My daughter came over for breakfast on her way to work today.  I actually got a good little writing session in before she appeared, but as I was cooking bacon at an unusual hour the thought occured: this is what non-writers do instead of worrying about writing first thing in the morning.

So I starting thinking.  What would my life be like if I weren't a writer.  Here's what I came up with:

• I'd drink coffee, read the paper and eat breakfast first thing in the morning, rather than taking my coffee to my office with me to write.
• I'd read for pleasure only, instead of constantly studying to see how other writers do it.
• I'd watch movies without straining to pick out the plot points and mid points.
• During the summer, I'd have a suntan from being outside, instead of inside writing.
• I'd actually make sense when I talk to the grocery clerk during my first outing of the day, after a long day at the computer.
• I could truly relax, instead of constantly thinking, I should be writing.
• My desk would not be littered with ideas written on scraps of paper.
• I would have no desk.
• My hair would not stand on end from me pulling at it when pausing to search for the right word.
• I would never have traveled to Nashville and many other interesting places.
• I would not know the best and most interesting people in the world, both in-person and online.
• I would not know how to make sense of my life.
• I'd be dreadfully bored.  And even more dreadfully boring.

This is just a beginning list, off the top of my head. How about you?  What would your life be like if you weren't a writer?

Photo by kiamedia.