Routine

I’m a creature of habit, of routines if you will. Aren’t we all, to some degree? I’ve written here before about how I changed my morning routine several years ago, giving me the additional time in the day to write. I was thinking about that this morning as I poured my coffee before heading into the office. Imagine if I hadn’t made that change to my lifestyle? Since then, I’ve written seven books and published six of them, winning numerous awards and reviews. I’ve sold more books than I would’ve if I’d gone with one of the small-press publishers I queried. I’ve marketed the books in various ways, some successful and some not. It’s probably a bit corny to express it this way, but I can’t imagine the last few years without these books. I can’t imagine living life with these ideas in my head and not expressing them into stories. For me, the tipping point was the routine change. Let’s be honest here: I don’t like getting up at 6 a.m. every day but now it’s a habit. Shower, eat breakfast, pour a cup of joe, and write. In the grand scheme of things, it was a minor change and not earth-shattering. Now it’s just what I do every day.