO MATTER WHAT

Things have been pretty hectic in my house for the past two weeks. Hubby Ray had eye surgery: a membrane from the back of the optic was removed along with cataract removal/lens implant. It will be a long, slow process for this eye to heal (6 to 12 weeks) and I am the medication dispensor/caregiver for this time. And, as most males, he is not patient with this recovery bit. Having never been in a hospital, and seldom ill, takes no medication for anything, it is easily understood that he is not too happy with this confined-restricted-behalf-yourself part of his life.

I have stayed pretty close but have managed to do some pretty good writing. Well, maybe I should say--darned good writing--as a short story, a personal essay and a poem have found homes with publisher during this past two weeks. And I know the reason why I have been so productive (not why the editors have decided to annoint me with their blessings). I have been confined along with hubby, have made myself stick butt in chair, and have done what I usually say I don't have time for--set up a schedule for writing--and stuck to it. I hope to be able to keep up with this after he is fully recovered.

It takes a schedule of some sort, an acknowledgment that your writing is as important to you as something like vacuuming the floor or watering the tomatoes, and a feeling of worthiness (I am due this time to pursue this craft I love), to write toward our dream of being published, of making a name for ourselves. I can see it, have known it, but have not done it as much as I should. As I told one writer friend, it would also help to get published if you took the time to send your work out.

Submitting our work is the only way we will accomplish our writing goals whatever they may be. Writing, editing, reworking, tightening--and submitting over and over again will put our name out there. I am going to do more of this--even when other duties call, I will put my writing up there as a necessary priority. You can too.