Just shut up & write

I can't believe how quickly the last couple of years have gone. A demanding job--two of them actually, plus a part-time one--have really cut into my writing time. But who cares about that? Excuses, really. We all have them. Jobs. Kids. Obligations. Aging parents. A personal life. Blah. Blah. Blah. Who cares? Our job is to shut up and write. The changes over the past two years in my personal life are nothing compared to the overwhelming, roller coaster, whirlwind changes in the publishing industry. The last time I updated this blog--Lord, forgive me--little was being said about e-books. Only a few friends owned e-readers. We writers were still courting the big publishing houses. So much has changed. I still can't wrap my brain around it all. But I'm not going to waste time on this post about seeking publication or if you should go Indie or hold out for that elusive contract with the Big 6 or try Amazon KDP with your new release? The point of this blog is to prove that you can write a novel. If all the changes in the industry and programs like Smashwords & CreateSpace haven't convinced you to just shut up and write your novel, I don't know what will. It's possible now for anyone to publish a novel--and make money at it. But we have to write it first. And it better be absolutely fabulous.

So what's stopping you? You have a story inside you or you wouldn't be reading this. You probably have several. In the last week I've thought of 3 new projects I'd love to have on the market by the end of the year. January is one of the biggest selling months for e-books because everyone is loading up the new devices they got for Christmas. If we're going to be ready to capitalize on that, we need to shut up and write. I know you're busy. You can barely find a moment to think, let alone work on your novel. But make a commitment today. Even if you aren't reading this post in real time, commit right here, right now to how many words you are going to add to your novel today. 10? 100? 1000? 5000? No goal is too small. You don't have to impress me or keep up with anyone else. Throw out a number and then check back and let the rest of us know how you did. Accountability leads to productivity. Set a goal, just for today, then shut up and write.