Insecure Writer’s Support Group: Priorities

Today, is the first Wednesday of the month and time for Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer’s Support Group, where we hold each other up in the bad and good times of our writing.

When I started seriously blogging in 2010, I did so everyday.  I also read a good two hours worth of blogs everyday. At 5 AM, I was up.

Now, I’m lucky to post once or twice a week and count my blessings when I actually get an hour to check out others’ blogs. To some extent, it really makes me sad and I feel guilty. Yesterday, I got an hour to read and I didn’t even comment on everyone's posts. But I did Tweet and Share. ***shrugs***

I came to the conclusion a while ago that I’m not Wonder Woman. Although for some reason Sweetman seems to think so. Especially now. So I’ve really had to prioritize things in a list every day. And right now, Sweetman is at the top of that list. He needs me more than ever. He’s been going through chemo the last six weeks. And we’ve got six more weeks to go.

Not only that, I’ve got peeps asking when my next book to Lila’s Journey will be out. The novel writing comes second to the Sweetman, guys. My plan this year is to have two novels published by December 2013 along with three short stories, which means less time blogging.

Oh and then there’s the little Glowstick and the Ho-Ho. I have to be there for these two precious grandbabies. There are times I just have to drop everything, including the writing, to be there for these two. Babies take a lot of time and they are both walking, which means they get into everything.

Not only that, Sweetman said the other day, “You’re slipping on the household chores.” I’m pretty sure he’s miserable and anything out of order is probably bugging him more than ever since he has absolutely no control over what is happening to him. He’s also on the extreme side of anal retentive and I’m not.

So guys, I really have to prioritize right now, but I’m still here.

How’s everyone else doing?

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

PS I miss participating in the A to Z this year.

Sabotaged

The last two weeks of my writing life’s been difficult. If it’s not my relentless work schedule getting in the way, it’s my brain stumbling over words. Or, how do I describe this and that. Or, it’s sweetman sitting at the kitchen table clipping his nails or munching on chips loudly. Or, it’s No-No going off on one her hypochondriac rants. Or, it’s Honey Bear bringing his cat ball (loud bell inside), slamming it into my lap to play. Or, it’s sweetman stepping into another warm welcome from Sir-Poops-A-Lot---listening to his tantrums.

The following describes the other night at my house. Number five has a lot to do with the chaos I go through, I swear.

Shelly sat at her kitchen table around seven o’ clock. She’d cleaned the kitchen, walked her dogs, and made herself a cup of tea. It had been a long one at work and she’d anticipated this moment at her keyboards all day. A story for her next chapter chattered at her all day. She had to write.

Tinkletinkletinkle…Something small and noisy plopped in her lap. She moved her hand to grab it. A golf-sized ball. A cold, wet nose nudged at her hand. Honey Bear. He wanted to play ball.

Shelly rolled the ball into the living room where her hubby watched television.

The little cotton ball on four legs ran back to the kitchen table with his ball wanting his mommy to throw more.

She sighed, and said: “Honey, can you play with Honey Bear?”

Her hubby walked into her writing area. “Sure,” he said, picking up the fluff mound, turning around, he went up the stairs.

Shelly’s finger tips tapped the keyboards at first, warming up, and finally danced across them. Her mind raced back to her story file. “So much for a cup of tea,” Mel said into the air.

Someone stomped down the stairs.“Mom,” No-No said. “I think the doctor messed up my hip.”

Shelly looked up from her keyboards and watched her daughter plop into a chair across from her. She bugged her eyes at her daughter. “I’m working, right now".

“But I’m in pain. I think I’m going to be crippled for life,” her daughter said. Tears filled her eyes.

Shelly sucked in a gob of air and looked down at her computer screen. She can banter while I write, she thought. I can do two things at once. Her fingers pecked away again.A flicker of light floated behind her. Don walked toward her, a silhouette.

A crash sounded from upstairs. “He did it again!” her husband shouted from the stair top. “Where’s that dog? Where’s that dog?”

Shelly looked up from her keyboard and rolled her eyes.

“You don’t believe me!” No-No cried. “You don’t love me. You never did.” Snot dribbled down her daughter’s lips onto her chin.

Shelly didn’t respond and looked back at her keyboards. Her fingers raced across them. “It’ll be okay. You’ll see.” His free hand rested on her shoulder and he put the small votive on the counter in front of her.

An army of feet plodded down the stairs, human and animal. Sir Poops-A-Lot raced to his box. Shelly’s husband ran behind. “Bad dog!”

She breathed in and kept punching at the keyboards. She leaned back into his chest, warm and safe. The baby inside her stretched out for the evening’s slumber and she moved Don’s hand to her belly. “Do you feel that?”

“You’re a bad boy!” her husband shouted before he took a seat at the table. He went on and on about dog poop.

No-no went on and on about being crippled.

Shelly tried to get her story out while her family fussed over stuff. The inner and outer chatter didn’t mix. She exploded inside and both her hands slapped the table. “My writing is another job! Seriously!” she shouted.

Yup. Another day in the life of a writer.

Happy blogging, reading and writing!!

Shelly