If you would like to learn more about organ donation you can visit Trillium Gift of Life Network at www.giftoflife.on.ca  or www.kidney.ca

Having a full time job, a family life, cooking, dishes, laundry, errands, means I’m hard pressed to find enough free time to write. What about the evenings? That is an option, however, by the time eight o’clock rolls around I’m exhausted. I don’t know about other authors, but when I’m tired, my creativity is next to nil.

So what about the weekends? That’s another potential solution, and a time that I do get some writing done. Usually, that time is first thing in the morning, before everyone else is up. Once my son and husband are up, however, then the challenge begins.

I always fight with my conscience. Do I continue doing what I enjoy most in the world? After all, it is my day off! Should I tell everyone to get lost, and continue on with my writing? Or, do I set it aside, which usually is the case, and spend time with the two people who mean the most to me? It’s a hard decision—one that usually leads to my family winning, and to me feeling guilty for not staying true to myself by following my dream.

Don’t get me wrong, family should always come first; but can’t there be room for dreams too?

What’s the answer? Compromise. Find a time when I can write, undisturbed, yet still have time for my family and, naturally, all the endless chores and tasks waiting to be done.

When is this magical time? I discovered, the best time to write is first thing in the morning, both during the week and on weekends. It’s the best time for me—I’m fresh, and at my most creative. Also it’s QUIET. It’s the perfect compromise. Now, the key will be to get motivated to stick to that schedule—no matter what!

That’s a different hurdle to jump, and a blog for another day—as the trials and tribulations of an aspiring writer continues…

Catherine

Being some what of a pack rat when it comes to old assignments and writing projects, I was going through some old files not too long ago and came across an old folder containing the beginning of a novel I started when I was fifteen. Though terribly written and filled with cliché’s and stereotypes, it was a vivid reminder of my early desire to write. It was a dream I had deemed foolish and unattainable at that time, so I packed it away along with my desire and confidence to write.

It wasn’t until twelve years later the hankering to write would revisit me. It all started after reading several novels by two of my favourite authors: Lorraine Heath and Penelope Williamson. Their books moved me in a way few authors had, pulling and tugging at my emotions to the point I would be laughing and crying all in the same chapter. Masters in characterization, plot, and setting, I was pulled instantly into the world they created and I didn’t want to come home. After reading Penelope Williamson’s gut wrenching Heart of the West, followed by Lorraine Heath’s riveting “Texas Destiny” I said to myself: “I want to be able to do that! I want to reach readers the same way they reach me, by pulling on people’s heart strings and giving happily–ever–after endings.”

I decided to give writing another try. I started attending writing workshops and took a writing course. I played around with several plots and began to map out a story. Within a year of making that decision however, I found out the single kidney I was born with, was failing. This was a big “wake up call,” now that I was facing an unknown future. It made me realize life is too short not to follow my dreams. With the support of my family, I made the decision to complete my first novel–no matter how long it took. So began my quest to become an accomplished author.

Although I was lucky to go through only three years of dialysis (due to a successful kidney transplant, donated by my very loving and giving husband), it took me eight years to accomplish my goal. With one manuscript now under my belt, a second in the works, I will continue to improve my craft and work towards my next goal, to get published.

Stay tuned…
Catherine