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Making the Resolution to Write

So I have to confess that I haven't been the best at writing so far this year.  And yes, I know that the year is still young.  I DID submit a short story in January, and that is exciting, but I haven't done much else.

Here are my excuses:

-New Years Party
-Grandfather Passed Away
-Water Heater Leaked
-Been working lots of extra hours since my SO lost his job
-Applied and interviewed for a job that I really wanted and then didn't get it (which put me in a bad place)
-My Birthday

Okay. Got that out of the way.

But things are on the upswing. My SO starts his new job in March, I'll be back in town (I'm going out of town to visit family in a couple of weeks) and my hours at both jobs will be back to normal (ish).

I know I already stated my writing goals in a previous post.  But I'm committing to it (again). Right now.

I'm in the process of re-writing the ENTIRE first act of my novel so it works with the plan I have for the next 2 thirds.  I am liking where it is going. I'm learning how to write long, I'm setting a darker but more concrete tone, and I'm developing some more unique and complete characters.

I usually write my first drafts by hand, but seeing as I've ALREADY written Act 1 by hand, and have decided to change 99.9% of it, I am finding that I am doing a better job typing up this (second) first draft than I usually am.

I'm also utilizing my laptop.  I'll sit in the livingroom, in front of the TV (I know, gasp!), but while this isn't the greatest way to get in thousands of words, just having my laptop in front of me forces me to just...get some words on the page.  I've written about 500 words (per sitting) doing that.  And I know that the best way to write is to sit down at a desk or table and just crank out the words, but time hasn't really been good to me.

And I also haven't been good with time.

I'm one of those people who wakes up, surfs the internet, vegges out on YouTube, THEN I'll get up and have my breakfast and shower etc.  It's not the best habit, I know. And I need to do better.  I have to stop just "wanting to get out of retail" and just work at getting out. My non-writing career is sort of at a pause right now (I have the credential, just waiting for openings), so writing is my best bet on getting out of my career slump.

So readers, I need you to hold me accountable.

That is, until I learn to hold myself accountable.

What are some of your tips and tricks to writing with a busy life/schedule? Any books you've read on the subject (aside from "Writer with a Day Job" which I have read, and it didn't help much.)

Do you have troubles getting out of bed? How do morning people do it???

Until next time!
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