Night Writer's Night

By Susan Knight

Outline of a Night Writer’s evening:
5:30 p.m.
-Get home from work.
-Plan to write all night.
6:30 p.m.
-Sit down at computer.
-I should check my email first. . .
     -ANWA meeting; forward.
     -New ANWA person interested in my chapter; reply; forward.
     -ANWA business emails; reply; reply; forward.
     -Email mother, sisters, friends.
     -Delete 100 emails.
-I should check my banking.
     -Look at checking account.    
     -Check credit card spending.
          -Yikes! Pay credit card bill.
     -Add money to checking account to cover credit card bill.
7:40 p.m.
-I should post on Facebook about my Sugar Shutout success.
     -Wow, look at all the people who notified me.
     -I am definitely not confirming him as a friend.
          -Ignore
     - Should I change my profile picture?
          -Search for picture.
    -My cousin’s grandson is so cute.—LIKE
    -Look at those twins. They’re getting so big.—LIKE
    -37 Likes
    -14 Comments 
    -What’s this YouTube about?
           -Watch 12:42-minuteYouTube—LIKE
           -Share YouTube.
     -Post—30 days without sugar! Yay!
8:35 p.m.
-Did my phone just ring? . . . Oh, it's on vibrate. I don’t recognize that number. . .
     -Let it go to voicemail.
     -Listen to 3 new voicemails.
     -Call ____ back.
 -Oh, look, I’ve got some texts, too.
     -Read 6 texts.         
     -Answer texts.
-Turn phone volume all the way up.
     -Wait. I don't want to be disturbed. I'm trying to write.
-Turn phone on vibrate again.         
9:15 p.m.
-Look at pile on desk.
     -Where's that last critique I got?
          -Search through pile.   
-File away a stack of papers.
-Create some new file folders.
-Find overdue bill.
     -Write check for overdue bill
     -Look for envelope.
     -Find stamps in pile.
-Find critique
10:25 p.m.
-I’m thirsty. I’m just going to get a glass of water.
     -Drink water.
-A snack would be nice if I’m going to be up for awhile.
     -Make snack.
     -Eat snack.
     -Drink more water.
10:45 p.m.
-Bathroom break.
11:00 p.m.
-Open up My Documents.
-Open up My Book.
-Check over a few chapters.
     -This is atrocious. I can’t present this to my critique group on Thursday.
     -Spend time correcting grammar and getting rid of adverbs and passive voice.
-Decide to add a soliloquy for main character.
-In the Zone-
12:00 a.m.
-Midnight already? I’m just getting started!
-In the Zone-
1:10 a.m.
-Ohmygosh. It seems like it’s only been 15 minutes! I’ve got to go to bed. I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow.
-In the Zone-
1:50 a.m.
-Brush teeth.
-Say prayers.
-Get in bed.
2:20 a.m.
-When am I going to fall asleep?
 ***
Next day
5:30 p.m.
-Come home from work.
-Plan to write all night.