Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday I took a break. Friday nights are a good excuse for taking a break, don’t you agree? Instead of working on my course, I read another book on my instructor’s suggested reading list and reviewed three of the lessons I need to tackle next. Then I sharpened my pencil, pulled out my calendar, and created an ambitious writing goal. Maybe ambitious is the wrong word. Aggressive beyond belief, absurd, impossible, or unreasonable might be better terms for the insane agenda I’ve mapped for myself.

But it is also exciting. Thinking about what I am trying to accomplish gives me goosebumps. Who wants to live life in mediocrity? Not me, that’s for sure. The next ten days should provide me with enough data to determine if my plan is even remotely feasible. I think it might be, and I and eager to try. Henry Ford once said, “Whether You Think You Can, or Think You Can’t — You’re Right.” I think I can, and I hope I am right.

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 236 countable words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday I logged a marathon day with my coursework. I completed fifteen pages in the workbook, created eighteen pages of detailed notes, proposed story situations, and even a few dialogue lines to aid in writing my scene-by-scene outline. Next, I shifted gears and wrote another two pages of ideas I want to ensure I include in the first twenty to thirty pages. Many of these items may only be a brief mention of something or a glimpse of a character. But I intend to use them to help foreshadow events slated to happen later in the storyline.

Then I ran out of steam, or rather, my hand rebelled, started cramping, and made it next to impossible for me to continue working. I enacted pivot number two and picked up a book from the instructor’s suggested reading list. I made progress, even though I didn’t meet my goal of completing 20 pages. The finish line is floating on the horizon, and scenes are beginning to play out in my head. My excitement is building. My enthusiasm is driving me forward, pushing me towards my objective of finalizing the outline so I can begin the most rewarding part of this project—writing 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 236 countable words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday delivered another mind-numbing dose of 9 to 5 madness. It’s the typical craziness that follows a holiday. Tuesday feels like Monday, and you swear Friday will never arrive. The day’s theme revolved around errands. Five stops took me to opposite ends of town and ended with me realizing my car needed gas. I hate when that happens. With six necessary tasks completed, I finally returned home and started on my actual work.

My tomato plants have produced another jaw-dropping amount of fruit ready for picking. Yippee, I get to make more sauce. This time I might have enough to freeze so I can enjoy the bounty this winter. Next, I opened my course workbook and completed another ten pages along with four entire pages of notes before I ran out of steam. I’m disappointed since I’d hoped to get through 20 pages in total. But at least it was something. The rest of the workbook requires copious written work, so I know it will be slow going. The best part is I feel I am making significant progress, and the project is moving along. If I can keep myself on track, I expect to meet my self-imposed deadline. Wouldn’t that be nice?

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 170 countable words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday my train derailed, and my body subjected me to a bout of intestinal distress. Yuck. I didn’t feel like moving. My malady resulted from something I ate. Whenever I eat something I have not prepared myself or obtained from a reliable source, it is a risk I take.  Milk, and milk products, are the bane of my existence, and lactose hides in some unlikely places. I have become adept at steering clear of the usual culprits, but occasionally, I miss a potential problem and pay a 24-to-48-hour price.

My diminished state required that I removed many activities from my lets-do-this-today-list, but I still accomplished a couple of things. It was a good day for reading, and I started and finished another book. Then I turned on the tv and promptly fell asleep. That’s not a bad thing.

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 134 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday I leaned into the Holiday weekend. Life often interferes with your best intentions, and it is easy to lose contact with dear friends.  I made it my mission to rectify the situation and scheduled a few dinners and coffee dates. Holidays are also meant for picnics with family and for catching up on significant milestones and even mundane trials and tribulations. When something affects the people you care about, nothing is insignificant. And then there were fireworks. Fireworks always make me smile. Massive, chest-throbbing explosions followed by brilliant flashing colors and sizzling pops are the perfect capstone to an incredible 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 228 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday I got busy. I opened my class workbook, put my nose to the grindstone, and started writing. Time stood still, and I kept turning the pages. When I came up for air, I amazed even myself. I finished the first 20 pages of the 60-page manual and had filled 16 pages in my notebook in a matter of a few hours. In addition, I wrote an additional two pages of notes for another idea for a book in an entirely different series. It required a healthy dose of self-restraint to write only the broad brushstrokes of my concept before I forced myself to return to my current project. I don’t have the time or the energy to chase details, create a new set of characters, and imagining another story’s universe, especially when my current work-in-process hasn’t even reached the halfway mark.

