I can't! That's just it. I can't be the perfect wife, mother, home-school teacher, writer, friend, etc. Not gonna happen, no matter how much I feel it should.
I can't write if I'm distracted by other things. I can't write if THINGS are pulling at me from every angle. I hear writers complain about time. "Not enough time to write today," they say.
Hmm, is it time or are they just pooped? Are they too tired from all of their other responsibilities to lift a finger to type? Have these writers had an energy drain? Being everything to everyone saps energy you need to create your best seller.
Save some of yourself for your writing. Say "no" for once. Give just a little bit less. It will be okay. It's for THE book, after all.
Don't answer the phone while you're writing. And don't feel bad for that. Don't go to the door. Believe me, the salesman will return. :)
I read where an author (I forget who) doesn't have caller ID. When asked why, she politely said, "That wouldn't be nice for my book." Pretty cool huh?
Don't feel guilty about your all important writing time. Feel good about it. :)
Thanks for the green light Robyn to give a little for myself. I needed this today- already I'm struggling to push my way through the mire of duties.
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder :)
ReplyDeleteYou got it Tamika. I had to remember the no word yesterday. An everything is even more magnified at this time of year. :)
ReplyDeleteI thought we needed one this time of year, Kristi. :)
ReplyDeleteSome days, I'm just pooped! Some days, I just don't want to write . . . so I don't!
ReplyDeleteOn the days I do . . . well, compromise is a part of my life. I might want to write the minute I get home from work but . . . cat is whining, dogs are wagging their tails, and Frank is hungry. So, pet cat, pet dogs, and figure out what the heck I'm going to cook for dinner. Dinner is done, dishes away, dogs are walked and I want to write . . . oh, wait, Frank hasn't left for work yet. SIGH! Finally, 6:45 PM arrives and I can sit down at the computer and type away, the music playing in the background and the dogs, for the moment, resting comfortably on the couch. For the moment. Growl. Snap. "Cujo, stop that!" Okay, it's Jesse, but he has a temper like Cujo sometimes, though he's all growl and no bite. Okay, now what was I writing again. Squeak, squeaky, squeakity-squeak-squeak-squeak. "Yes, baby, come here, I'll pet you for just a minute."
Finally, cat is on the floor, the dogs are pretending to sleep, but I just know they're waiting to hear the clickity-clackity-clack-clack-click of the keyboard before the embark on another devious plan of distraction. Still, I write, normally at the same time every night during the week, unless I'm too pooped to even consider ending a sentence with a preposition!
I think this all goes to the idea of balance. Hey, didn't I do a post about that not long ago, and even multiple times. Check out my blog for those posts of brilliance! Ha! We need to make time in our lives for everything, and we need to set boundaries so we can complete the things we want to complete.
Great post, my friend.
S
Thank you. That does make me feel better. Seems like when things get busy in my life, my writing is the first thing to suffer. I like hearing someone say, 'your writing is important too!'
ReplyDeleteI put my writing first when I resigned from my job two years ago to write full-time. My last semester of teaching I wrote before and after work almost everyday. Before that semester I let anything and everything come before my writing. I doubt I'll always be able to write full-time and don't take it lightly that right now I am able to.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! If you think writing is important, than you should be proud of making time for it and treating it seriously. Great advice!
ReplyDeleteI think one hurdle some of us may have to overcome is the validity of our writing. If it's not bringing in mega bucks, then what's the sense? But that's NOT true, for it is valid. For so many reasons! Thanks for sharing, Robyn! :)
ReplyDeleteI've been going through some of this lately. I feel like I'm not doing a good enough job as a wife, mother, daughter, friend, teacher, etc. Why? Because I'm writing. So I have to take a step back sometimes and realize that "writer" is only one of my many hats. I'm much happier this way.
ReplyDeleteThe happier you are with your choices and your writing, the more energy you will have for the rest of your life. If you want to write badly enough, you MAKE the time for it (because there never will BE time). And then other things get easier and fall into their place, because you're following your path.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
great advice. It is ok to save a bit of yourself for writing.
ReplyDeleteGreat way to put it in perspective - especially this time of year!
ReplyDeleteWhoo! Some of the best advice I've heard all week. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo well said, Robyn, and just a great reminder. The writing is SO important in this business, and it needs to be kept in the forefront.
ReplyDeleteGreat!