darla bartos

What is it you tell yourself when you’re supposed to be — but you’re not — writing?

9 EXCUSES

1. The smoke alarm went off all night. No fire. Too high to replace the battery. I need a nap. I’ll write better after I catch a few.
2. I’ll watch “Murder in the First.” Then I’ll start writing. It’s research!
3. The leaves on my weeping fig tree need cleaning. I can think and plot as I clean.
4. Look at all the books on my shelves. I’ve never read half of them. Reading is essential to writing. I’ll spend a few hours reading.
5. I need to sit on the deck and think about the ending to my book. Maybe  I’ll get some new ideas.
6. Wonder what Plato said about excuses? I should research that.
7. My blog is what’s important. Helping other writers learn to write better. That should come first, shouldn’t it?
8. My pro bono editing. The client is waiting half a world away for corrections.
9. What about all those people waiting on my novel? Hmmm.