When Life Gets In The Way Of Writing

Okay, then. So that’s what writing feels like. Hmmm, I kind of enjoy it.

After not pecking out a word in nearly two months, I started workingagain on In The Sunshine, my latest little foray into the world ofromance. For you writing types out there, it’s likely going to fallbetween 12,000 – 15,000 words at completion, a “novelette.” For therest of the world, it’s a short story.

A family trip Cocoa Beach, Florida, in May sparked the story idea. Istarted writing the story just about as soon as we got home. I madegreat process, about 8,000 words in less than a month. Then life gotin the way.

I interviewed for a job and actually landed it (started a week ago)!My mother, who is in her mid 70s, was also in and out of the hospitala few times with various ailments. Those elements combined with mynormal day-to-day life pulled me away from the keyboard. It was afrustrating period from a writing standpoint, but you’ve got to dowhat you’ve got to do.

I’ll admit I was nervous when I sat down and tried to kickstart thisproject. I reread what I had written and was relatively pleased. Afterthat, I started writing. I think I churned out about 500 words overthe course of an hour, before my kids started getting up. I wroteanother few hundred words this morning.

It’s going to take awhile to really get back in the flow. I have givenmyself a deadline of August 10 to finish the first draft. I’ve alreadygot an editor lined up and had originally intended to get the story tohim a month ago. He dropped me a note this morning wondering what theheck was going on.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to publishing the story. As short, I knowit’s not going to sell tons of copies and I’m not too worried aboutit. I haven’t published a story in almost two years, so it’s time toget of the shnide, as they say.

Enough about me. If you’re a writer reading this, tell me about yourcurrent Work in Progress. Where are you at with it and when do you seeyourself hitting the publishing button?

If you are a reader, what’s on your Kindle right now? If you’re aromance reader, are you open to shorter than novel-length work? Whatprice would you be willing to pay for a piece that’s about 50traditional pages in length?