when it gets dark

I was just revising a scene in my new book.

When I looked up at the end of the chapter, I was surprised to see it was full-on dark in here. The only spot of bright was the screen of my laptop. It gets dark way too early this time of year but when I started the scene I swear it was bright full sunshine streaming through the windows, so bright I couldn't sit at the table because of the glare.

It's a literally awesome feeling the day new books show up all fresh and unbent in a box. It's amazing to walk into a bookstore and see a book I wrote on the shelf. It is truly mind-blowing to see some stranger immersed in a book I wrote, lost in a world I made up -- and if that person laughs, well, there is little (beyond any random moment with my kids) that can make me happier.

A check with my name on it? Oh, yeah. That's a happy-dance thing too for sure.

But the best part of being a writer, for me, is the time that's lost inside somebody else's head, thinking some imaginary character's thoughts -- while the afternoon careens into evening without my even realizing it.

some days

some days you just end up face down in a boot.

More advice on the writing life

Advice for aspiring writers from Junot Diaz, courtesy of The Daily Beast:

The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art.