Whether we’re talking about tree squirrels, or ground squirrels, or chipmunks, or golden-mantled squirrels, we’re taking about hard workers.

Squirrels climb and excavate, investigate and forage.

I love to watch them scamper about the property. They form communities and help keep watch for predators.

They gather food, carry it back to their nests. Or stash the food some safe place. Some of the food is for now, some for leaner times.

Sometimes a squirrel appears to be lazing in the sun, its little paws slung over a tree branch, its eyes closed in blissful slumber. But even then the squirrel is working at storing energy for the next big burst of food gathering.

Yep, the squirrel is a hard worker. He knows his survival depends on continuously seeking food, storing it, providing for his babies, looking out for cats and coyotes, hawks and ravens.

Writers are like that, too. We know that, to sit back and stop growing, to stop writing toward a goal, to stop editing, to stop learning, to stop seeking other writing avenues… means that we cease to exist as writers.

The world will pass us by if we only half-heartedly pursue the life of the writer.

Stay busy, writers. Whether it’s critiquing and being critiqued, meeting other writers, studying the craft, finishing your first draft—or 12th draft—or just spending a few days on brain-neutral as you explore ideas for your next writing project: stay busy as a squirrel!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart…” (Col.3:23 NIV Bible)