Inspiration from Beyond the Grave

"You just need to put the heart before the course...."

                                      -Margo Lagattuta

            This morning I received an email from a person who died two years ago.  Thus began my first day back to work after a week on vacation.  It was a week away from everything, which included writing.  The moment I sat at my office desk and pulled up my email to get started on the day’s tasks, the first email my eyes latched onto was an email from a close friend of mine who died a couple years ago.  Like me, she was a fellow writer.  Like me, she was passionate about teaching.  She had a way with words that haunts me to this day and to see an email from her today tore my soul apart and opened wounds that I thought were long healed.

            On many occasions we talked about writing; on occasion, she would discuss her own works, but I never discussed my own writing.  We would talk of style, mechanics and finding one’s own voice.  I am not even sure if she knew I was writing a novel (let alone a horror novel about vampires), but she knew I was writing.  Over the past week and a half I had off, I did no writing.  I would love to admit that I did it because I wanted to take a break from a copious amount of writing and my rest was well earned, but the truth of the matter was that I hadn’t picked up the pen (or the keyboard) to work on my manuscript in quite some time before my vacation.  I know what my friend would tell me “Pick up that pen [she knew I wrote on a pen and pad of paper first]!  Get back to work!  That story won’t write itself.”  Indeed, she was right.  I would yell at my pad of paper (even placed the pen atop the pad) and guess what?  It didn’t write itself.  I hadn’t even opened the email and I mentally chastised myself for not writing (it would have been what she would have done).  Finally, realizing that I was at my office to work (and not to write), I set about the day’s tasks; however, my friend and my writing weren’t far from my thoughts.

            When you have a life (family, job, meetings, and other obligations) it can be difficult to factor writing into your day to day activities.  This is especially true if you see writing as a diversion.  If you see it purely as something fun and relaxing, then guilt can weasel its way into your mind and make you feel bad about writing taking you away from what you are “supposed” to do.  Make writing something that you are supposed to do.

            I find that I get a lot done when I am at a designated work station (even if that “work station” is the kitchen table).  If I create a habit that I sit at a table or desk (with a straight-backed chair), it forces me to stay on task.  The kitchen table and a laptop is the perfect place to set up a makeshift office where I can keep on task.

            Also, I find that I write better and stay focused when I put together a predictable schedule to write at.  Saturdays at 6am, and Wednesdays at 7pm are great times for me to get working on my novel.  These are quite regular times for me.  Most times I work my way to writing once every other day, but if I cannot do this, then I go back to my tried and true Saturday and Wednesday schedule.  Lots of authors (especially published ones) have a regular schedule that they work on every day.  If you can’t do this now, then work up to it.  However, keep that small schedule no matter what.

            Be productive, too!  I give myself a set schedule of how much to write.  If I exceed it, then I know that next time, I push past it.  If I have a hard time doing it, then I write what I can.  I also give myself an incentive for wanting to pick it up again.  For example, I end on an incomplete thought or I end with a cliffhanger.  That makes me want to pick it up again next time.

            Think of writing as a job that can be just as important as other tasks that you have in your life.  Those ideas that you have in your head are just as valuable as anything that you read in a magazine or see on the shelves.  I think of that email often.  I think of what my friend would say about my laziness in writing.  If you’re wondering why write of this on the heels of an email from a friend from beyond the grave.  It is important to know that the email came to me through my work account.

            Still yet, if you’re wondering what was written…well, I’ll let that be a story idea for you to pursue.