So, I was in the shower today as I am wont to do from time to time and I began to think about how much better I think when I'm in the shower. Yes, even thinking about thinking is enhanced by the mystical powers of my shower. I began to wonder if I was alone in this and decided to take a look on the web when I got out. (Note to computer industry: make a water proof computer. It's a gold mine! Well, at least I would buy one...)

Anyway, my internet search reminded me that I'm in good company when it comes to thinking better in the shower (or bath as the case may be). The internets pointed me to the story of Archimedes and The Golden Crown. I'm sure most of you heard this story in one science class or another when you were young because it involves him running through the streets naked shouting "Eureka!".

Now, I'm sure many of you may be saying that his epiphany wasn't due to the profound thought enhancing qualities of the bath but instead it was inspired by the actual properties of water. And you may be right, but how does that explain my sharp rise in creativity whenever I get in the shower? How about you folks, any of you have many more of those eureka moments in the shower than you do elsewhere? Have any keen insights into the cause of this phenomenon?

Sometimes I feel like Dori from Finding Nemo with her "Just keep swimming" mantra, but I've found that the only way to actually get a story to novel length is to "Just keep writing". There's no amazing tip that will suddenly allow you to pound out thousands of words a day when before you weren't writing any. It's as simple as putting your butt in a chair and not getting up until you've met your writing goal.

You: I don't have a writing goal.

Me: Get one. Seriously.

You: I don't work well with goals. I feel pressured...blah, blah blah.

I used to tell myself those very same things. All the while I was telling myself those things I got almost nothing done. I would poke at a project for a few days when that elusive inspiration hit me and then i wouldn't do anything with it for months. Setting a writing goal, no matter how meager, helps you keep going.

You: But won't it feel like a job then?

Me: Writing a novel is a job.

You: No, I have a job. Writing is just a hobby.

Me: Do you intend to one day publish your novel and get paid for it?

You: Of course!

Me: Then it's a job! You don't get paid for hobbies.

Now, just because it's a job, that doesn't mean that you're not allowed to love it. Get a writing goal and rejoice every time you hit it. Those small successes will feed your ego and help you keep on going. Sit down any time you have a chance and try to bang out a few words. Make sure that you have a chance every day. Yes, every day, at least in the beginning. You may be able to take days off once you have made writing a habit, but you really shouldn't for quite some time. So, in the beginning your goal should just be to write every day. After you have done that for a little while (about 2 weeks) you should try setting a specific daily or weekly goal.

You: Well, what should my specific writing goal be?

Ah, that's something for next time. In Part 2 we'll talk about what I set for my goal and why, and see if we can help you figure out what your goal should be. Until then, keep putting one word in front of the other. If it helps, chant my Dori-esque mantra. "Just keep writing."

Hey there shiny, happy interenet people. This is my brand new website. I'm not very good at introductions so I'll keep this short. There is a little about blurb there in the left column and here is a link to my About Me page which is also in the main menu at the top of the page for those of you that are just too good to click on a plain text link. And for those of you like me that always want a little bit more, there are another couple of paragraphs all about the wonderful me after the jump. (See, those "Learn to Love Yourself" seminars do pay off...ok, not really)

I was born and raised in small town Michigan. It is OMG boring out there. No offense to you Michiganders out there. It's just really not my cup of soda (I don't really like tea). I am fond of inserting parentheses into blog writing though. Anyway, I met a lovely woman online a few years back while I was living in Michigan and I fell in love. I moved out to the Seattle area, which is much more interesting to a liberal vegetarian who loves pretty mountains, and eventually got married. We've been together now for 5 years and she is wonderful. Her name is Faith and without her this website and my novel may never have happened.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I quit my crappy corporate 9-5 job a couple of months ago and shortly after that began work on my very first novel. You can read more about that in my Writing section. I'll try to keep my blog here somewhat focused on my experiences in writing my novel and what happens when I try to get it published. I may occasionally meander into my thoughts on life, the universe and everything along the way. Whatever ends up here, I will try not to make it boring. Thanks for stopping by.