Getting Out of the Way...

Sometimes you just need to kick yourself in the ass.

This morning I woke up determined to break the streak of bad writing days I had logged this week. Wait, let me rephrase that, the streak of NO writing days I had logged (bad sounded better than NO days.) Oh it wasn't for lack of trying, a blank screen and I tangoed together for a few hours on Sunday evening and again on Monday. On Tuesday I tried a different tactic and just "intended" to write all day but never even opened up Word (ouch!)

I could give you a million reasons and theories why. Aside from writing, I think a writer's favorite past time is talking about writing and it doesn't help that readers seem to be interested in the subject which just fuels the fire. As I have said before, talking about writing isn't writing so does it really matter why?

This is where the ass kicking comes in. Last night before I went to bed I made myself promise that I would: 1) get back to exercising in the morning (the heat wave put me off my long morning walks which seemed to coincide with a decline in my writing output) and 2) that I would write for at least three hours even if all I did was write about why I wasn't writing.

I pushed myself out of bed this morning, put on my sneakers and grabbed my laptop and went for a long bike ride which ended at the town beach. I plopped myself down at a picnic table and powered up. In this scenario wireless is my enemy, so writing outside used to be a good way to keep myself focused. That is until Cablevision decided to light up my whole town with free wireless for customers (and guess who is a customer?) Still, I soldiered on, amazed I had "excellent" connectivity that I wasn't even using.

I wrote for ninety minutes, went to the post office and banged my head on the counter reaching for a medium priority mail box, saw stars, got into a conversation with a woman who was sending chocolates to her granddaughter, came home and wrote on my patio for another ninety minutes.

Notice how I did NOT step foot into my house until I was done? When I get like this, the house is not my home, it is a minefield of distractions so part of the ass kicking meant I could NOT go home empty handed.

The whole idea that you can only write when you are inspired is crap, it's a job and just like any job you don't always feel like doing it but you do. Unfortunately, I am the sole proprietor of Teri Coyne - Writer so sometimes I have to kick my own ass.

Today it worked, tomorrow, well let's just take this one day at a time.

Your Personal Best

Last Wednesday, I watched my nephew Christoper swim laps for charity for two straight hours. When the whistle blew he had traversed the pool 191 times. He wanted to hit 200 but needed 150 to collect his sponsor money.

As I watched him and the other BlueFish on his team, I was struck by how swimming is a sport where one is always striving to beat the clock, to do better than we did before. While it is hard to ignore the bodies swimming next to you, what matters in the end is what you do against the clock. While many of us compare our "race" in life as a competition with others, it really is more about our personal best and not about someone else's.

During the two hours, Chris had moments where he appeared tired and would use his arms more than his legs, other times he would get a burst of energy and zip down the lane. Sometimes he would flip at the turn, sometimes it was enough to touch the edge and head back. He said he kept track in his head of the laps but at times lost count or started counting by tens rather than ones. Even when he wasn't sure of how many laps he did, he kept swimming.

While it is a cliche to say life is about the journey not the destination, it is true, isn't it? Our expectations of ourselves are constantly shifting. Chris may have started out wanting to swim 200 laps but by the time it started raining and he got into the ice cold water he may have thought, "I just want to do 150," as the second hour wore on, he may have wanted to just make it to two hours without quitting. How his goal changed doesn't matter as much as the fact he kept going.

I wake up every morning with a goal of what I want to get accomplished. A plan for how I will wrestle form from chaos. I always plan on doing my best. That plan is usually in the crapper by the time I finish my first cup of tea. Sometimes the day takes unexpected turns that lead me to places I never dreamed, other days the toilet backs up, the dryer breaks and your car leaks. It is on those days we have to remind ourselves that this is the journey to a destination that is constantly changing. We may have started the day wanting to go to the beach but ended up waiting for the plumber. We may have wanted to be a princess but ended up living in Queens. We may have wanted 200 laps but surprised and pleased our self when we did 191.

That's the thing about a personal best -- it's personal. You decide what it means to you, you can make your life about failure and defeat or you can make it about discovery and reward. That is up to you.

As for me, I'm taking my cue from Chris, I'm shooting for the stars and jumping in the pool. Ready, set, start swimming.

Let them Eat Cake..

After ordering a chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling for my book party last Thursday, I have come to the conclusion that the only thing better than writing a book is turning it into a cake! (Man was it good. My only regret about the whole evening was not having a second piece!)

Sometimes everything comes together perfectly, and I have to say that was the case last Thursday. After a

stifling hot day on Wednesday the weather broke and delivered a cool summer breeze just in time for the soiree. My idea was to be able to spend some time with my peeps, having a cocktail and toasting the end of a very long road. My peeps had a different idea as they brought and bought more books for me to sign. I'm not complaining except...for the part about not getting enough cake.

My Mom stayed with me to be there for both the launch at The Corner Bookstore and the party at The Havana Room so she had the good fortune of helping me assemble the favor bags. My friend Gina rode in with Mom and I and helped setup and took on the role of "banker" which was a good thing as people were handing me money for the book and I was getting very close to putting it in my bra (I didn't have any pockets!) Catherine (who has become my unofficial event photographer) took most of the great pics on the slide show to the right (special thanks for additions from Stacey, Connie and Donna!)

I have to say it is a point of great pride that although my party peeps were from all facets of my life (writers, colleagues from work, friends of friends, high school friends, publishing, and relatives) they all had one thing in common (aside from knowing me) and that was the ability to mix, mingle and make new connections.

What lingers now after the party is over, is that pride in knowing that you have managed to find some of the best and finest people to be your friends and supporters.

Now if they wouldn't eat all the cake...everything would be perfect.

Readers Reach Out

In the week since the book came out I have been overwhelmed (I'm using that word a lot these days) by the response. The first lesson I've learned is a book that is 240 pages long can get read pretty quickly by die hard readers. The second is, many people do it in one or two sitting. Who knew?

Again, when I imagined The Last Bridge getting into the hands of readers I didn't really have a picture of what that would be like. All the supporters who came out to the reading last week bought books and listened to me read, but, unexpectedly (by me) went home and started reading the book! I know this might sound funny but...well...I didn't think people would read it so quickly. Then again, people have been hearing me go on about for anywhere from 2 to 10 years so I guess they have also been waiting to find out what I've been fussing about.

In random order, here are some of the highlights of what I've heard in the last week from friends, and new fans:

• Over ten people have contacted me to say they read the book in one sitting (and some were a little sleepy at work the next day!)
• I have had six librarians email me to say they read it and were glad they ordered it for their collections!
• I'm averaging five emails a day from people who read it and connected to the story and very personal ways (some of the emails are really intense and touching.)
• I have had four men tell me they cried (is it wrong that I LOVE that?)
• Two readers have emailed me to ask when my next book is coming out...(uh...first I have to finish it!)
• Several friends are reading it as they commute to work together
• Holly Hunter and Jennifer Jason Leigh have been suggested as possible "Cats" for the movie version (no one suggests who can play Addison?)
• I have gotten emails about specific reviews on Amazon from people who either agree or disagree (and are passionate about it!)
• I've heard from people who have not read a book in a long time say they couldn't put it down.
• A few Borders have sold out of the book and have had to re-order it -- heard that from some fans
• Got pictures from Florida, New Hampshire, and Long Island of my books on display (I need more people!)

The most unexpected thing that has happened though is the connection people feel to Cat and her story. I think I know how a parent must feel when they see their kid making friends on the playground. I'm appreciative of all the readers who are making friends with The Last Bridge...more than words can express.