Z End

Appalling and cheap. Unworthy of me and the high standards I set for this blog. Yes and yes, and yet I have reached the end. This is my third year of blogging A to Z in April and it really has been quite a challenge. There are multiple demands on my time, and I have been staying up later than usual to manage. I haven't had a bed time read for a month because by the time I get to bed, I'm too tired to even open the book. The Hobbit has been waiting patiently on my bedside table, silently craving my attention.

The challenge pushes me and I love that. Deadlines work for me. I can drift into unproductive nonchalance quite easily, and I do have a propensity for procrastination. I would love to have a editor demanding I finish my WIP, because of all my readers who were dying to get their hands on my fifth novel, and because of all the money they, the publishers that is, would make. I reckon I would rise to that challenge, instead of finding other things to do because really, where is the urgency? I do not have a galaxy of eager readers salivating over the prospect of another literary gem from D.A.Cairns. (Incidentally I do write literary gems) No one expects anything from me, except me.

So I end this whingefest in the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge, with a complaint against myself. I am indeed my own worst enemy. Fortunately, Jesus teaches us to love our enemies, and I can go with that quite happily.

A couple of questions to finish with: Do you do better working to deadlines, or setting your own pace? And secondly, who or what is your worst enemy?

Photo sources:
http://muls.org/2015/03/31/ill-later-said-law-student/
http://pha.purdue.edu/news/mu-deadlines-approaching-eps-and-hospitals

A Much Maligned Skill

Procrastination is a much maligned skill. Today is Friday and it is my designated writing day. I am engaged in paid employment Monday to Thursday, so Friday is the day I can sit and bang away at the keys on my laptop.

I have a W.I.P. called Lovesick which is 34 chapters old (first draft). It will be my fifth novel. I could have used the last two hours to add to those 34 chapters, but I have found other more important things to do.

Music is an important accompaniment to my writing so firstly I had to find a CD to put on. Whilst at the bookcase I noticed the recently purchased, and as yet unopened box set of Star Trek: The Original series. Very tempting. (I chose to listen to Ixnay on the Hombre by Offspring by the way) A pile of unwashed dishes begged my attention,as did a laundry basket overflowing with dirty clothes. I needed a cup of tea, and there were bills to pay. I love online banking: so convenient. There was a moment of consternation as I noticed a balance transfer to an interest free credit card had not occurred two weeks after I activated the account. This necessitated a phone call to the bank. I had to turn off my music because the 'on hold' music was very loud, and actually pretty good. 

I sent a message to my son asking him to call me, then logged on to Twitter which I haven't done for ages. I always post to Facebook and it automatically feeds to Twitter, but now I have temporarily deactivated my Facebook account so I will tweet directly.

Breakfast seems like ages past, so I've just made myself a cup of tea and grabbed a couple of Double Choc Tim Tams from the fridge. I love Tim Tims. Now, with Lamb of God's Wrath playing on the CD player, I am ready to write, but before I do that I think I'll have another Tim Tam, and wait...I hear the washing machine beeping to tell me the load is finished. I have to go out at 1pm, and I'll need to eat some lunch before I go. Do you see how skillfully I procrastinate?

How do you like to waste time?

Photo source:
http://timemanagementninja.com/2013/02/29-ways-youre-wasting-time-today/