"To begin, begin" by Judy L Murray and Wordsworth

The past few months, I’ve been identifying with Scarlett O’Hara - a lot. In fact, much too much. “After all, tomorrow is another day.” It's her most famous phrase. My next book has been sitting on the sidelines as I wallow among idea indecisions and personal distractions. Scarlett is famous as the queen of procrastination. Until me. Procrastination fed by distractions has become my middle name. Neither helps my writing.

What did I do with myself, I muse. During the first three months of 2025 I revised Villain in the Vineyard after developmental edits from my publisher. Then, I proofed red line edits and a final version to completion. In between that effort - I read, was lazy, read, was lazy, read, painted interior molding, watched grandchildren, submitted taxes. Big hole in those months – no new manuscript. Not a whisper.

In April and May, I was ensconced in marketing in anticipation of the latest book launch. Villain in the Vineyard was on its way. I held a launch party May 8th with eighty-five people attending at a beautiful local vineyard. Planning details - the arrival of books, swag, decorations, food, and public announcements, all kept me busy. In the end, it was a smashing success. Do you notice the big hole here? Where is my next book concept? An outline, title, synopsis…zero, zip, nada. Just indecision.

Summer arrives and the steady creep of major health issues for my husband. We were inundated with phone calls, waiting room malaise, procedures, and multiple surgeries still to come. Living at the Chesapeake Bay, we’re usually taking advantage of our location and getting outside. I typically get a ‘sailor’s tan’. Not this year. Ghost-like would be a better description. In between, I retreated to my home office while avoiding ‘the writing work’.

The famous business and life trainer Simon Sinek says, “There are two ways to see the world. Some people see the thing they want, and some people see the thing that prevents them from getting the thing they want.” https://youtu.be/vCIu7Ja_TE0?si=ZBjOCgmhbUITYs-I

I always input important tasks onto my Google calendar. Now I decided to pull out my abandoned TO DO list and put it front and center again. Here are my few simple TO DO List rules for success: Assign a number count or date deadline to each activity; update the list each week and print my TO DO list each Monday am. Check off efforts worked on or completed during the week. Celebrate smaller accomplishments to get me inspired. The big one - develop a new book outline by first nailing down the overall concept.

My new mystery might be a mystery to readers, but I can’t allow it to be a mystery to me. Some items on this list are fairly mundane. But maybe these To Do’s will spark ideas for you on your writing journey. If you have suggestions to add to my list, I’d be delighted to hear them. One thing I’ve learned along this publishing journey is that writers are great sources of inspiration for other writers.

William Wordsworth has a quote I love. I keep it over my big wipe-off calendar. “To begin, begin.” How pure a statement to play in your mind when distraction and frustration breeds procrastination! I’m playing it in my mind.

MY TO DO LIST: Write and send out to Writers Who Kill blog members for review; Post 7/19
New Book Project: Put overall book concept on paper. Due 7/23
Call Erica Reynolds, Bohemia Manor Vineyard to schedule Book Talk/fundraiser for Imagination Library 410-885-2500; call June 12; call July 11; email info by 7/18
Request Mid-West Review $35 7/30
Book Bub form completed 7/25
Write July Newsletter 7/23
Update Website with new links to 7.29
Prepare for July dinner at my house for local book club as a thank you 7/13
Browseabout Bookstore Book Signing 7/21 1-3 pm, Post on social media before and after.
Prepare Pitch Workshop presentation Monday 7/14 1-2:30 at Elkton Library.
Contact 3 bookstores this week for signings 7/28
Guppies/Newbies post as Board Liaison – weekly
Two hospital surgeries for John 7/14, 7/15-7/17