August 30, 2018: The end of August is in sight. How did that happen? This has definitely been a month of writing for me. I had two revisions due almost at the same time. Deadlines. Isn’t that what life is all about? Writing deadlines are a good thing, though. In most cases, they mean you will soon have a published book. I’ve probably revised my adult mystery more than twelve times. The story has worn me out. The characters words, thoughts, and actions I know almost as well as my own; but each revision has taught me patience and determination. I’ve grown as a writer. I’ve disciplined my time to meet the schedule. I’ve learned to prioritize. One way I do this is to keep a running list. I know what I need to do when. As each task is completed, I feel a sense of accomplishment. Another way is to reward myself. I told myself if I can just make it through August, I’m going to the beach in September where I plan to do little more than lie on the beach during the day and eat seafood at night. “Yeah right,” a little voice inside my head says, “you know in the third book of The Baker Manor Series, the setting is at the beach. You need to jot down exactly how the moonlight strikes the shore, how does it feel to run for your life in the scorching sun on an empty stretch of sand, and what does a killer think as he/she stares out at the horizon?” Welcome to a writer’s world.