Scheduling discipline

Scheduling discipline

Readers of my newsletter will have noticed that I frequently include photos of animals. Some of you have wondered, what's with the wildlife? Here's a hint - each of the animals I have included photos of makes an appearance in the Fighting in Shadows world. Shades of Deception includes coyotes, owls, bears, and unnamed others. Approaching Shadows focuses on pekans and wolves. What critters will show up in the next book?

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When someone works from home, unless the person is very good at setting boundaries and very disciplined in staying on task, other people and other tasks can push work to the back burner. When that person is a writer - a job most people don't understand, even if they live with someone who writes, those boundaries and schedules can be harder to navigate. 

"I know you said you were going to write today, but could you just watch the girls for a couple of hours so I can go to the store without bringing them?"

"I need you to pick up these parts for me today so I can fix the (you name it) when I get home. It shouldn't take too long."

"Are you working? My car broke down. I'm on the side of the road. I called a tow truck, but I need to get to the store to pick up..."

or even, (ahem)

"What are you doing in the garden? I thought you said you wanted to write today?"

One thing I've found helpful in making myself stick to the task is establishing accountability. To that end, I'm going to begin posting 15-minute sprints here weekly. Sometimes those might be focused on a scene, or a word prompt, and others might be bits of what will eventually end up in the Fighting in Shadows world. These are unedited bits, but they're fun to do and hopefully, enjoyable to read.

This week, I've decided to include one from the Christian Indie Writer's Podcast, prompted by using the words "horseshoe, pattern, ignore, habit, and employ." 

Hailey moved closer to the water’s edge, enjoying the way the wet sand squished away from her feet. The pattern of the reflected sky broken by the crests of the waves mesmerized her. Dark, light, dark, light, the refracted light rode the swell of the ocean and shimmered on the shards of mica scattered in the sand underneath.

“Hailey, Mama said not to go past your knees.”

Hailey ignored her sister, as was her habit. 

“Hailey, look at me!”

Hailey tossed a quick glance toward her mother’s towel back on the beach. Her mother was glaring in her direction. 

“I’m not past my knees, look!” She lifted her skirt, the hem of which had been flapping against her shins with the ebb and flow of the waves. The water was deeper than she had thought. She stretched to employ her tiptoes in the sand, trying to gain a little height, but it was no good. She grimaced up at her mother’s spot on the beach. “Oops! Sorry!”

As she turned her attention back to the water, intent on back-tracking just enough for her kneecaps to feel air, she saw it.

“Mama! Look! A horseshoe crab!”