by Darlene Cah
Being a creative type, I’m never at a loss for excuses. I can sit at my computer, ready to write, and suddenly, I’ll remember the cats need their nails trimmed. That’s the kind of year I had, though, some of my excuses were legitimate and considerably less entertaining than weeding my driveway. Working two part-time jobs and looking for a full-time gig, squeezing in a freelance writing job here and there turned my NaNoWriMo into INoWriNoMo! Yeah, I know whine, whine, whine.
Last year, I blogged this:
“On to 2013! My goals are to submit more often, not be so sporadic. Let’s say at least one story a week or more often depending on submission periods and contest deadlines and what I have available. Write more and on a regular basis, especially, I want to finish a story I started quite a while back. It’s been nagging me. Time to get it done. Play around with other genres—more poetry and give playwriting a shot. There. I’ve committed it to blog, for all to see. I will hold myself accountable, be practical and logical, businesslike and professional. Then, lower the Left Brain volume and crank up the Right Brain, and simply write.”
Alrighty then.
Submit more often: I managed to submit a few times. Yay for me! …and shame on me!
Write on a regular basis: Do random sentences on scraps of paper count?
Finish that blasted story: Not finished, but added several pages. Uh…yay for me?
Write poetry and plays: Again with the scribbles on scraps of paper!
I will hold myself accountable: Gulp!
So, my goals for next year are the same as last year. But just in case life gets even crazier, here are my excuses in advance:
1. Oh fun! Let’s get a head start on taxes!
2. Would you look at that! Cottage cheese is on sale at Ingles. I’d better get there before they run out!
3. Must shed out the dog
4. Cool! A Honey Boo Boo marathon!
5. If I don’t go on that zip line right this minute, I never will
6. I know I’m a terrible cook, but I really want to make this soufflé now
7. Need to floss.
8. If I nap for just a few minutes, my muse will whisper a great first line
9. I wonder if I can do 100 sit-ups
10. Here, kitties! Time for obedience training!
I wish you all a joyful, productive year of writing. In the meantime, feel free to share some of your more creative excuses for not writing.
