The Streak

Thank You

Photo by John Macdonald on Unsplash

I decided to end the publishing streak last night. A few of you know that. Thanks for your concern.

The key word is that I decided.

Certainly a few outside factors played a role in the decision, but nothing prevented me from writing.

There were plenty of ideas banging around in my head and I easily could have fleshed one of them out into a good story.

In the early 2000’s I taught billiards at Wayne State University. (Yes, that’s a real college PE elective). If you know pool, you know that good strategy is planning a few shots ahead.

Last night, I thought about what my days would look like trying to carry the streak a week from now and a month from now.

Starting the streak made me a better writer. I know it did and I’ve heard that sentiment from people whose opinion I respect. Continuing the streak was not necessarily making me a better writer, and that’s not fair to you or me.

Was the streak going to be any more impressive at 1300? Was I going to lose the streak to circumstances out of my control and be devastated?

The decision reminded me a bit of a thing I tell people who have obvious drinking problems in middle age: Make the decision to quit yourself, otherwise a judge or a doctor is going to force you to and there will be nothing but resentment.

I don’t think a judge was going to tell me to quit the streak, but a psychiatrist might have.

Simply, it was time.

I am probably going to allow myself a day or two more off. I want to come back strong and happy.

Thank you for riding the streak with me, thank you for all the comments and encouragement, thank you for giving heads and hearts for the stories to live in.

I hope you’ll stick around for many more.

Cheers and Gratitude,

Jimmy