WRITING: Deadlines

Here it is, the Witching Hour–three a.m. to four. That magic place for me when if I’m open to it, and if awake, can be the most creative (it’s either at this time of day or early morning in the shower, it seems!). I’m finishing up a parody on Margaret Atwood’s Happy Endings–no, I’m not making fun of her story but submitting it with that purpose–which I’d started quite a while ago. And, I’ve finally reread “A Seasonal Life” and though I can’t come up with the elusive better title, I do feel ready to revise. All this activity because I’m finally aware that my time is going to include studying hours very soon.

There are certain words that children should not learn the meaning of until much, much later in their lives. Procrastinator is one of them. It sounds so different than what it is, and I feel that answering someone’s inquiry with “Well, by day I’m a Procrastinator” could be spoken with a certain smug pride if only they didn’t know its meaning. But respond to deadlines, I do. Come through at the last moment, yes. Very rarely, if ever, have I let anyone down on a commitment that was pinned down to a number on the standard clock and calendar. That’s why I might do well as a writer.