Compelled to Write, Commanded to Love

I'm having difficulty juggling everything in my life right now. I'm about to embark on another move, one that will be cross-county in stead of cross-town. And this time around, I'll have a 15-month old with me. Whoa. (I know...say a prayer for me, please!)

But ever since I've really taken on writing as a full-time, part-time hobby, my life has changed. Priorities have shifted that maybe shouldn't have. (Okay, probably shouldn't have.) My evenings are spent glued to a laptop screen (and it IS beautiful...as is my backlit keyboard on my new MacBook...but I digress) instead of talking with my hubby. Now that this is to my attention - and I'm so glad it is - I have to do something about it.

Real people first. Characters second.

Of course, Christ is truly first. Perhaps if He hadn't slipped down the priority chain, real people wouldn't have. It's all about keeping your perspective, isn't it? I'm compelled to write. But I'm commanded to love.

It's that simple.

Q4U: Anyone else out there struggling with priorities surrounding your writing, job, family? How are you dealing with it?

Which Lane Do You Write In?

I stumbled across another theory as I was driving my commute back home from work yesterday. I am a left-lane driver. Yes, I probably do go too fast most of the time. I just have issues being behind someone for very long. I also don't like the view or feeling stifled or stuck.

Plus, my epiphany came in the left lane.

Photo by Ben McLeod

I think which lane you drive in has something to do with personality. Now you right-laners can get upset with me or agree with me, it won't matter. It's just a theory and thus may not hold water. Regardless, I'm going to do some personality generalizations.

I think right-lane drivers are the type to observe rules, not try their limits or test tried-and-true methods, possibly lean more toward Type A (although I'm Type A...I never said this was a perfect theory) and introversion. The right-laner looks at the left-laner and thinks, "They're so reckless."

Left-laners are more fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, to heck with the rules (quite literally), extroverted, Type B, rule-snubbers, possibly even looking down on right-laners as they cruise on by them, thinking, "They're so boring."

Hopefully I won't get flogged...but these were just some thoughts I had while driving. (The old guy in the Dodge honestly didn't need to be on the road, people. Seriously.)

So...how does this relate to writing? I'm thinking it might be the same! Those in the right lane probably go at a more sedate pace, knocking out their daily word counts every day. Fairly structured writing routine. Left-laners are far more likely to have marathon typing sessions on a weekend where they go into the wee hours and knock out 5000 words like nobody's business. Right-laners probably have the outline all ready to go while left-laners make it up as they type.

Q4U: Is this remotely accurate? For the sake of research, let me know in the comment section which lane you drive in and whether it fits your writing style.

Walking Inspiration

I was out walking today, pushing my little girl in her stroller. Here of late I've had a walking buddy, but she had to get a haircut today, so I was by myself. My daughter is used to my friend and I chatting away, so I talked to her for a while...but one can only do this so long without response (she'll be one year in February). So I started thinking out loud about the current novel I'm working on.

Wham! In between a cow pasture and a old cemetery, I had the perfect romantic foil for my heroine! It was like a light bulb turning on! Of course, my daughter was asleep by this time, so she missed out on my epiphany this afternoon.

All that waits now is for me to get some uninterrupted writing time to actually type this into creation! I'm hoping that's on the agenda for this weekend.