The 'Noes' have it

I said no.

I actually, truly said no to a request to be in on the start of an exciting new project. It is something in which I used to have a great deal of interest.

Notice that I said "used to have." I spent a dozen years involved with an outdoor drama that I helped write, sewed costumes for, collected props, acted as general manager, sold ads in the program and acted as gofer. One year I helped with the sound. I loved it. Well, most of the time.

Okay, let's be honest. It was probably the most stressful time of my life.

But that was 10 years ago. Since then, I've developed new interests. My project right now is to finish my work in progress. This has been a good week. I have been writing like a crazy woman, scenes and dialogue tumbling from my head to my fingertips and onto the keyboard. No writer's block, no "where do I go from here." I have only to wrap up the plot line and I will be finished.

And ready to re-write until I polish it as much as I can before asking someone else to take a look.

And, my Plotz co-writer is wondering when I am going to start pulling my weight with the sequel. Soon, I tell him, soon.

To add to my plate, a publisher told me if I took her suggestions and made some changes to a book I'd submitted, she'd take another look. No generic rejection this, but helpful and concrete advice.

So, no to the enticing invitation to get a community theater group up and running. Ten years ago, I'd have said yes and then wondered where my writing time went.

I have finally learned to say no.

I think I deserve a pat on the back. Or maybe I've finally learned what it means to be a writer. It's not something you do in your spare time.

If you are serious at your craft, there is no spare time.