The writers among us know how difficult it can be to stick to a writing schedule. I, too, am guilty of this. The only writing schedule I successfully stick to, is my Chinese Journal schedule. That’s where I write about my experiences in China… in Chinese.   In order to improve my Chinese, I wrote about my day, my emotions, what-have-you, in a notebook that I handed to my Grammar teacher almost every day. At the end of the first year, we had to write an essay about something we experienced here in China.

Writing about my experiences is second nature to me, I had a lot of stories to choose from. My teacher helped me pick out the funniest ones. We narrowed it down to five. I was the only first-year student to ever do such a thing. They were so impressed, they extended my scholarship for another year.

Behold Exhibit A, a video I too of the finished product. Excuse the manicure, my favorite salon had closed down at that time. Finding a new one wasn’t easy.

This is my second year here, but I still need to start writing about my experiences. The first months back were a little hectic. The disappointed look on my teacher’s face when I told her I hadn’t written anything yet, that hurt. I still have two and half weeks off, so better put them to good use. She really thinks my stories have the potential to become a great memoir written in the Chinese language… by a 外国人 (foreigner).

Once again, I made a writing schedule. This time around, it’s easier to met my deadlines.

Writing my novels (yes, PLURAL) is easier now. The previous years I was freaked out about many things. Like what? I didn’t graduate from some prestigious college with a degree in English Literature, I had no idea what pantsing and outlining meant until I bought the book Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success. There were so many things I didn’t know, and that scared the bejesus out of me. I have to admit, fear of my novel being rejected or criticized by people scared me. We writers are very sensitive when it comes to our work, it’s our baby. But, in order to really call myself a writer, I need to write.

I now have a new writing schedule, am writing about my experiences here & adding the finishing touches to my first romance novel.

This year is the same as 2015 in many ways. How so? 2015 was the year I stopped saying, “I’m going to move to China…” People were tired of hearing it, some even scoffed and rolled their eyes. When 2015 started, I said to myself I needed to stop saying to myself, “This will be the year that I …” And I did it. It became the year I moved across the world. 2017, year of the Cock (no pun intended) is looking mighty bright to me.

Writers, please feel free to share similar struggles, or any struggle related to writing.