How much time do you need?

A recent wise saying on my day-to-day calendar advised that our lives would be better if we would take the advice we give to others.

Reading Carolynne’s response to my last post made me smile. On Sunday she was telling me why she doesn’t have time to write, and as she talked I thought of how she has all the time there is, the same amount as all the rest of  us. We all get 24 hours per day and not one minute more. On Sunday, I refrained from giving Carolynne any advice; I smiled and nodded and looked so understanding, but I was thinking it.

You have to be present with your life. (What choice does one have?) And arguing with reality is a serious time-waster. Early in his first presidential bid, Barack Obama was advised that a later time would offer a better chance for his election. But Obama knew–the only time is now.

My goal right now is to get this novel finished and into the mail to my agent. I can do that by working a little bit every day. I can do that–work a little every day–while being faithful to my family and my students.

Then we’ll see what happens next.

Meanwhile, Monday’s reading with Washington State Poet Laureate Kathleen Flenniken went swimmingly. Kathleen’s new book, Plume, is about Hanford.  It is also,  as she put it and I am still brooding on, the book she was born to write.

No news on the release date for Sparrow. I’m being very, very polite and not pestering Writers & Books, even though they said  “October.” I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.