I teach at Purdue today…awesome, but pray for me if you can. I’ve had a nasty cough and scratchy voice which always makes teaching more …um… fun.

Cross-posted at Writer Interrupted…

It’s one of those early fall nights. I’m sure you’ve had them, too. You’ve run all over creation during the day. All you want to do is crawl into bed and pull the cover over your head. Your throats scratchy. Your ears are plugged, and man that throat is sure scratchy. Even warm tea isn’t helping.

The only problem…a deadline is looming. One from your editor and one from yourself. So instead of going to bed, you plop down at the computer to review a synopsis. Write a chapter. Twist a plot. Whatever it takes to get words on paper.

You see, writing with a contract is an honor and a privilege. It’s also a job. That means regardless of how I feel, there are times that I just have to sit down and type.

Now tonight, for me, that means writing this post, conducting some ACFW business, reviewing a synopsis. Not the actual work of creating. Once I’m into the world of 1944 central Nebraska, I’ll be able to write the story regardless of how I feel. Tonight, I’m at the beginning of writing. As in haven’t touched the story since sending in the synopsis and proposal months ago. We’re talking March!

So last night I watched documentaries of William Powell and Myrna Loy, two great movie stars from the 30s and 40s — one of their Thin Man movies will probably play a cameo in the book if the years work out. All in the effort to remind myself of the styles of the time. I cradled one of my research books while watching, I’m sure that counts…right?!?!?

But tomorrow, I pray I feel better and can dive into the story. Then the fun… work … of creating another book can begin in earnest.