This question’s come up enough in recent conversations to make me want to blog about it:

“When do you write?”

My answer is, “Whenever I can.”

About two years ago, I realized that my main excuse for not writing– not enough time– was worse than incorrect.  It was cliche. *GASP*  So I started writing whenever I could.  I facilitated this by purchasing a laptop with a fairly stable operating system, and low video card capacity.  Best decision–outside of actual writing– that I’ve made in terms of my writing career.  My machine doesn’t have the power to run Oblivion; thus, I don’t play Oblivion.

I write during my commute.  I live in Fredericksburg, VA; I work in Arlington.  That’s about 60 miles away.  So every day, I have at least two hours where I’m doing nothing else but…nothing.  Enter another boon to my writing life– I slug.  Because I’m not actually driving, I can do other things.  Like write.  It’s a tight squeeze– me, my winter clothing, my laptop bag, my laptop, my burgeoning belly, all cramped into a space made for a 5’11” narrow-waisted super-model.  I manage.  I have to.  It’s the one time during my day that I really have to focus.

At times, I bemoan how little time I have to write at home, in a comfortable chair.  In an environment that doesn’t smell like a mix of air freshener, McDonald’s, and old socks.  I’ve got four energetic children, all under the age of 10; I’ve got a wife and a life that I love.  And I get up pretty early to get to work on time, which means I go to sleep early to get enough rest…so I can wake up, slug to work, and write on the way.

In reality, I recognize I could spend even more time writing.  Which leads us to an apropos topic– what am I going to do about New Year’s resolutions?

Take a wild guess…