What a month!

Last time we spoke, I was headed to Malice. Now I’m back… and it was wonderful! Not only did I touch base with Maggie Sefton and Michele Scott (and finally meet my agent face-to-face for the first time since I pitched my book to her two years ago), but I met several authors I previously knew only by name. Tasha Alexander, Alesia Holliday (I sat next to her at the Berkley dinner; she’s incredibly prolific!), Diana Killian (lots of good energy!), Carolyn Hart (a legend), Joanna Carl (delicious culinary mysteries), Sara Rosett (fabulous new series), Maureen Robb… and I had a very nice lunch with Michele Scott and Dawn Dowdle. The talk, of course, was all about writing… and as always, I came back newly energized. Which is a good thing, since I’ve got a ton to write now! (And I’m already attacking it.)

I met with another new writer yesterday, and found myself expounding, as always, on the merits of setting a schedule and sticking to it. And realized that I have done a relatively poor job of defending my writing schedule lately — partially because I was between projects, I have said ‘yes’ to perhaps a few too many other writing-related commitments.

So after my dentist’s appointment this morning, I will no longer schedule more than one morning a week for anything other than writing. Because when it is a non-negotiable part of life, it becomes as natural as eating or breathing. When you are away from it more often than not, however, that faucet of creativity doesn’t flow as freely as it can. And writers are much happier when they’re writing… it’s true.