One week later...

I haven't written in this blog for a week. It' snot because I haven't been productive; actually, I've had one of the most productive weeks in a while. I was on vacation from my day job, and during that time I managed to accomplish the following, Shades of Gay wise:

* Finished the brand-new LGBT Youth Advocacy Site and Store (http://www.cafepress.com/shadesofgay)

* Created a Squidoo page, linked to the store (http://www.squidoo.com/shadesofgay)

* Updated the Shades of Gay Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/shades_of_gay)

* Created a series of events for Suicide Awareness Week, purposely coinciding with Harvey Milk's birthday (exact;y a year before publication)

* Wrote another half chapter of Shades of Gay

Actually writing the novel is at the bottom of the list. I'm doing a lot of promotion, none of which will be any good if I don't FINISH THE NOVEL.

Vacation weeks are always more difficult. As much as I dislike my current job, it does provide some structure. I have to be up at 5:30 AM and doing my morning planning, I have to be here by 7:30 AM, I have to be here ALL DAY (which provides opportunities to work on business stuff), etc.

When I'm on vacation, I'm a lot looser. I stay up late, hang around Facebook a lot (site blocking has its advantages, I guess), spend lots of time with friends and family... I don't regret any of that, but there's a bit less structure... if I'm going to really be a professional writer, I need to be able to discipline myself without external structure forcing me to focus.

So today, here I am back at work, discovering that I can't do half the things I need to do because the site blockers are in the way, half asleep from staying up way too late last night, frustrated, and ready for another vacation so I can be productive.