I'm realizing now how much I took "time" for granted in the years that I could have finished probably my entire series of novels. While I don't regret waiting (the time in between has let new ideas grow on me, I'm even more mature with my storytelling, etc.), I'm finding that time is a precious commodity that I don't have.
With the added responsibility I've taken on at work, I'm now working voluntary overtime every week without thinking about it. There is just so much to do. By the time I get home, I have to either help with dinner or cleaning AND help out with our daughter AND find time to relax with her and my wife. There is barely any time to write during the week without depriving myself of sleep (or shunning my family).
On weekends, if my wife is working then practically all my time is taken by my daughter. I have some ideas for how I can squeeze in some writing but without my wife at home to help its really hard to get any quality time in. And lets not talk about creative moods because usually they don't line up with my free time (and instead they always appear when I walk into the office).
Not a day went by this week that I didn't think about my novel. I'm close to finishing the edit of the chapter I'd left off on, so I'm making forward progress. Whether or not I can have this edit plus one more finished by July is still up in the air. Just trying to squeeze this edit in by April is seeming less and less likely unless I take a vacation day or two.
However it ends up, I am getting the novel done this year. I just hope its sooner than later.
