Writing...

I've often heard that you know you're an author, if you have to write. I was never sure what this meant. For a while I had the chance to live the dream. I was a full-time author. And nana... Meaning I watched the grandkids a lot. I loved it.

I thought it would be like that for the rest of my life and one day I'd actually make a bit of money at it. Then life happened. My husband was laid off a few years from retirement. No one wanted to hire him at his rate of pay. Especially since he's be retiring in a couple of years. I had to go back to the dreaded day job.

During this time I've found that I must be an author because I have to write. I have too many stories flying through my mind. But when do I write?

I'm gone all day. I take public transit, there is a hunk of time. Then I prepare dinner. Do I want to lock myself in the office when I get home after being at a desk and computer all day? Yes and no. I need to write. But I also have a family who needs me. I have a new grandbaby and another one coming in November. They'll only be young once. If I lock myself in to write I miss their growing up. I also miss a lot of life experiences.

What do I do? I live my life to the fullest. I spend time with my family. I travel. I enjoy cooking. And I even joined a book club. Not one but two. There are four of us in our book club. I believe, besides being fun, that I have learned a lot by reading other genre's. I'm able to see other styles. I think this is one thing I would recommend to another writer. One of the reasons that it is helpful, is that all the members have different tastes. Most of the books I would never had read had I not joined the club.

Yes, I am in another book club. This one just started. My grandson was so jealous that his nana and his other grandma got to go to a book club, so he started his own. We'll see how this one is. But I am working on a story my grandsons helped me plot and I believe these younger books will help with this.

I feel that living life to the fullest can only make my stories more believable. Again, what do I do? I grab whatever crumb of time I can muster to write because I do have to write. I've managed to plan a few weekends a year for writing retreats with my critique partner, or just by myself. Right now that really works for me. Until I retire, I may only publish a book a year or every other year, but I will hone my craft and do the best I can. And sometimes the crumbs of time are interrupted. So I put the baby on my lap and play with her instead of work on my computer. That's life. I have a good life and I wouldn't change it.