I don’t know about you, but when the sun is shining and the weather is perfect, it’s hard to sit still and be productive.

Good thing it looks like it’ll be a rainy one today, because deadlines are looming!

It’s funny. There’s a famous saying about deadlines by Douglas Adams, “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” But for me, deadlines are usually just the pressure I need to get the job done. Typically, I meet my deadlines, so here’s hoping that holds true today.

Of course, my deadlines are probably much different than those of a novelist. I often think about the kind of determination, focus and creativity it takes to become an author, and wonder if I’ll ever find that within myself. Reading has and always will be one of my favorite activities; I love losing myself in the characters of a book, turning page after page to see what happens next.

It gets ridiculous to the point where I’m usually sad after finishing a good book, knowing that my time with those characters is through. I can’t even imagine the dedication to those characters their author must have. To those of you out there writing or even just dreaming up your characters now, I applaud you.

And on that note, and until I join your ranks, I’d say it’s time I stop talking and start getting to work.