Nick showed me a picture of a beautiful car on his phone.
“Hesitation is the hallmark of mediocrity,” I said, mostly in jest.
(I looked up where I found this quote and realized I’d paraphrased something Elizabeth Benton had written in her book, Chasing Cupcakes. She’d actually said it was the ‘cornerstone of mediocrity’)
We had been talking about buying a car for months. Currently, we have his pickup truck and my Honda Element (aka ‘dog car’). Both are getting up there in mileage, and both are beloved. He uses the truck daily to take care of our little ‘farm’ and also our two rental properties. It’s finally paid off, so now our hope is that it will go for another 100K miles for ‘free.’
It’s summertime and the living is not so easy, at least in this foster dog home.
With my office cottage filled with three dogs and three puppies, plus a serious medical (possibly hospice) foster dog, my office cat Hazel, and I are both overwhelmed by the dogs, their needs, and their noise.
Which means that I am not getting a lot of writing done. Sigh.
I seem to get myself into these situations on the regular. I’m writing this from a dog bed, where I’m sitting with my Lima Bean, my foster dog who is struggling with advanced heartworm disease in addition to other serious health issues.
There are moments when I’m overwhelmed at all of it – the foster dogs, the nonprofit, our dog-friendly rental business, my writing career (or what’s left of it), and being there to support my family and friends (plus my own three dogs), not to mention my gardens (which so far this year are glorious!).
But then I consider all that is happening in our world, and remind myself that my overly full life is just so rich and I am just so dang lucky.
I used to say ‘blessed’ but I’ve grown to see that word differently these days, figuring that if I’m blessed, does that mean someone who doesn’t have as much is not blessed?
Why would I be blessed, and someone else not? I’ve never cottoned to a God who plays favorites.
I’m where I am because of circumstance, the work I’ve put in, and the decisions I’ve made. But I do believe there is also some luck, or maybe, timing, to it.
One thing I’ve learned after writing eight books is that if you wait until you have time to write, you’ll never get anything written. Which is why I’m here in this dog bed with this needy dog, finally creating a blog post.
When I have the opportunity to teach writing or coach another writer, I always advise them to ‘just write.’
Every day.
And I know there are lots of writers who pooh-pooh that advice these days, but I don’t think there is any other way to make progress. Everyone can write something, every day, even if it’s just a sentence. In fact, one-sentence journals make great stories.
So, having offered excuse after excuse for not finishing writing project after writing project in the last six months, I’ve decided to take my own medicine. I plan to will write every day.
Even if it’s just a blog post written from a dog bed. Even if it’s just a journal entry. Even if it’s just dictating something in a note on my phone.
No one else is going to create the time for me to write. Only I can do that. So, when I finally opened up a document to work today, and I heard Lima Bean whimpering, I unplugged my laptop and moved camp. Now, she is comforted by my side, and I am actually writing!
If you told yourself, ‘this summer I’m going to make time for my writing’ or if last January, you resolved to get something written this year, this is your wake-up call.
Carve out the time and space to write. Your soul needs it.
And maybe this world needs it. But if you find another (good) excuse today not to write, you’ll never know.
If you’re curious about what else I’m up to, check out my website, CaraWrites.com.
If you’d like to subscribe to my twice-monthly newsletters filled with book recommendations, more stories, one truly fabulous recipe, and positive thoughts, click here.
If you’re a dog lover, check out my other blog, Another Good Dog. And if you want to know what is really happening in the animal shelters in this country, visit, Who Will Let the Dogs Out, and subscribe to the blog I write there.
My latest novel, Blind Turn is a mother-daughter story of forgiveness in the aftermath of a fatal texting and driving accident. It won the Womens Fiction category of the American Writing Awards. Learn more about it and find out how to get your copy here.
This is a sticky note I have pasted to the top of my computer screen. I try to focus on it when I’m on zoom calls or when I read something on social media and feel the irrational urge to SCREAM AT PEOPLE (or cry).
This morning, something magical happened. Maybe it was a coincidence, or maybe it was a sign. Or maybe it was a message. I’m still not certain exactly what it was. Nick thinks it was evidence of a husband I have in an alternate reality.
There is a tiny thrill in checking things off my list.
I draw little boxes next to each item and then make a check mark (with my red pen) when I get them done. Whatever I don’t get to, but I need to, I circle in blue. Whatever I don’t get to and probably don’t really have to (but I thought I should do when I wrote the list), or now it’s too late to do, I cross off with black pen. Anal, much? Here’s what it looks like in real time:
You may (or may not) have noticed that I’ve refrained from commenting or posting or engaging in discussion of AI. Initially, I just thanked my lucky stars that my kids are already grown and out of school, but secretly I really hoped this was a fad and it would go away.
The cows are crying. (not a sentence I ever imagined writing)
A few times a year, our little street echoes with the bellows and moans and outright wails of distressed cows. This means that one of our farmer neighbors has separated the mamas and babies, presumably so that the babies can go to be auctioned.
The sounds of the cows are heartbreaking. I doubt they know that their babies are likely destined for a slaughterhouse, but change on any level is hard.
I don’t think I’m unique in my writerly tendency to find stories just about anywhere. I think it’s a human tendency. Although this one was a little different from the stories I normally tell (there were no dogs involved). It would involve police and investigators and maybe a murder mystery!
It all started on an average Sunday in which Nick and I found ourselves spending the entire day taking care of things at our two rental houses.
I’m sure you will think this has nothing to do with being a better writer, but I will argue that point. In fact, I will argue that it not only will improve your writing, it will improve your quality of life.
It’s nothing new. You already know it. You’ve heard it before. It’s common sense. The problem is it’s not common practice.
Here it is (my version): get enough sleep for your body.
For years, I strived for at least eight hours of sleep. And even though I often woke up at five or even earlier, I stayed in bed and tried to sleep longer, knowing that I would be healthier, happier if I did. It more or less worked for me, but I was young and adaptable.
Who wants more energy, more sleep, and to feel happier and calmer? What if I told you I know a secret power that will give you that? Read on, friend, and don’t doubt me.
I’m a big believer in intentionality. I don’t think progress or success or even happiness come without being intentional.
My Life in Paragraphs 