Writing is hard

Instead of writing this blog posting, I should be working on a writing "assignment." It's not really even an assignment but I feel compelled to complete it.

A few months ago, a few of us writer types started a writers group called The Deadline Society (sort of like Dead Poets Society, a fabulous movie). We started out meeting at Starbucks (where else would creative types meet but a coffee shop?) and just chatted about writing, work, families or any other topic that popped up. But in January, we decided to take our little group one step further and actually -- gasp -- write!

One of the members provided us with some writing prompts from a writing book in case we needed inspiration. We would distribute our work one day before our next meeting so everyone could read and critique.

It's supposed to be fiction because most of us write non-fiction for a living. It's supposed to stretch us. It's supposed to be low-pressure and fun.

I'm on my second writing attempt and the meeting is next week. As a journalist, writing about other people's lives is one thing. I don't have to make up stories, quotes or drama -- I write about what already exists. Now, I'm trying to write about what I see in my head. It's anything but low-pressure.

I suppose all of us who make our living with words harbor a secret desire to write a book. Who doesn't want to do a book signing at Barnes & Noble? I've come up with the beginnings of a dozen books. They are nicely filed in a part of my brain called "book beginnings" and never actually make it to paper.

Why? Because writing is hard. Good writers make it look easy but all writers know it's tough to string words together into something interesting. It's tough to keep people's attention past the second paragraph. It's tough to write something and then toss it out there for the world to read (and possibly even hate).

I'm hoping I can at least write 200 words for next week's meeting of The Deadline Society. I'm also hoping my fellow writers will be kind. For the next week, I'll keep at it, clicking away on the keyboard and all the while dreaming about how I'll autograph my books and what sort of questions Oprah will ask when my work is selected for her book club.

It's a sickness

Last night I went to bed at 8:30 and finished reading a book (already one book read in 2007!). I honestly had nothing else pressing to do.

Oh sure, I could have tackled some work-related tasks or got started on some SPJ project. But nothing was screaming, "I should have been done yesterday!" Particularly because I'm not teaching this semester at the College of Charleston, my evenings aren't filled with lesson plans and grading.

A friend called while I was reading and I admitted my guilt over what I classified as "doing nothing."

"It's a sickness," I told her. Truly, I have a tough time relaxing. I feel guilty when I do something that's just for me. But step one is admitting you have a problem and one of my goals is to get better about this. Last weekend, I watched a movie. On Sunday, I'm participating in a four-part mystery book club.

I'm also checking into a women's crafting circle, church Bible studies and adult swimming lessons with an equally water-terrified friend (this should generate lots of blog postings).

I'd say my 2007 is off to a pretty good start.

Christmas in Ohio

Clint and Holly enjoy Christmas in Ohio.

Happy New Year

Wow. I blinked and 2006 blew right by me.

We spent New Year's Eve with two close friends. I believe this was our fifth New Year's Eve with them. We enjoy having a good dinner, playing some games and watching the ball drop in Times Square. Each year we talk about how fast the previous year went. But, truly, 2006 really zipped by in a flurry of work, moving, home renovations and even more work.

I am ashamed to say I didn't ride my bike once in 2006. I camped zero times and I read a very tiny handful of books. While I had some terrific accomplishments, I really want to relax the pace a bit this year.

Goal for 2007: sloooooow dooowwwnn. I want to work hard but I want to play hard too. I want a little more down time, a little more quality time, a little more me time.

Considering I extended my vacation into Jan. 3, rather than going back to work Jan. 2, I would say I'm off to a good start.