What's a Lazy Writer to Do?

I'm taking my writer's struggle to the next level. Before yesterday, which was the day I joined Steemit, I journaled about the challenge of writing a novel in serialized form. I write every day. I write articles for clients, PLR that I sell, social media posts, emails, and assorted rants. But I do NOT write the story I love so much I can hardly wait to tell it.

I have had novels in my head all my life and while I did manage to get several of them written and up on Kindle, I have been hovering over this project for more than a year. It is frustrating, embarrassing, and totally futile.

Futile? Yes. I sit in my big comfy chair and read about how to plot a novel that is told in episodes. This is where I sat in 2011 thinking about writing my series of ghostly (yes, ghostly, not ghastly) stories.

Distracted? Me?

Seven years later, I am sitting in the Arizona sunshine not writing my stories. I get distracted with a couple of my hobbies. Like bridge.

(That's my cousin Dave, one of the more annoying bridge opponents I have. He just snickers when he sets us.) Here in the 55+ Park, I play bridge 5 days a week. Unfortunately, I treat it more like a game of chance rather than a game of skill.

Or bingo. Here are a couple of my bingo buddies from back home on Prince Edward Island, sister-in-law Leona (l) and cousin Peggy (r).

And then, because it is a retirement park, there's always happy hour somewhere.

Excuses. Excuses

Aha. Caught myself out with that photo. There is snow in the background so it seems that it is not the happy hour gang here that distracts me. It might be me. My oldest child did an imitation of me "working" after adding some items to my workspace.

A lot of items.

His erstwhile wig actually looks better than my real hair on most days and that is my favorite pink writing shirt.

Today I Begin

See, I knew putting this together here on Steemit would help. I can see how I let myself be distracted. Life is about balance. Writing a novel is not something that can be done in a day. If I were sitting in my big comfy chair, I'd get up about now and wander off to do something else.

Because I am here, I must finish this post. I must take the first step - make a list. Here is my to do list for writing this novel.

1. Create the characters. DONE
2. Create the setting DONE
3. Plot episode one.

Okay. There's a sense that I have it started, in my head. And I know the next step - plot episode one. It must be broken down into components.

1. Whose point of view
2. Location
3. Time of year
4. Hook
5. Arc
6. Tension

Wish me luck.

Check out my introducemyself post here: Who Am I?