Confessions of a word addict

Writing. Even the word itself gives me a little thrill. My passion for writing started back in 5th grade when I began to chronicle my life in a journal. Sure, each entry contained maybe a sentence or two and I would go months before I picked it up again, but still, we all have to start somewhere. In middle and high school I came to adore creative literature classes; I loved getting a new assignment and reaching into my creative juices to come up with a very unique story to tell. I also read a lot in my spare time which acted like a writing class itself, improving my vocabulary and prose. In college, I took another writing class and my mentor prophesied that someday I would write a book. Both fueled me to start The Secret Inside Me, a memoir, which I finished in 2011. Now, 2 years later, I'm still journaling and doing some small blogging, but chomping at the bit to write something bigger again.
It is hard to explain, but there is just something therapeutic about putting thoughts on paper (or into MS Word, LOL). Anyone who shares my love of writing, journaling or editing knows what I am talking about. If I go a few weeks or (gulp) months without writing in my journal, updating this blog or working on another piece, I begin to feel panicky, claustrophobic, extremely moody and lost. It is as if I have so many feelings and thoughts all crammed inside my head and if I cannot get them - WRITE them - out, I feel like I will go crazy! But, if I can sit down, reflect on my life, each day's happenings and then put them on paper or type them on the computer, I can begin to make sense of all the jumbled up emotions. Think of it like the sanity a Type-A or clean-freak person get when they organize or sanitize. But, instead of cleaning my office or scrubbing my floors, I have to neatly wipe down, stack and file away all the things going on in my life and my opinions of them or some creative twist on a concept or subject. And, spoken like a true obsessive compulsive freak, it gives me a feeling of control in a world full of chaos.
In addition to writing in my journal and updating this blog, I am constantly thinking of and adding to a list of working titles for books and even new blogs that I would love to write, but, like when I was writing out my "Secret," I have found that "have-written" is much more fulfilling than the process! I am so busy with my other jobs of being a wife, mom, cook, teacher, housekeeper, dog trainer and chauffeur, that I'm too exhausted when I get the chance to sit down and write, OR, if I am really honest, I have a nasty habit of putting it off when I get do get the chance or energy in favor of the couch and a favorite TV show or movie. And then, before I know it, weeks, months and even YEARS have gone by and that project is still waiting, dusty and old, where I left it.
I'm trying to change that, though. My kids are getting older, more independent and less exhausting. And I'm getting tired of just accepting that this is how things are. I know that great things do not happen without hard work and hard work doesn't get done through procrastination, excuses or laziness.
So, here I am...putting it out there and hoping for a little accountability to make myself write at least two times a week. Yes, only two times. Let's be realistic here. I know myself well enough that making a goal of writing every day or even every-other day is just setting myself up for failure. But, two times a week I am certain I can do and once I get on a writing spree and my creative juices are flowing, I am certain that I will be writing more than twice weekly, anyway! And, if all goes well, I will hopefully be announcing one of my working titles very shortly on its very own blog for research!

My former writing "work space"