Day 12: Rituals I Have Adopted

I remember when I bought this desk that I sit at now. It was right before I turned 40. I had a grand idea that this was the year I was going to get serious about writing. I asked my Mom to join in with me, she also has a love of words, and she was turning 65. Perfect. Those were some good milestone birthdays to get some real stuff done!

We wrote some, I think she may have wrote more than me. I kept thinking of getting myself set up, the things I needed to do while writing to create the mood or inspire the muse. It didn't take long for the flame of my newly sparked passion to douse, probably under the weight of lofty expectations. Anyway, the desk became a place that would look at me out of the corner of it's eye, sticking it's tongue out. Yet another reminder that I started something and didn't finish.

Damn it.

However, I can happily report that this is where I do the majority of my writing today. I've reached the halfway point in my novel. This is the furthest I have ever gotten and I have plenty left to say! What thrills me, among other things, is that every word I write, I take my story closer to completion. It's inevitable. Much like when I ran (or rather jog/walked) the marathon the very next year, before I turned 41, there came a point where every step I took was the furthest I had ever gotten. It's exhilarating!

What's also funny is that I've found I've adopted some writing rituals. Much like the things that the "how to" books told me I should, I had unconsciously created some atmosphere at my desk (or of course, what I like to call my Second Floor Office. Because it makes me laugh). When I'm ready to get down to business, I make sure I have a beverage at my side. This is either water, coffee or tea. Surprising to me, this is never wine or beer. It just doesn't seem right. Like drinking and driving. I light a candle because I like the smell. It's winter now and everything is trapped in the house: dinner, dogs, four teenagers. You get the picture. Plus I've been negligent in my cleaning duties. Then I flip on this lamp that shines a bright green light on my face. Don't ask me why, it won't make much sense, but lets just say that it makes me feel comforted. I may roll my stocking feet on a spiky foot massager, take a drink of my tasty beverage, think about what the heck I'm going to do to my characters next and dive in. In about two hours I've likely humiliated, empowered and enlightened them just a bit. My job is done for the moment. I smile, blow out my candle and take a break. Lovely.

Today's Word Count: 4,296
Total for November: 25,820
Words to 50,000 Goal: 24,180