Nancy Bartholomew

Maggie the Psycho Dog is writing a "Novel in a Month."  She saw that I was attempting it and didn't want me to suffer through the process by myself, so she joined in.

After two days of this madness I can tell you, she has a better chance of finishing a manuscript than I do.  2800 words a day?  What are we, nuts?

Not exactly.  It is our, er...my attempt to eliminate my bad writing habits.   Bad habits like "Failure to Complete a Manuscript."  I've got to stop writing the first 50 pages over and over again.  In the "Book of the Month Club," I have to keep on writing, without revision or correction, until the month is over.

Bad Habit # 2- I don't write every day.  Writers are supposed to write- every single day.

The Wonder Dog and I are following advice gleaned from my grandfather years and years ago. 

He was a regional sales manager for a large siding company.  As part of his job, he was required to attend quite a few luncheons where cottage cheese was served atop a pineapple ring.  Papa Lee hated cottage cheese but for some reason, (which I am only just now beginning to question, ) he felt it important that he get over this "limitation" in order to continue to rise through the company ranks.

 So, for thirty days my grandfather ate cottage cheese every day.  At the end of that time, he said he no longer hated cottage cheese.

When he retired he was a Vice President with Reynolds Aluminum. 

Papa Lee stopped short of crediting his newfound love of cottage cheese for his successful career but I'm no dummy.  I can read between the lines. 

You gotta do what you gotta do to become better at your chosen career.  

I'm not going to eat cottage cheese.  Not now.  Not ever.  But I will write every day...almost.