Overheard at Starbucks in Lake Tahoe

Nothing! 

Why? Because it is vacation and that means, as a mom, all my time is spent going from one fun place to another; and then cleaning up after whichever fun activity we just did. Here in Lake Tahoe that entails drives to the grocery store, beach, pool, cousin's house and mini-golf. And I love, love, love watching my daughter have so much fun.

On the other hand, it reminds me of when I first started to write and I was squeezing time in during her baby naps. That's when I first started going to Starbucks to write. I would have my baby carrier next to my chair hoping that she would stay asleep long enough for me to finish a new chapter.

It's never easy to find time to write; something I frequently hear mom writers talk about. I've also heard just as many ideas for combating this: getting up before the kids in the morning, bringing the computer in the car for those times you are stuck waiting for a game or class to end, date-time for yourself. But fundamentally, it all comes down to forcing that time... on ourselves, our spouses, even our children. And sometimes, like on vacation for example, it is hard to motivate to do this. When that happens I let my characters speak to and for me. I allow their voices to drag me back into it, demanding that I finish whatever scene I left off at. 

My newest character, Marybeth, is right in the middle of a critical choice between the safe, known love interest and the unknown, dangerous one. Which will she choose? Well, she is saying there is still more to discover about both and she's ready to get to it. 

Tomorrow, with or without Starbucks, I know I will need to get back to Marybeth and the story she would like finished.