I'm with chapter...

Many moons ago, I took a writing class from our local community college. It was a great writing class taught by the wonderful author/teacher Sheila Simonson and in that class I learned not only how to write, but how to critique.

This wonderful sage of creative writing once told a story about how when she was in the middle of a chapter, her family called in "with chapter" similar to "with child". Lately, I've begun to feel like that.

I am presently "with chapter". I am so consumed by my chapter that everything else seems to fall to the side. Kind of like being an expectant parent. I want to get those words out because I know that they are going to be special, something only I could create.

Sure, I do my day-to-day necessities. Work, check. Family, check. Mom, sisters, check. But friends? I'm finding that they are taking a backseat to my chapter. I love them. I really do, but I just don't have enough time in my life to make the effort. If they called me, I'd answer. But, if I have the choice of calling someone up to arrange lunch or write for those two hours, I'm finding that I'd rather write.

Because I'm with chapter. When I'm driving, I'm thinking about Bix. When I'm falling asleep, while I'm eating, in the shower, it's all about that boy. And you know what, I'm really loving it. Probably because I got over the chapter 7 hump that I was struggling with for two weeks, now I'm starting chapter 9 and it's flowing through my head faster than I can transcribe it onto the page.

So to those friends I've neglected, the phone works both ways and I'll be sure to get back to you in a day or so, a week, at the most a month. I know life is about balance, but right now, I'm with chapter.