I know, I know. Today I’m supposed to post about writing. Well I am…sort of…

It’s kind of hard to focus, since my birthday is this weekend. And it’s the Super Bowl. And, well…it’s a weekend, which means I have two full days with my hubby to come up with fun things to do.

You don’t really need to know how old I am. That’s not relevant to my writing.

What is relevant, however, is that it’s my birthday.

Okay, I get it. You’re wondering how that could possibly have anything to do with my career. I can understand your skepticism. I’d be suspicious, too.

Here are some reasons why a birthday can be considered influential (and necessary) for a writer:

1. Cake – if you eat too much, you slip into a sugar coma. If you try to ignore it, thinking about it will haunt you. You have to find the exact amount to consume so that it will fuel your mind and imagination without sending you into hyperglycemic shock.

 2. Every year we gather more and more information. It doesn’t really matter how old you are.
What matters is how you use that information. Have I learned the difference between show and tell? Did I meet someone who will inspire a memorable character? How am I maturing? All of that can go into my writing, and my birthday is a yearly reminder to check my knowledge banks and use what I’ve got.
 3. And finally – PEOPLE WATCHING!

What better way to observe human behavior than at a birthday part, er, I mean…in a friendly, social environment?

So there you have it. I’ve officially turned my birthday into a necessary exercise and experience for my writing success. I knew I could do it…