As of today, we are 31 days into Lent.  As most of you probably know, it is traditional to give something up for the season.  Meat is common, as is chocolate.  A friend of mine annually gives up atheism for Lent.  This year, I gave up the internet.  Not entirely, of course, hence the post, but I limited my computer time to between 6pm and midnight.  It might not sound like much, but let me assure you, it’s huge, and difficult, and I’m counting the days to Easter.

I am, however, making good use of my non-computer time.  I’ve been reading a lot; in particular, I’ve been reading through the books on writing I have on my desk shelf.  So far I’ve read The Writer’s Art by James J. Kilpatrick, Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, The Best Writing on Writing, edited by Jack Heffron, and Telling Lies for Fun & Profit by Lawrence Block.  I just started re-reading Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury today.  The books have been inspiring on a number of levels, even when I don’t agree with the advice they give.  I’d recommend any of them for anyone interested in an autodidactic study of creative writing.