PRIORITY WRITING   
By Richard R. Blake

For sometime, I have wanted to provide some autobiographical background for my family.  I recently learned of a class on "Autobiographical Writing."

I joined the class, which meets weekly.  The class affords me the benefit of a writing critique group.  We are expected to submit written work each week.  Individual readings are limited to approximately five minutes.  I established a goal of writing two or three pages per week.

Unexpected staff shortages on my job created additional time demands.  I found that if I wanted to pursue my writing, I would have to develop some other disciplines to make the time to write.

I decided to make the class a priority.  I set a writing goal in line with the class requirements.  I began to say no to distractions and other time drains to free up time for writing.  Establishing the priority to take the class, developing time management disciplines, and setting a weekly writing goal to meet the class requirements provided the impetus I needed to begin writing regularly.

At Christmas last year, I presented my family with the fruit of my labor -- the first installment of "My Story."

BIO:
Richard R.  Blake is a regular contributor to The Restorative Justice News , Huntsville, Texas, and The Recycler, published by Follow Up Ministries, Inc., Castro Valley, CA.