Who else, besides me, is happiest when Monday finally slides into your rearview mirror? The 9 to 5 offers the expected insanity to distract us from wishing we could relive a too-short weekend. In the spirit of taking care of business, I devoted myself to working on my online course and completed another four modules.

I took plenty of notes and filled in 13 of 24 sheets of character development questions before my hand cried “uncle” threw a fit and started cramping on me. The process keeps me moving ahead in the story and discovering where things are headed. It also shows me where my pitfalls lie, and my goal is to fix as many as I can before I start the daunting task of composing the first draft.

I always remember my number one writing priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 216 countable words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday, the prior evening’s lack of sleep sidetracked my good intentions. When I can’t sleep, I refuse to lie in bed and stare at the ceiling. In the past, I have used insomnia as an excuse to rearrange furniture, bake cookies, catch up on laundry, work on neglected projects, or watch the mindless flickering on the television screen. Any activity I select, I chose, hoping I will soon grow tired enough to return to bed and sleep.

This time, the activity I pursued, reading, had the opposite result. At two in the morning, I picked up a book and kept turning pages until I finally felt sleepy. The clock said it was seven, and I didn’t have the energy to get up, make a pot of coffee, and start the day despite being up all night. The tactic often works. Sticking to my usual schedule ensures I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. Yesterday, I logged four hours of sleep and spent the rest of my day dragging myself around. Regardless of my energy level, some tasks require my attention.

I always remember my number one writing priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 192 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I am way behind on the coursework for my online class, so yesterday, I spent most of my “writing time” finishing one massive module. I filled ten handwritten pages with notes, responses to questions, plot ideas, sequences, and a few of my own questions that need answers. Then I completed another four pages of “what if” scenarios. It’s a tremendous amount of work, but my characters are coming to life, developing personalities, and the storyline is growing.

I also indulged myself by taking advantage of the pleasant weather and escaped outside with a glass of wine and my current book. I finished that one, and rather than reading one of two other books currently in progress, I opted to begin a different novel. The library emailed to advise me another book I had placed on hold was now available for pickup. So many books, so much homework, and a slew of enticing distractions wave at me from the sidelines.

I always remember my number one writing priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 175 countable words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I survived a hellish week. Migraines, a painful sunburn, thunderstorms, and multiple tornado warnings accompanied window-rattling wind gusts and power outages. News of a death in the family, general fatigue, unrelenting migraines, and work pressures combined to squash any creative juices I hoped to eke from the pittance of energy that remained. I amassed an astonishing total of 195 countable words.

Dismal, I know. Tragic even. But, since I look at the bright side, and with the bar set so low, I figure I am poised to post stellar percentage improvements next week. It is bound to happen. Days, and sometimes weeks, can pass without discernable progress. Then your mind becomes clear, and you remember why you started this journey. You sweep away the detritus, take a deep breath, and begin again.

I always remember my number one writing priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Even though yesterday I wrote 0 words, I won’t let that dissuade me from my goal.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Why is it everything comes crashing down around us, just when we feel like we are on the edge of a breakthrough? I could feel the momentum building, and it looked like clear sailing. It was blue skies and sunshine to the horizon. That’s when the migraine started, and I struggled to complete the bare minimum. Anything too complicated, I reassigned before I pulled the covers over my head. Sleep is a beautiful release from the ugliness of not feeling well. Sleep also postpones the disappointment of being unable to push past those feelings and get work done anyway.

Days like these are why I work so diligently on the good days to move projects into the completed column. Then I received a call about a death in the family, and my heart broke. There is one more reason for working hard, playing hard, living life to the fullest, and pursuing your dreams today. You never know what tomorrow might hold.

I always remember my number one writing priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Even though yesterday, I wrote 0 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday filled itself with activities that were not necessarily on my agenda. My first and only scheduled event was coffee with a new friend. Meeting my friend and engaging in an enlightening conversation was probably the highlight of my week. I can’t remember the last opportunity I had to make connections with and discover kindred spirits. We have missed many spontaneous moments to grab a coffee, bond over a meal, or hang out and get acquainted. I hope we aren’t forced to postpone enjoying the beauty of in-person human connections again.

