I realize I haven’t been very forthcoming with the writerly progress I’ve been making in the last few weeks.

Well, that’s because, aside from a few agent requests of my complete manuscript, there hasn’t been much progress. The fall semester is in full swing and I’m frequently knee-deep in student essays and homework to grade, leaving very little time to get my own creative projects done.

There are moments when I actually do have time to sit down and write. However, there is one little snafu. I’m not quite sure how to write the next chapter of the new book I’m working on. I wish it was easy for the new WiP (Work in Progress) to just…come to me. I have the first quarter finished, around  65-70 pages, but it’s taking a lot longer than I expected to move forward.

When I first started working on it in June of this year, I had the lofty End-of-Summer goal for this book to be finished, but right about page 65, I lost steam. It’s not that I’m out of ideas. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I have too many ideas that I don’t know which one is going to work and instead of testing them out, I’ve kind of just shut down.

When people ask me what I’m doing now, this is pretty much my response:

I actually have zero excuses, I know.

I’d just rather blame such intangible concepts as “writer’s block” and “lack of inspiration” instead of my inability to sit down, shut the world out for a day, and just focus on this book.

This project has been getting some attention from agents based on information I’ve been sending. I have a great concept and, what I think is, a solid first quarter.

So what am I waiting for?

I’m well aware that actually writing a book is not as easy as saying “I’m writing a book.” After all, I did finish my second book recently, the one that I’m currently querying, so I know the time and effort it takes to write.

But I’m tired. I’m exhausted.

I teach and tutor all day long, come home and grade papers, then plan out my future classes. Whatever time is left in the day is spent on the couch watching mind-numbing TV shows like Real Housewives of New Jersey or My 600lb Life (yes, this is a real show, and yes, it’s everything it’s title promises.) Then I wake up and wish I had spent time writing because if I don’t, it’ll never get written.

Seems like a relatively simple concept, right?

Try telling that to my weary mind.

Wouldn’t it be glorious if it were that easy?

When it comes down to it, though, it’s all about time management, a skill I try to teach my own students every week. A finished written product, whether it be a book or an essay, does not just happen. It takes patience, planning, and painstaking effort.

Unfortunately, managing my time was a skill I never quite mastered myself. I’m all about the procrastination.

I tend to spend my free time doing idiotic things, like reenacting that scene from For a Good Time Call where Justin Long’s character holds up his dog and incoherently triumphantly “sings” the opening lines to “Circle of Life” from The Lion King.

Only I do with with inanimate objects laying around my apartment because I don’t have a dog.

Maybe that’s why I never get anything done.

That, and I’ve spent a lot of time during the last 7 years watching worshipping (my hero) Ellen DeGeneres’ comedy special “Here and Now,” which I own on DVD and can recite line for line at any given moment. Said comedy special is all about the power of procrastination. And gurlfriend says a lot about it in under an hour and half.

Basically, I’m experiencing a lot of conflicting emotions when it comes to finding the time to sit down with my WiP and write.

But I know I need to do it.

So in an effort to negate this entire nonsensical and completely useless post, I’m making this vow, right here and now, as you, my fellow readers, are my witnesses:

I will finish my WiP by the end of 2013.

I will.

I swear.

At the very least … I’ll try.