April 22, 2025: The 517 Rule

Doing this changed everything.

For years, I told Jessica I wanted to write a book. Soon. Eventually. Probably next week. But with young kids and the usual swirl of everyday life, I had a go-to excuse: There just isn’t time.

After hearing that on repeat, Jess finally looked at me and said, “If it really matters to you, why don’t you write early in the morning?”

I didn’t love the advice. First, because it made too much sense. Second, because it yanked my excuse away. And third, early morning?

Still, I set my wake-up call for 5:17AM — weirdly specific, I know (that’s another story). Enough time to roll out of bed, brush my teeth, and flop onto the couch with a laptop by 5:30.

Day after day, I got up. Sometimes groggy, sometimes motivated. But often staring at the blinking cursor with a blank mind. Some mornings proved productive, others were duds. But I kept showing up.

Since that first alarm, I’ve written five books and four short stories. Usually before breakfast. Now, whenever a project feels big or impossible, I go back to that habit. The “517 Rule.” There’s just something about a quiet morning and a snuggly Golden Retriever who thinks she’s my co-writer.

This week, I remembered a great thought: “Habits shape your life, not motivation.”

My habit started with a buzzing clock. And yes, I’m still ticked Jess was right.