Earning the X for Today

Some of you might know this, some of you might not. Although, if you’re here, I suspect that you do. But, I am a writer. I am also a musician (of sorts). I am a painter (less so than either musician or writer). 

And right now, I’m a reader. Well, not right NOW. I mean, right now I am writing this blog post in a misguided attempt to earn my X for the day. I’m still not sure if I’m going to count it yet or not. I’ll likely decide at the end of this bit of brain-dumping that I refer to as blogging, if I’m going to count this as productive writing for the day or not. 

Todd, just what exactly is ‘earning the X’ and can you circle back around to this thing where you think you’re a writer?

I’m glad you asked, well, that is to say, I’m glad you asked half of the question that you did. I’ll answer both just because I’m feeling saucy. At least at the moment. 

I started this thing sometime in March where I stopped counting words or time that I had written for a day and just made a conscious effort to write something-anything.

In fact, as I type this, I think I may have already posted about this on the blog already. Hold on a sec. 

OK. Just checked. Apparently I haven’t-yet. At least not in so many words. 

Anyway, earning the X. It’s something that a lot of writers do, so I’m told. Basically, for me, if I have done some writing that has cleared some mental cobwebs or has advanced my story forward–either or–or has served for me to just get some thoughts of a personal nature down on paper, then the calendar gets an X on the day. Pretty soon, there’s a good little string of them on there and the last thing I really want to do is break that string. I don’t want there to be any days without X’s. 

Normally it’s pretty straightforward, I pack a lunch…each it…then do some writing on my lunch hour. And boom. X-time. Today I went out for lunch, so, not so straightforward. But no matter–I could do some writing when I got home. Easy peasy. Only tonight I’ve been a reader. I’ve been reading the second book of the Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop. And it’s so good!!

Honestly, I’m going to get back to the book now. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to count this as my X today. But maybe that’s OK. Maybe I start something new. 

I days I write, the calendar gets an X. On days I read, it gets an O. And on the glorious days I do both, it gets both. 

I like that plan. 

So, maybe half of an X for today, but definitely an O. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a book to get back to!

Have a great evening my friends!

-AT