Hi Everyone,

I missed last month's assignment of introducing myself, so briefly: I'm a former penquin keeper and math professor who decided to pursue writing after my second daughter was born. I've written two novels: a paranormal thriller and historical drama. So far, my publishing history is comprised of several short stories in a sci-fi/fantasy e-magazine.

Hmmm. Either I'm multi-faceted or completely disjoint (or both at the same time). Whatever.

Today, I find myself in a productivity slump. You see, I've gotten into the habit of not writing unless

(a) my children are at school
(b) I have spent an hour checking email and the majority of CNN stories
(c) I am not even slightly hungry
(d) I am not tired
(e) all the planets are aligned to my satisfaction

In other words, I haven't done diddly-squat since early December and the deadline for a new short story is roaring at me like a freaking freight train. To add to the joy, I'm losing this week keeping my eldest daughter company as she battles the flu. (I already missed more than a week with youngest daughter's flu last month). And, AND, the two little boogers will be home for another full week during their completely useless and always stressful winter break.

GRRRR!

Okay, I need to get a grip, tell my darlings to fend for themselves for at least two hours a day, and learn to write with distractions. Yes. I can do this. Right? How about you? Under what conditions do you write?

(Note on last month's IWSG. Once upon a time, my youngest had a fever/illness for ten days in a row, so her pediatrian sent her to the ER for fluids and tests. So, when the same scenario started to present in January, I was expecting/fearing the same thing to happen, which would have been highly inconvienent with my husband poised to skip town for a conference. Hence, last month's post.

Now for the funny part. After spending a week hounding the poor tike to drink, drink, DRINK, guess who ending up blacking out, taking an ambulance ride to ER, and spending the night there getting pumped full of IV fluids? That would be me. Love the irony. So drink up, flu-sters!)