Yes, I realize I am the author of eight books but that doesn’t mean at times writing can’t become a big chore for me. The month of December over the past few years has turned into the month of writer’s cramp.

Technically typing on my computer probably doesn’t produce writer’s cramp like it would if I were writing with paper and pencil. Writer’s fatigue might be a more accurate description.

In December three members of our family celebrate birthdays. Instead of picking out the perfect birthday card at the Dollar Store I want a card with a more personal touch. So that requires me to become creative and come up with a card with the right sentiment.

I have always enjoyed writing whimsical, Dr. Seuss-like poems and I suppose that explains where the idea for my latest book Nature’s Rhyming Riddles came from.  That means I have to get creative three times this month to produce whimsical, Dr. Seuss-like birthday cards.

I started my first card last evening and finished the birthday card poem for our daughter this morning. That means I must come up with two more poetic birthday cards during this busy writing month of December.

As each month begins I have my most detestable task…writing out the bills. Since this is December 2nd as I pen this blog I have that task staring me in the face. Boring! 🙁

Each month I try to write two blogs, one earlier in the month and one near the end of the month. I find blog writing very challenging and enjoy doing it very much. I’m always on the lookout for something happening in my life that will become perfect blog material.

There have been some close calls when the time for another blog arrives and “Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard” for blog ideas is bare. Then out of nowhere something happens that has ‘blog’ written all over it. 🙂

The most important and time- consuming writing assignment comes each December and that would be the traditional holiday letter. Since 1990 I have shouldered the task of writing the holiday letter in the form of a Larson newspaper. It contains pictures and small articles describing the exciting happenings in our lives during that year.

It has accidently become a family history book for us. I didn’t intend the holiday letters to become a history book but since they are all bound together   it seems the history book title fits. If a question arises what year did we take that certain vacation we’ll go to the collection of holiday letters and there we will find a description of the event.

It is a challenge each Christmas to produce a humorous and interesting letter and now that the grandchildren are maturing they are not shy about critiquing my work. I believe earlier in this blog I mentioned my eight books. Well I’ve discovered that eight books doesn’t mean a thing to teenagers. If critiquing is required it will be rendered! 🙂

So let’s see……this month I’ll be writing out the bills, writing two blogs, creating three whimsical, Dr. Seuss-like birthday cards and writing the thirty-first Larson family holiday letter.

But you would be wrong if you think that is the only writing I will be required to do. In an earlier blog I described my important job as the Traverse County Sportsman’s Club wood duck nesting box data keeper. (Say that real fast a few times in a row!) 🙂

This fall several of us did a survey on the usage of the wood duck nesting boxes. That report is due at the end of the year. So guess who has to compile the data and write a report for the sportsman’s club by the end of December?

Yes, that would be me!

I think I’m feeling a slight cramping in my writer’s hand as I review these upcoming assignments!

December is the month we celebrate that famous quote, “Jesus is the reason for the season!” so I need to adjust my attitude and attack those writing projects with Christmas gusto!

In fact that reminds me, may I be the first to wish you all a Merry Christmas! 🙂

Until next time.