When I Can't Stream Netflix

There are two common statements in the writing community. The first is, writers write. Someone, (I wish I could remember who and I'm sorry if it was you) equated writing to a faucet. You have to turn the faucet on for the water to flow, writing is much the same. When I don't have time to write, like the last couple of weeks, while I prepared for life changing events, 8th grade graduation, a ballet performance, soccer tournaments, family visits and a baby dedication, my writing flow trickled and then stopped altogether. It will take hours, or sometimes a few frustrating days for the "writing faucet" to flow.

The other common statement heard in the writing community is, writers read. Years ago, I attended a writing conference where I had the privilege to hear Stephan King speak. One thing he said that struck me, (besides that he got his idea for "IT" while crossing a wooden bridge wearing cowboy boots) was that he spends half his time reading. A writer who reads becomes better at their craft because writers learn from one another.

Do I read, yes, do I read enough, no. I admit I am a sloth. You may think I jest but the Enneagram test says so. For a fun way to find out how you really tick follow this link, Enneagram, you may be surprised. I would much rather binge, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or You-tube but in order to learn and grow, I must read. Right now I'm reading Dale Carnegie's "The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking". Does reading this book make me a better writer? Probably not. A better speaker? I hope so. So, I follow my crawling baby, who is walking now as I post this a second time, around the yard with this book in hand because I can't stream Netflix outside.