One writer friend keeps a daily journal, recording not only the events of the day but what she thinks about them.  This is the stuff of journals and why we should keep them. You may discover, as I did yesterday, that they can be important to our writing. I have spent several hours during the past three days going through boxes–all marked SAVE–of  typewritten and handwrtitten material, and I'm discovering what a treasure this is, not only for my current writing (I've started another book) but matrial from my children's growing-up days that needs to be put on the computer for their future reference.

An entry from the late 1950s reminded me of an important decision made at that time.  I was schooled from an early age that the FIRST thing a good housewife/mother does in the morning when husband is off to work and kids off to school is to "tidy up."  I had been making sure that the kitchen sink was cleared of dishes and cereal boxes before the milkman  (home delivery in those days) arrived to assess the amount of milk in the fridge and fill out my standard order.  I had accepted the "rule"  that I could not get to the typewriter and my writing until the kitchen (at least) was fit for "white glove inspection."  In those days, I put a lot of thought into figuring out out how to get extra time at the typewriter.  

DAWNING IDEA:  Why did I need to use an early hour of creative energy to "tidy up?"   That day in 1958,  I gained an hour of writing time by forgetting what the milkman (or my mother !) would think.  I headed for the typewriter the moment husband and kids were off for the day.  There was really plenty of time during the day when my head ran out of creative thoughts to do the "tidy up" chores. 

This was something to consider–again after all these years.  This morning, I made the coffee and came to the computer–before taking time to "tidy up."  There will be plenty of time for that later.  Until tomorrow, Willma