3 Reasons Why Writers Need Blanket Forts

I want to build a blanket fort. It is not for my sons, who are aged 18 and 17 and entirely capable of building their own stereotypical manly blanket forts. I don't want to share it with my husband, because he thinks the idea is silly.

When I close my eyes and picture my perfect blanket fort, it has things like a chenille bedspread roof, fairy lights along the tie-dyed , a bean bag chair floor, a small bookshelf, and a maybe a goldfish bowl full of skittles.

Come on, everyone knows it's not logical to put a goldfish in a blanket fort.

But getting back to my point, everyone could use some time in a blanket fort. This is especially true if you are a writer, and here are three reasons why:

1. Relaxation
Going into a blanket fort transports you into another realm. All the stress from the world outside the blanket fort disappears. You don't have to look at your phone or laptop. You can read a book, take a nap, or just curl up and daydream about stuff.

2. Inspiration
All that daydreaming can lead to inspiration. One minute you're wondering why the unicorn is Scotland's national animal (Go on, look it up!), and the next your main character butts in with a thought. Then another character pipes up. Before you know it, the ideas are flowing like crazy.

3. Socialization
Can you imagine having your next writers' group meeting in a blanket fort? Put away your notebooks, pens, and laptops in favor of a board game like Boggle or, my favorite, Scrabble! As soon as you tell your friends and family you have a blanket fort, they will beat down the fabric door to join you. (If they don't try to have you diagnosed with Peter Pan Syndrome.)

So who's ready to build a blanket fort? If you aren't sure where to start, then check out the following YouTube video.

I'd love to hear your thoughts (or see the results of your fort-building) in the comments below!

#OneHundredHappyDays

Have you heard of this?

In a nutshell, people sign up through the 100 Happy Days website and commit to posting something happy-related online via their social media accounts for 100 days in a row.

How Can People not Have Time to Be Happy?

How hard could it be? It takes only a few seconds to write up a social media post and add a hashtag. Apparently it is rather difficult. According to the website:

71% of people tried to complete this challenge, but failed quoting lack of time as the main reason. These people simpy [sic] did not have time to be happy. Do you?

What losers! Honestly, who doesn't have time to post something happy to social media? There are more people using social media than ever before.

According to a new eMarketer report, “Worldwide Social Network Users: 2013 Forecast and Comparative Estimates,” nearly one in four people worldwide will use social networks in 2013. The number of social network users around the world will rise from 1.47 billion in 2012 to 1.73 billion this year, an 18% increase. (Jun 18, 2013)

Am I too Busy to Be Happy?

Having nothing to lose, I threw my hat into the #OneHundredHappyDays ring and hit the ground running. I had so much to be happy about! But then I forgot to post one day. Then I missed another day. Then I missed a few days in a row -- despite being on social media every flipping day!

How did this happen? Was I one of the 71% who were too busy to be happy? Or was it something else? Something like:

• having two teenagers, a husband, four dogs, a pair of geckos, and a turtle who demand my time and attention
• working an average of 11.5 hour days between freelance writing, my writing projects, and our family's business
• being distracted by all the other crap cluttering my news feed on every one of those social media accounts

Ding Ding Ding! We Have a Winner!

I'm not too busy to be happy at all. I'm just too distracted to brag about it. I fire up social media and ADD kicks in full force. What started off as an intention to share a bit of happiness turns into my community's group page, news feed, BuzzFeed, trending news, CollegeHumor, dale a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena!

Between the junk in our newsfeeds and networks like Facebook making it more difficult to follow the people and organizations that matter to us, is it any wonder that I (along with 71% of the others who signed up for the challenge) failed to create #OneHundredHappyDays?

100 Happy Days? Challenge Denied!

I love a good challenge, so I think someday I'll try again. Not right now, though. Right now I have more important things to do, like watch a movie with my family or research something for my next book.

Have you ever tried the challenge? Did you succeed? Or were you too busy or distracted to keep up with posting for one hundred days in a row? I'd love to hear about your experience (as well as the things that make you happy) in the comments below!