Maybe This is A First Step

I haven't posted over here in about three months. I haven't posted over here since the Bush Administration. The sad terrible news is that I haven't worked on my book since then either. I have done some other writing-- there was a nice essay commissioned for the State Department. Technically, it's writing and I am proud of that work, but I have terrible neglected my real work.

I've travelled a LOT. I've been to Ghana, Uganda, DC, Atlanta (twice), Pittsburgh, Chicago and Nebraska. In short I have spend a lot of time flouncing around looking like an author, but hardly anytime being a writer and I am deeply worried about this.

I've got a sabbatical right around the corner. The plan is to hunker down and do my thing. I was hoping to go to an artist colony because I work well in that sort of semi-seclusion. The bad news is that I didn't get into MacDowell and Yaddo waitlisted me. So I am waiting to hear from VCCA. I've also got a possibility in Colorado. In short, I am down, but not out.

I wonder if I am doing the right thing by accepting that I won't get any writing done until school is out the first week of May. About mid-way through January I just made that decision and decided to stop beating myself up about it. I never encourage anyone to put their writing aside. I always say just make a little time-- even if you just get an hour a week. So mabye I need to listen to my own advice? For a while, it was really helpful to know that May 5 was around the corner and I would be free to work on The Silver Girl then. But now, even though may 5 is closer than ever, I feel sort of bad about my choices.

So maybe writing here is a start to getting back into that groove. I won't write today. I can tell you that right now. I am going to work on cleaning the apartment, working out, and finding a NEW apartment. But I'm going to get back with it. I promise.