December 2 – Writing.
What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?

My job doesn’t contribute to my writing.  My job keeps me so busy that I don’t have time to blog anymore.  I don’t fancy myself a particularly skillful writer, nor do I have designs on ever becoming “a writer” per se.  I write because I think it’s a useful tool for self-reflection.  It’s a means to an end for me.  I don’t do much writing in my current job (I don’t count the untold e-mails that I send each day reiterating my attendance and grading policies), although I would relish the challenge of authoring a textbook in my field, or articles related to higher education issues.  I would not have time to embark on a project of this magnitude unless I was on sabbatical, which I wouldn’t qualify for until the year 2017.

Can I eliminate what doesn’t contribute to my writing?  Am I being asked whether I can eliminate my job?  The answer is yes, I *can* eliminate my job.  I am completely capable of quitting my job when my contract is up (in June).  But I won’t quit my job.  I can’t bring myself to do it.  And I don’t know why.