When I was in my twenties, I traveled a lot. I rode the Eurail through Europe, a “Chicken bus” across Guatemala, and a camel in Israel. One of the best skills I picked up from those experiences was the ability to sleep anywhere and at any time. Sleep on the dirty floor of train station, check. Sleep in a tent in the freezing mountains, check. Sleep in the back of a taxi, check. I had to sleep when the opportunity arose because time to sleep was hard to come by.
In the last few months, I’ve learned to apply that skill to my writing. Wherever I go I take my little netbook to write as I continue to squeeze in writing time around my fulltime job as a librarian. If I’m waiting in a doctor’s office, I write. If I’m sitting in a car waiting for someone, I write. If I’m at church and it’s between services, I write. If I know I have at least fifteen minutes of free time, I write.
I find writing to be easier as a result of the short spurts because the story and characters are always fresh in my mind.
It’s challenging sometimes, but I’m grateful for my dual career. I know how lucky I am to have two jobs I love when so many people just want one.
Oh, I have a few minutes now…time to write.
Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem, 2009
Amanda Flower-Sweet Cozy reads 