I Finished Writing That Dratted Book

I did it! It took me seven years of researching, writing, and expert procrastination, but I've finally finished writing that dratted book that's been hanging over my head for all that time... Sit down, have a glass of bubbly for me, while I tell how it got done: One week ago... Life coach Thea Westra challenged me to identify my most important life goals. I put on my thinking cap, and when the steam started coming out of my ears — on 06 April 2007 — I wrote this: Around here, we call this state of petrification a case of "deer in the headlights" — a deer on the road will stand still, staring into the lights of on-coming traffic, rather than make a leap for safety. Do I want to be the literary equivalent of roadkill? Especially when the end is so very near... The answer was clear. So I wrote this: I will finish writing this dratted book, and I will be ready to proofread the manuscript by this time next week! That was last Friday.     Today is Friday, one week later...         Goal achieved! In fact, I finished last night at 8:37 p.m., believe it or not! And here are a few things I learned in this jam-packed, fun-filled, head-down, race-to-the-finish week of writing: My Tricks to Help a Stuck Writer Complete a Book There you have it: I did it — you can do it! ...whatever your goals may be!