Today I finally managed to write a 2,400-word draft of an article on raising baby garter snakes, which if all goes well will end up in The Garter Snake, the EGSA’s newsletter.

It’s been a while since I’ve written something for print rather than the web. In fact, it’s been nearly three years since I wrote anything other than a book review for the reptile hobby press. It felt good. Writing was comfortable: I had no trouble getting back into the zone and maintaining my focus.

Despite the total lack of pay, I don’t mind writing these articles: I adopt a fairly informal, conversational tone, compared to the stilted, ersatz-scientific discourse many hobbyists adopt. That may have something to do with my writing skills (ahem), but it reflects the fact that I’m not trying to be professional. I’m just sharing knowledge, not trying to impress.