When I left the rat race of technical editing and writing to stay at home with my kids for a few years, I honestly thought the only thing I missed were the people. I’d had enough of office politics and stress to last a lifetime.

Or so I thought.

Last year, I wrote almost every day, all day…well, when I look back on my spreadsheets, I didn’t do much writing in some cases. Lots of playing games on Facebook, some critiquing (which is good), sending out reviews for a small publisher (a volunteer position that is my way of paying back to the community), editing reviews (…giving back, blah, blah, blah). What I didn’t have is a lot of edits coming in to be dealt with. Heck, I didn’t even have a fixed deadline for finishing a book.

In retrospect, that was very bad for me. I work best under a deadline where I have to juggle in this, crowbar in that, and can’t pry my fingers off the keyboard. So, when Harlequin posted a Nocturne Bites pitch contest, I was JAZZED. It had a set deadline and since I was already working on one novella, I had lots of motivation to glue my butt to the chair and write. Sadly, because HQ changed their submission requirements for a Nocturne Bite and turned them into Cravings…I thought the pitch had been canceled. I finished my one novella, edited it, subbed it, and found myself playing Facebook games (again).

Today, for kicks and giggles, and because I can’t take a walk for fearing of coughing up a lung thanks to the virus one of my kids brought home from school, I “Googled” the pitch. Hallelujah, it’s back on.

Now, I’m off to make my heroine face her scariest nightmare, and no, it’s not a deadline. (Bwahahahaha)