I am finally up at 5:30a.m., which is a baby step towards getting on a writing schedule again.  Really, the early rise was about grading and getting ready on time because having two kids makes our morning timeline more difficult to manage.  (Yes, I am about to grade some short write-ups.) 

However, I have been getting back into the swing of things and am planning to devote at least 30 daily minutes to the translations that are still up in the air.  Then, I will go over changes and revisions. 

Once I get that done, I have two readers eagerly awaiting to read this beast!  Well, the manuscript is not so beastly, but for busy teachers, it is a long read. 

I have another heavy grading day.  However, I just wanted to post a picture of my gorgeous daughter (on the right) and my buddy who is about to kiss my baby's foot.

Well,

The good news is that I had my baby on March 5, and she is thriving!  I love her so much, and she inspires me every day to be a better human being.  My son does too, but there is something about nurturing an infant that pulls at your core as a human being.  So, life is wonderful, cliché as that may be.



However, the poor book still needs to be finished.  In fact, I haven’t touched it in a long time.  Still, I keep in touch with the editor, but he needs to see the darned manuscript. 

Since I have not been writing, in these months, where I have little time, I have relearned how to immerse myself in life.  To really experience life in a way that is rich.  When I eat, I uber-enjoy my food.  When I go to a new place, I soak in the whole experience.  When I talk to people, I try to be fully present.  What is more, I am writing, though not creative writing.

I make it a point to write thoughtful comments on my students' work, which is not to say that I wasn’t before.  I am trying to give eloquent feedback, and I daresay, feedback I would appreciate both as a student and a writer.

I also realize that I need to follow my own advice and edit and revise what I write, even short comments to others.  I hoping these small habits will translate into larger habits. 

This month, I have a goal of adding ten daily minutes of writing on my book and when I can’t write, to really immerse myself in the short stories I have written.  I need to live with my characters again, so I can give them more depth and humanity. 

I consider all of this internal research.  I am also reading fiction again and paying attention to well crafted words.

We will see what I can pull together, but I am more than optimistic.  Nevertheless, I don’t want to set a date goal for finalizing the full draft, but a process goal.  Besides, I am only really racing against myself.