It’s morning and I am sitting in the coffee shop with my writing buddy. I’ve been having some difficulty with the heel of my right foot. I somehow banged the heel or popped it or something and now it’s sore and I am having a very hard time walking around on it. Wearing boots helps because it supports the foot some, but walking is slow.
I have done this before. I never can remember what I do to hurt the heel but it’s obviously something very stupid since I keep doing it. I’ve been dealing with this for three days now and while it has gotten nominally better it has not healed up. But then again if it’s a pulled tendon (not the Achilles’ Heel, btw) or something then it will take a long time to heal. There is no bruise or anything. It’s all very frustrating.
I have not been writing new stuff recently although I plan to look at the novel today. I’ve been thinking about the book a lot lately. I am probably writing this a little slower than I ordinarily would, I admit that. But part of the reason behind this is because I am also deeply immersed in research and, yes, there’s a lot of thinking involved with this novel.
I am satisfied with what I have so far and I like the direction the book is headed. I do admit part of my problem in slowing down is my big Border Trip is coming up probably in April or May. I have talked to my writing buddy about this and she says I should go ahead and write the book and anything I learn or find on the trip along the US/Mexico border I can layer that in. She’s right, of course, but part of me continues to think I will miss out on some tiny literary aspect that would escape me otherwise.
Yes, I know that’s stupid. I’m not going to wait two more months or whatever before I start writing on this novel again, no matter what my reasons. And, yes, I know I am always one on this blog to preach you should listen to your instincts. And you should. But not when your instincts go against what you know to be intellectually correct.
I have to keep writing the novel before I take the trip because otherwise I risk losing connection with the story. Not that I think such a thing will happen. But I don’t want to risk it.
Hoover's Corner 
Write on that novel NOW, K.M. I think your “instincts” are just holdovers from your days as a science and math teach, fretting over every decimal place and micromillileter! You will be so glad you have a lot written when you set out on your border trip. This is the joy of laptops and wordprocessing software where you can just “click” in however much you want whereever you wish!
You are right, of course. I have to get over this idea that anything else would not be more efficient.