Imagine going to work one day only to forget how to do your job.

I have determined that I'm suffering from writer's block. I have a lot to say, but I just don't have the energy to struggle for the words that normally come easily. So, that's cool. I'll take a break from any real writing, and just surf the net and/or do nothing at all.

Do you know the longest word that can be spelt on the top row of a QWERTY keyboard?

It's 'typewriter'. The keyboard was designed with that particular quirk in mind. It might an urban myth, but I heard that the QWERTY layout was designed to actually slow down typing so that the hammers would not jam.

Also, a door to door salesman could quickly demo the machine by typing out "Typewriter" with one hand on the top row.

Or so I have been told!

I took Thursday off from work. I needed a day where I didn't have to sit at the computer, answer the phone or any questions.

Usually after a day like that I rush home, scarf some food down and try to get a couple hours of writing in.

Instead of doing that, I slept in until 8am (when I was younger I never would have thought that one day I would consider waking up at 8am, sleeping in), ate some cheerios and took a very long shower before heading downstairs to write.

I had a great writing day. I let go and just wrote. Finally I was able to listen to that advice I have been told so long. It wasn't easy, however, but I think I happened upon a good technique.

At first, I wasn't getting much accomplished other than just getting frustrated (and surfing the web).

I finally realized what I could do to be a little more productiive. I broke each task down into one hour blocks. I have a half dozen books to read and write reviews for, two edits to be done to manuscripts I would like to submit to online mags and a little free writing.

If I didn't do this when I was editing, I would think about the reviews. When I was sitting reading, I was thinking about my me skipping out at work. My thoughts would spin like truck tires in mud, never gaining traction on what I was doing at the time, but on everything else that needed to be done.

So I decided to break it all up. I would concentrate on one project for one hour at a time. I read for one hour, then edited for an hour, then wrote for an hour, etc.

And ended up getting more done in a few hours than I had all weekend. I gave myself permission to do what needed done for a specific amount of time and not worry about the other stuff. And it worked.

I wholeheartedly suggest it!

So I'm trying to write more. And that brings me to the point of this blog, if not the point of this particular entry. I'm going to start setting, and tracking goals for my work and my writing -- and post them to this blog.

I remember reading once that most writers will use any excuse they can find to not write. I'm prone to this, I can't write when my girlfriend is home. Even when she is occupied with other activities, the possibility that she could interrupt keeps me from even trying.  And it's really just a MASSIVE excuse to get away with procrastination.

I've set my word count at 1000 words a day minimum, averaged at the end of each month, and 500 words minimum no matter what.  Some months I sail through them without a problem, but there are sometimes months when I'm writing a lot of words in the last few days to meet that goal.  I maintain an Excel spreadsheet to keep track, and I'm very strict about keeping it up to date so I know just where I stand.

Some people count in pages rather than words.  This is especially nice if you handwrite your first drafts - I don't, however, I'm all computer baby!

I'll post the ideas I get on the most impractical times in the most awkward places on this blog.I admit I have no clear blueprint for the amazing new literary work I'm starting here. For that matter, I have no clear motive in reaching out to an audience at all, except perhaps for the egotism of it. I doubt other small press exchangers are interested in seeing the literary world from the perspective of an undergraduate student!

Want to know what goes on in my head when my eye's turn glazed and I reach for my notebook? Read this blog! So you have been warned - the point being if I somehow mess this up or crash the entire Small Press Exchange site....sorry..

Be that as it may, I have a new toy. It's called LibraryThing. On it you can catalog all your books. You can list up to 200 books for free, then after that you can pay $10 a year, or $25 for a lifetime membership and list all the books you want. I have 190 up-and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Better posts to come in the future!