On Writing & Storytelling: To Avoid ‘Burning Daylight’ and Stick to Work Commitments, Setting Realistic Goals is Key

Afternoon, Saturday, September 23, 2023, Lithia, Florida

Hi, everyone. Welcome to another weekend edition of A Certain Point of View, Too.

This being early fall, and this being Florida, it is a hot, humid afternoon here in the Tampa Bay area. Currently, the temperature outside is 84°F/30°C under sunny conditions. Maybe it’s because yesterday was the autumn equinox, but it’s not as hellishly hot as it has been over the past few weeks. With the wind blowing from the north-northwest at 4 MPH/7 KMH and humidity at 43%, the feels-like temperature is 84°F/30°C. the forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 88°F/31°C.

To Write or Not to Write…

That is the question that bedevils me today.

I have been up since 6:30 AM, had as nice a breakfast as I could prep on my own, and I want to write today – every day that I don’t put in at least a little bit of work is one more day that pushes back the publication of my novel. That’s the simple, cold, and hard truth. I must finish the first draft soon so I can go ahead and fine-tune it as best I can so I can have Reunion: Coda ready for sale on Amazon no later than December 15.

I want to write 300-600 words today – at least – just to assuage my fears of missing my self-imposed deadline, and since it’s still relatively early in the afternoon, perhaps I’ll be able to do that after I eat some lunch. Part of me says, “Forget lunch and just work on the novel; you’ve never been much of a ‘lunch person,’ anyway.” But I’m a bit tired – waking up early has been part of my routine for a long time, but I still get tired around 1:30-2 PM – and feel the need for at least a snack. I can write if I’m just “a bit tired,” but not well nor with much enthusiasm, so I’ll take a break and refuel in a bit.

Writing 300-600 words is a modest goal, to be sure, especially when I usually try for 1,000 words or over per workday, but I’d rather set – and meet – modest goals instead of merely shrugging my shoulders, taking the day off, and promising to make up the “lost day” tomorrow. I know I need time off from work, but I also know that there are people who scoff at me and say, “You’re not a real writer, Alex” simply because I’m not on the same level of literary success as, say, Stephen King, Nicholas Sparks, or Jennifer Egan. I’d rather work on a weekend and at least show that I have a strong work ethic rather than give folks like that ammunition for their contrarian arguments.

Anyway, as Wil Anderson (John Wayne) says in The Cowboys, “We’re burnin’ daylight!” So, until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and I’ll catch you on the sunny side of things.   

Kindle Free E-Book Offer Reminder

Oh, I almost forgot!

If you have not yet purchased Reunion: A Story in either paperback or Kindle e-book format, the limited time “free e-book” offer is still available through Amazon between now and September 26, 2023 in all of the Amazon markets – including Amazon.es and Amazon .de! So if you like free e-books and would like to read my novella gratis, this is your chance to do so!