The rest of the day became an endless string of impromptu, sure-why-not, lets-do-this projects. First up was a trip to the grocery store, the liquor store, and the home improvement store, followed by the joy of schlepping countless bags and boxes into the house and finding places for everything. Saturdays are a great day to grill, water tomatoes, clean the patio, and refill the birdbath. It was then that I noticed an irritating pain in my right shoulder and arm. Argh. In my pursuit of everything non-list related, I somehow accumulated enough sun exposure to result in a painful sunburn.

You cannot imagine my relief when I dug through the medicine cabinet and found my trusty sunburn salve. I am ever so grateful for the soothing effects of lidocaine and aloe vera. How fortunate that I had also stopped at the liquor store. One of those bottles contained instructions on using the contents to help heal sunburns from the inside out.

I always remember my number one writing priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday, I wrote 558 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday, my impromptu plan to close my office door and hide behind the guise of business as usual while I addressed my To-Do list came off without a hitch. It was nice to discover my misconception about what day it was, worked to my advantage for a change. I quickly dispatched the few 9 to 5 requirements and focused my attention on the good stuff. The first item on my list involved wading through my email backlog. I love that little delete button. Even though I culled ruthlessly, the process took longer than I expected.

Next up, I worked on my course modules. I finished the exercises for the two sessions I began earlier in the week. Then I started and completed three more modules. I reached the halfway point of a fourth lesson before I ran out of steam and time. The fourth lesson was more involved than previous units, and I still have a fair amount of writing to do before I finish it. This section also has an expanded recommended reading list. I have read seven of the fifteen titles, and three of the remaining eight are short stories. Guess what I will be doing the rest of the weekend?

I always remember my number one writing priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday, I wrote 467 (countable) words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday, I struggled to catch up with my work. All week long, I worked diligently. I pushed to get projects accomplished despite countless interruptions, setbacks, and miscommunications. No matter how hard or how late I worked, I felt like I was always a day behind schedule. It wasn’t my fault. We rescheduled my standing Friday meeting for Thursday afternoon, and it was a mad dash to have everything ready. As a result, all day yesterday, I operated under the delusion that it was Friday. What a cruel trick the mind can play on us. You can’t imagine how distraught I felt when I realized yesterday would repeat itself today.

The silver lining to this awful situation is I have already completed my Friday dose of 9 to 5 work. With a few minor responsibilities first thing in the morning, my day is clear. I plan to shut my door, hide behind the guise of business as usual, and devote my well-deserved, hard-won reprieve towards pursuing my agenda. Shh, don’t tell anyone. Okay?

I always remember my number one writing priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday, I wrote 501 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday, interruptions were the bane of my existence. I no soon started a project, then some crisis only I could fix tugged me away. I must have started work on the same task at least a dozen times. Would it surprise you to learn my job still isn’t complete? Yep, my work languishes, but at least everyone else has a viable solution for their most pressing issue.

I don’t mind, most days. It’s a nice boost to my ego knowing I have the skills needed to help others, but I am at a loss to understand why they all need assistance on the same day I am working on a deadline? Thankfully, I can work under pressure, and my productivity increases when I stay up late. Or that is the story I tell myself, anyway.

I always remember my number one writing priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday, I wrote 445 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I filled yesterday’s agenda with catch-up activities. After a day spent slacking and doing absolutely nothing, I found I needed to prioritize and focus on the most pressing matters. Thankfully, this week is light on responsibilities and devoid of imminent deadlines. Just when I most needed a little breathing room, someone opened a window and let a pleasant breeze waft over me.

I toast the day with a glass of wine in my hand, and as the evening unwinds, I remember those famous song lyrics—

“You can’t always get what you want

But if you try sometimes, you just might find

You get what you need.”

I always remember my number one writing priority. My core habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday, I wrote 603 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer