Maybe it’s the lawyer in me, but I’m a sucker for a good challenge. So I’ve decided to particpate in A Writer’s March again this year as a way to get myself back into a consistent writing routine. A Writer’s March is the brilliant idea of Samantha Tetangco, a writing friend and former classmate of my writing friend Jennifer Simpson. I guess you could say Sam is a writing friend once removed.

I participated in A Writer’s March last year, and although I “failed” to meet my extremely ambitious goal of writing for at least 3 hours per day for the entire month (plus submit 3 things–essay, poem, grant, whatever–per month for the entire year) it did help me make progress on my memoir and generate some writing momentum. And it was fun. I’m all for anything that makes writing more fun and less isolating.

As I wrote in my blog last month, I’ve been in a serious writing slump and need something to help me break my pattern of sloth. I want to make a big, possibly final push on my memoir this year, which is currently in its third incarnation (read draft). Also, my friend Jenn, who is in the MFA program for creative nonfiction at the University of New Mexico, is graduating this May. Her dissertation is due at the end of March. Participating in A Writer’s March along with her seems like an awesome way to support her in the final stretch of her graduate degree.

Jenn intends to write for an awe-inspiring 5 hours per day. I have committed to writing for a far more reasonable 30 minutes per day. I feel a bit like one of Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France teammates, coasting along as she (he) peddles hard. Then again, I have a child and am in the process of starting not only a business but also a nonprofit organization. Clearly I need to pace myself. However, to ease my guilt, I am also committing to 30 minutes of exercise per day. I don’t care what kind of exercise–walking the dog, yoga, tai chi, or hiking are all okay–but I want to form a habit of better self-care by the end of the month.

Working hard in March to develop two new positive habits will be the best birthday gift I can give myself. Don’t you agree?

Until next time,
Cynthia Patton