Twenty years ago, I started writing down the stories that had floated around in my head for much of my adult life. During those years, I consistently spent time every day writing, learning the craft, studying markets, sending out submissions; all the things a writer whose goal is publication needs to do. But for the first time since I started my literary journey, this summer I stopped.
Finding writing time has always been difficult for me. Between having a busy career and raising a family, somehow I’ve found snippets of time to work. While a slow process, I’ve managed to complete many manuscripts and even get some of them published.
About a year and half ago I started up a website and an accompanying blog/newsletter. Writing a regular blog is not as easy as I thought it would be. Coming up with material my followers might find interesting is a definite challenge. However, by the end of spring, I had outlined 4 to 5 different topics I planned on covering during the summer months.
As summer approached, I was ready with blog topics, plans to finish up a short story and continued working on a novel project that was starting to take shape when wham…life got in the way.
In my case, three big events happened. First, my younger son, Tristan, graduated from college in May. Second, in June, my older son Nathan married Lauren, a lovely young woman he met in college. Granted neither event was a big time sink. 
Being the father of the groom didn’t require a large time commitment and Tristan’s graduation just meant moving him home, but both events knocked me off my game. How had these two sons of mine grown up so fast? For the first time it seemed I was getting old.
The greenhouse before renovations.
The third, while just as exciting and life changing as the first two, has commanded much more of my spare time. Tristan’s lifelong interest in raising ornamental fish, his main reason for studying biology and aquaponics in college, took a major leap as he decided to turn his interest into a fledgling small business venture. For the past six months, my wife Sheila and I, with major assistance from a local businessman, have helped Tristan transform a local greenhouse into his new fish hatchery.
The greenhouse with aquaculture equipment added.
Though I own a business, starting one from scratch was a new experience. Besides the plethora of infrastructure needed, there were many other details to be thought out and considered. This summer has felt like I’ve taken a class in how to start a small business. Needless to say, with all these life-changing events this past summer, my writing time suffered.
However, with the cool winds of fall beginning to blow, it’s time to stop thinking about getting older and get back to writing!