Just a Good Day

1500 / 1000 words. 150% done!

A quick word count update to make me feel good about myself. I generally aim for a daily word count of 1,000 words, and I generally wind up disappointed at the end of the day. Today was an exception, so I'm going to brag a bit. Even though most of the professional writers I've seen share their word counts surpass mine over breakfast, I will feel good about myself. Today, I won.

Now that the affirmation's out of the way...

I know that there's absolutely no reason that I can't hit the 1,000 word mark every day of the week. None. Even on a packed work day, I can guarantee I've got half an hour at lunch and two hours in the evening when I can write without screwing up my sleep schedule, failing at my job or offending my wife. Even the dog will generally not be a factor at these times.

I know this, but I let other things get in the way. The television isn't usually a problem, but the computer is. I have tweets to check, or some funny web video to watch. My antivirus definitions are out of date, and Microsoft just released a new patch cluster, and isn't that version of Java a bit old?

My best friend just asked if I could jump on the XBox for awhile - he lives in Cincinnati and I haven't seen him in months, how can I refuse? It really is time I did the dishes/threw in some laundry/picked up the dog poop in the backyard. I have a book I've been itching to finish. Or I just finished a book, and a brand new one's waiting in the wings.

And if none of that applies... If I sit down at my computer or flip open my notepad (I have a nice one I carry everywhere. I am at least trying)... Even if all lights are green and I'm cleared for takeoff...

Maybe I don't know what to write next. Maybe I don't know how to write the next thing well. Maybe the last scene, on reflection, is a lot like a broken leg on a horse. Maybe the next scene needs a horse with a broken leg and I haven't set it up properly.

So I sit, and I think. And maybe I get distracted and start the whole thing over again.

It's a shame, and it's all my fault. I confess! I'm a sinner!

But on a day like today, when the stars line up and I get that determined set in my jaw and I finally start typing...

That's just a good day.