Is this good advice for writers? Yes.

Do I manage to swing it? Not even close.

Do I wish I could? Sure.

Do I lose any sleep over it? Nope.

When folks ask about my writing schedule, I’m careful to refer to it as “writing-related work,” partially out of a sense of honesty but also to ease any pressure they might feel to put pen to paper/fingers to keyboard each and every day.

Yesterday morning, I read. On my lunch hour, I was on the phone. This morning, e-mail. All of it was related to one facet or another of my writing career. Noon today will bring more reading — unless something else comes up. Whatever might come up, though, it won’t be writing.

But in my book, it all counts as progress in one form or another. It’s not actual writing, but I’ll take it.