Squirrel!
When I first started writing three years ago, I put my publishing schedule together each year in January. But last year it didn’t work out so well. After several troll attacks that really had me questioning why I bothered to do some of the things I do, I took a step back from writing, from promoting, from pretty much everything involved in publishing books. As a result, I finished fewer novels than I had originally planned. It was a frustrating time for me, but with time came the ability to let it all go.
So now, I’m on a roll. I’ve figured out my publishing schedule through the end of 2015 already, and for the last 8 days, I’ve written over 6,000 words a day. It feels great. I guess the only thing getting in my way is that thing that distracts every writer. I call it … SQUIRREL!
There’s nothing more intimidating than a blank page to a writer. Even for someone who’s prolific, a writing goal set for the day is an obstacle to get over. That’s where the squirrel comes in to make things even more difficult.
Today I was typing out my first paragraph of the day, and it crossed my mind that I hadn’t checked on the health of a friend of mine who had a fall off his bike. I thought I should probably stop writing for a minute and send him a text.
SQUIRREL! 
Fact of life for a writer: Any excuse to stop writing can and will present itself in the midst of writing towards a deadline.
I knew I’d meet my word count goal by lunchtime, so my friend’s text could wait. I convinced myself to get back to writing and leave the texting for later.
I typed another paragraph, but as I started on another, I thought of a puppy I’d seen online that I really wanted to buy. I could just go look at her adorable picture once more…
SQUIRREL!
I had 1,500 words done and suddenly, I thought it might be a nice idea to do a load of laundry …
SQUIRREL!
And send an email…
SQUIRREL!
And post something to Facebook…
SQUIRREL!
And, and … and …
SQUIRREL! SQUIRREL! SQUIRREL! SQUIRREL!
I think you get the idea. The writer’s bane is a bunch of wild squirrels. The only way to manage them is to herd them into a little corner of the room and deal with them after the word count is done. 
The interesting thing is that once the writing is done, the herd of squirrels has dwindled down to almost none, little bastards that they are.
newest »
You always speak my mind. ;) Somehow, you get it. =D
I can totally relate to this. I need to just sit down with no distractions except my music and write my heart out. My goal for this year is to finish writing this book that someone contracted me to write for them (it's over a year's worth of journal entries that he wants me to turn into a novel of journal entries.) I also want to find a traditional publisher for it, but if not, there is always self-publishing on Lightening Space.
I want to write a book, and I've been told that the best thing to do is to stop waiting for inspiration and just start. I don't exactly have a solid idea for a book, but I guess the least I could do is start writing something. Anything. Let those juices get flowing and then BAM: inspiration! I used to write so much, and I had a vampire novel I was working on back in ninth grade, and one day, I just started to doubt myself, and I stopped. I'm one hell of a writer, and I go back and read some of the stuff I've written, and I ask myself: "Faith, why did you EVER doubt yourself? You're awesome!" I don't have a deadline to meet or a squirrel trying to stop me. It's my aspirations that I'm trying to reach and myself that's stopping me.
Happy writing!
Oh, Ms. Casey I miss you so much!I've read the majority of your books and you have a 5.0 average stars from me.
I am so in love with all your writing. It doesn't happen so often to love everything a writer publishes but with you it happens every damn time.
Please ignore the trolls.
Joke'em if they can't take a fuck! (that's a quote from a IAD book but I think it applies very well)
Please please please don't let anyone move you off course. Let them write tens of books as awesome as yours, see how that goes!
P.S. I love you so much!
