Writing = Must Do

It's ironic that we're doing the topic "Balancing Life and Writing" this week--since I feel like my life has been going at mach ten speed the past few days. By day, I work in fundraising and worked a huge black-tie event all day and night on Saturday. I think I'm still recovering.

Many people look at me like I have six sets of eyes when I mention that I still work full-time and have a husband and son in addition to my literary "children." Often they ask, "How do you find the time?" And I usually stammer out, "Oh...you know...zero sleep...write on my lunch hour..." because I honestly don't know how I find the time. Between the demands of the day job and the regular boring tasks like laundry, cooking and cleaning, I have very little creative energy at the end of the day. But I somehow managed to write three books in two years, so I must be sneaking it in somewhere.

But what I do know is this: I HAVE to write. It's not just a hobby or an item on the to-do list. And while it's not always something I find easy--like when a character won't do what I tell them to do or a plot hole is staring me in the face, it's part of me. It's who I am. And I might not get a chance to do it every day, but it's always there, like a silent, ever-present piece of me, much like the freckles on my arms.

So finding time, while difficult, isn't really an issue. Because NOT doing it simply isn't an option. Much like brushing my teeth or putting on mascara.