When I did national novel writing month for the first time five years ago, I was crossing something off my bucket list. It was just something I had always wanted to do. I had no thoughts of publishing anything I wrote, or even necessarily having anyone reading it. I wrote it because it was fun. I had no idea how much fun it would be, or that I would want to publish anything I had written.

Now, I have two full novels, a short story, and a novella out. I’m working on my third and fourth novels. I have so many ideas, I don’t know that I could ever finish writing them all in my lifetime, but I keep getting more and more of them. The more I write, the more I want to write.

So far, I haven’t written today, but after I get done with this blog post, I’m going to send out some stuff to my critique group and get back to it. I have written 41,496 words so far in November. That means I have 8,504 words before I win NaNoWriMo for the fifth year in a row. It’s an awesome feeling, and one I want to share.

I tend to get caught up in my day to day routine. Work, bills, and even things like watching movies, TV, and YouTube can distract us from the the life we want to live.

I want to live my life doing the things I like to do, where I can point to something and say “I did that.” I get to do that with my job, where I can literally drive past a treatment system and tell people I had something to do with it. I can do that with my writing. I’ve had artists that I have bought art from thank me for helping them get through their monthly bills because I bought stuff in January instead of waiting until June.

So, I want to encourage everyone not to miss their lives. Instead of coming home and putting on the TV, find something that gives your life meaning, and do it. Garden, paint, take pictures, play that video game you always wanted, MAKE that video game you always wanted, but don’t let your life slip away when you weren’t looking.

Next week, I’ll post something in religion in your world building. I’ll see you then!