Not just on the writing front.

Work’s been particularly physical the last couple of days, which means I’ve woken up at seven thirty from being in pain. Still, I’ve utilized the extra hour to get chores done. Got our old paperwork (rooted out at the last file cabinet cleaning) completely shredded and the bags in the trash.

Then I got 1100 words done, mainly Lainey taking care of the dogs while on her break. While writing about the race itself, I’ve got seventeen lead characters – Lainey and her team. LOL! So I took the opportunity to beef up some of the animals and her relationship with them. Later this afternoon, I want to complete the chapter with the last of her break; getting gear cleaned, seeing Scotch off, swapping her old and slightly banged up sled for new, and readying herself for her leave taking. Then chapter thirty-eight will be back on the trail.

That’s after a nap, however.

Some writing done for a change. 1393 words. A heated little interlude between Scotch and Lainey as they take their mandatory 24 hour break in McGrath.

I’m about 3k in the hole for February. Being 1k in the black for January, I’m exactly 2260 words in the hole for the year. But today is March, the beginning of a new month. If I continue to slog through 2k on my days off, I should make up the difference and add another 10k by the end of the month. Work is slowing down through the Easter holiday, so that could mean a minimum of three days off a week.

I think part of my problem last year was setting the goal for 365k for the year. Not that I couldn’t do it, but when I started to fall behind, it was just easier to give up than catch up. My goals for this year are no different in word count respect, but I’m simply looking at 1k a day, and 30 to 31k for the month I’m in. Looking at it in smaller chunks seems to make things easier to take. I’m 2k in the hole, but that doesn’t count for March.

Weird, I know. Kind of like the distinction between quitting smoking and being a non-smoker. The first one guaranteed I’d start smoking again (and I did three years later.) The second one has guaranteed that I haven’t had a cigarette in ten years (eleven on May 2nd.)