Oh, but the new idea is so very intriguing. So, I made a bargain with myself—when I finish the first three books I am planning to write for the current series, I will explore this other idea further. It might be the carrot I need to speed me along on my journey.

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 203 countable words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday my hand, my arm, and my neck and shoulder staged a rebellion. My muscles claimed they were sore and tired from my unrelenting pursuit of inflicting “cruel and unusual punishment” by forcing them to engage in handwriting, page after page of notes, over the past few days. They drove their point home, and I relented. I switched gears and opted to read a book on my instructor’s suggested reading list. They agreed to turn the pages, and I even coaxed them to take a handful of notes.

My To-Do List also benefited from the enforced work slowdown. I changed the sheets on every bed in the house and gathered every dishtowel, bath towel, washcloth, and bathmat. More laundry loads found their way through the washing and drying cycles and then into the proper closet or drawer. Why, despite my best efforts, is there always so much laundry? Next, I cooked another batch of tomato sauce and grilled Italian sausage. Fresh garden tomatoes flavored with homegrown basil are beyond amazing.

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 343 countable words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday I dared to recreate my previous day’s results. Can you believe it? I finished not one, two, or even three modules for my online class. Incredibly, I completed nine more units. Again. I repeated my proven process of watching videos, reading lessons, taking copious notes, and completing the corresponding exercises. To say my hand developed cramps and sore muscles is a grievous understatement, but I didn’t stop until I filled my steno pad. I’m not sure how it happened, but my notebook had the exact number of sheets I needed for everything I didn’t want to forget. That never happens, and yet, it did. My poor arm, shoulder, and neck deserve a nice, long massage.

The best part is the lessons kicked my mind into high gear, and I have a separate page filled with more ideas for my story. Yippee. I am thrilled I waited to begin work on the exercises in the Lesson 18 workbook until after receiving the instructions in the modules. Knowing the requirements and having my idea log will make finishing it easier—an almost fill-in-the-blank exercise. I am still behind, but I have made great strides forward in completing the coursework. Even better is feeling my story’s flow. I have two writing assignments to submit for the instructor’s review, along with the 60-page workbook—but that’s not all. Plenty of writing lies ahead to complete, but I have the holiday weekend in front of me.

And yesterday was not a total loss for attacking my To-Do List. The mandatory grocery store trip happened, the kitchen received a quick tidy-up, two loads of laundry found their way through the washing and drying cycles before returning to their proper homes, and I still found time to meet friends for dinner. I’m refusing to pinch myself because I don’t want to discover I am only dreaming.

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 251 countable words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday I amazed even myself. I worked my way through not one, two, or even three modules for my online class. Nope, not even close. Are you ready? I finished nine of those units. It was as if time stood still. I watched videos, read lessons, took notes, and completed the corresponding exercises. My hand became sore from writing pages and pages of notations, and when I counted, I had filled 12 sheets of my steno notebook with important information. The cramps started in my hand, radiated up my arm, and squeezed the muscles in my shoulder and neck into hard knots. Don’t let anyone tell you writers don’t suffer for their craft.

The concentrated effort required to accomplish the massive push forward on my class schedule meant I did nothing else after fulfilling my 9 to 5 sentence. The To-Do List remained untouched. Sadly, since I fell behind on my homework, and even with all of yesterday’s progress, I am still behind, and still six modules short of reaching the halfway point and 14 short of current. Never fear because I have a plan. Don’t I always have a plan? Enter a long holiday weekend with few distractions and a burning desire to finish this class, and move on to Phase Two of my master plan.

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 240 countable words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer