Sometimes I get mad at myself because I don’t write as much as I think I should. I don’t reach out to the people I want to touch base with. I don’t read the books I buy or take out from the library. I don’t exercise when I know I should.

So many things I should do.

Instead of doing them, I head downstairs and turn on the TV.

Why?

Because it’s easy.

Because I like it.

Because I want to.

In the moment, it feels fine. The next day, I regret it.

Why didn’t I use that time to do something creative?

I have the impulse to create. But it never seems to survive the workday.

I wake up in the morning chomping to get going on something. Then work happens.

And saving it to the weekend rarely works. I’ve got other things to do on the weekends. Laundry. Hanging out with Deb. Seeing a show or visiting friends. And, of course, watching TV.

It’s tough being a distracted creative. Especially when your mind nags you to do something and you want to do it. Usually the moment of inspiration is in the middle of the workday.

But it isn’t there when I get home from work.

When I’m working on a writing project and the momentum has ignited, it’s easy to find the time to write. But getting to the tipping point of passion for a project takes time. And a lot of writing.

It requires a process. A routine. Something I do without expectation of a result.

For a while, I’ve been trying to write 100 words a day. To cultivate the habit. At least 500 words a week. I give myself the weekends off.

I even found that hard to do!

In the last few weeks, though, I’ve been better. I’ve managed to hit the target for a few weeks now.

My current project is a new play. Based on a fragment of an idea I had years ago.

I’m not working on the first draft. I’m working on draft 0. Because I have no idea where it’s going to go or what will happen. I don’t even know if it will work as a play.

But I’m going to poke away at it. Reminding myself that being creative is the goal. Not ending up with a specific product.

If I end up with something that will be worth pursuing, great. If not, then at least I’ve exercised my creativity.

Focusing on being creative helps me avoid the distractions. At least until after I’ve met my 100 words.