Tomorrow . . .

The kids go back to school. I don’t.

This makes me happy.

I’m looking forward to a day of writing and more snow melting.

Snow is cold. My house is cold and running the heater at the temperature I’d like is too expensive. I wear layers.

Though I’ll miss not attending ceramics classes every Monday and Tuesday, the hours of writing time I’ll gain will be well worth it.

I spent the first day of the new year catching up on a bit of sleep. New Year’s Eve we ended up jumping in hubby’s four wheel drive truck and heading to Flagstaff to get the kids. YAY! It took three hours to get there (usually it takes about two) and three hours and a little bit to get back (it was darker and more frozen on the way back), but it was worth the trip to have them home and not have to worry anymore.

We got home at about 11:30 pm so we stayed up to ring in the new year and then went to bed around 12:30. We slept until about 7:00 when the youngest got up and crawled into bed with us (believe it or not, I missed that)!

Being without my kids and not being able to reach them, really made me appreciate them more. Sure, my house is more of a mess now that they’re home (it was much easier to keep clean with just the three of us here), but the mess on the floor, the extra dishes, even the squabbles are precious to me because they mean I have my kids.

So, while I’m looking forward to the kids going back to school tomorrow, I’ll also be glad when they come home again.

I’ve made up a schedule for my writing and hope I can stick to it!

Monday-Thursday I will write from 9:00am until I go pick up the kids from school at 2:30pm. I may or may not take a lunch break (more than likely, I’ll just have some snacks next to the computer). I will not answer the phone. I will not check email. I will not blog (or read blogs), tweet, or Facebook (so scold me if you see me).

After I get the kids from school, we will do homework, chores, family time, and dinner. When the kids are in bed, I will read, write reviews, critique, blog, tweet, Facebook, or whatever (I’m going to try to watch less TV).

Friday I will have from about 11:00-2:30 for either writing, blogging, reading blogs, tweeting, Facebook, or whatever. It’s kind of my free day to do what I want (the late start is because I volunteer in JR’s classroom on Friday mornings).

Saturday and Sunday will more than likely be non writing days because I want to spend more time with my family (the kids are in bed right now or we’d still be playing games).

Another change is I’ve moved out of my bedroom . . . well, for my writing anyway.

My computer is now on the dining room table. That way, I won’t be tempted to watch TV or be distracted by my pile of TBR books. Of course I have to move the computer for breakfast and dinner, but it’s better than being distracted! Plus, I can be next to the laundry room and do laundry while I’m writing (though I WON’T fold it, just wash and dry it and put it in a pile on the couch until the kids come home *grin*).

That’s my plan. Of course, there will be Dr. appointments and other life things that will interfere with my schedule, but I still think having a schedule will help in the long run.

Do you plan your writing time? If so, how. If not, why not?

Plan on!