Wednesday, September 21, 2011

My Top Three Excuses Are:

1. I can't write today. No one has any clean clothes to wear.

2. My horses need riding. (I love this one.)

3. We need food in this house. I mean, how can I write if I don't have anything to eat?

Now I admit that number two is my most favorite excuse. But I have learned that when I am riding one of my horses, I'm thinking. About my stories. Things are coming together in my head, so in a way, I am writing.

But the other two are just, well, lamo! Trust me! I'd much rather write than wash clothes. But I think I make this excuse because I'm afraid. Afraid to write the beginning. Afraid of the middle. Afraid to reach The End.

I have declared every Monday through Friday for the rest of the year, No Excuses Can Be Heard, holiday. I'll let you know how it goes. This simply means that I write early morning after exercising and before homeschool. Something. Anything. If it's only 100 words, then so be it. At least I have something to show for it. And if there is anytime left after supper and family time then I write then too.

So tell me. What are your excuses?

30 comments:

  1. Oh, I've been looking for some new excuses. Mine are sooo overdone. Can I borrow yours? ;)

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  2. Robyn, are you friends with LJ Sellers? She has an ebook out titled, Write First, Clean Later. A must-read for you. LOL.

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  3. Inluv, you can definitely borrow mine. I have plenty more to go around. ;-)

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  4. Dani, I definitely need that ebook. That is a must-read for me. ;-)

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  5. As of right now, my excuse is that I'm not in the "writing mood", therefore no words will be able to come out. This one for me is the worst, because it's the most popular one and the one that usually wins the most. =/

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  6. Robyn, I homeschool, as well. Three boys, and I have an infant daughter. Busy busy busy.

    In my previous life, before my divorce, both my ex and I worked from home, so I had the "luxury" (we'll call it that for the purpose of this example) of leaving the house to work on my assignments. (I am a professional journalist, so they tell me.)

    As you might have reckoned from the previous paragraph, I had some major life changes. Back to work outside the home, remarriage, back to work inside the home, then we added the homeschooling aspect, then the baby arrived...whew! Lots of change.

    When I started back to work on my fiction projects, I decided to discipline myself to work at home. Really work. Not play online games or other time-wasters.

    For the first time in my life, I'm writing someplace besides the coffee shop, or a desk at the office.

    What a job! I had to teach the kids to self-manage, first!

    It is a lot of work, but I have come to a very manageable place with it all.

    I have a lot of clean, unfolded laundry, but I honestly would rather be writing, so I do that, instead. It feels so good to be "over" the excuses thing.

    You can do it, if you really, really want!!! Put your mind to it.

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  7. How about I need to just take a nap. While I nap, Maybe, I will think of what I want to write.

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  8. I would love to have number two and ride horses. I love doing that when I was younger. Instead I use the dishes, chauffeuring children, laundry and Solitaire. The biggest thing is to just sit and write. Something I forced myself to do today and I accomplished a lot.
    Wendy
    W.S. Gager on Writing

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  9. I have no excuse for no excuse. "I don't feel like it right' is the most lame. But since there is no reality without a deadline, I try to make deadlines and pretend I don't know they are really false deadlines.

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  10. Robyn, yay for you for setting that 100 words a day goal. We're going to hold you to it! My excuses? I need to reply to my emails, leave replies to blog comments, feel nauseous, gotta pick up dog doo, forgot to call so and so back, there's another weed that needs to be picked...

    I think I need to follow your example and commit to a minimum of 100 words a day, even if they stink! Feel free to hold me to it!

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  11. My most common: I'm so busy. I've got lessons to prep. Writing is for me, so I should prioritise everything else. I'm so tired and hey, I did get a lot done today (not of writing though).

    All so so easy to think. Good luck with the new No Excuses plan!

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  12. My main excuse at the moment is visiting all you lovely bloggers, but if it wasn't that it would be the fact that Mr A is now retired and under my feet etc. There are not enough hours in the day to do everything.

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  13. My biggest excuse is: I NEED SLEEP. Lately I've just been working and writing like a robot machine and it's not fun and it's causing burnout. So I think those days sitting on the horse thinking and 'being' are the way to go, sometimes. I hope you conquer your fears and the no excuse plan works out for you. :)

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  14. My excuse for not writing is I have assignments to correct or something else to do.

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  15. I LOVED your second excuse.

    I am proud of you that at least you exercise daily. I have been posting that all summer. IT really does clear the mind to think up all the plots, characters, and scenes while doing it. Horse riding works too. LOL.

    It sounds like you're feeling better. I hope so. I was worried about you.

    I just got back from lakefront powerwalk. Getting chilly out there. Fall is definitely in the air. At least I have my fun blogfest to keep summer alive this weekend. i hope you can drop by and read some of the entries.... HEY, now there's a good excuse ... "I have to hop over to my friend Michael's blog and support his fest...

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  16. I thought I left you a comment, but don't see it. I put all excuses into the category of 'working on it while I'm doing something else' which is true about 30% of the time. If you don't stress about it, you never know where downtime can lead.

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  17. Let me just check my email - real quick! An hour later I realize I shouldn't have done that.

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  18. Just as soon as I finish doing "X"...

    that one gets me every time. Love this post.

    Just dropping by to see what's new and to say hello, have a nice Weekend.

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  19. "I have work (as in billable work) to do." Projects that put money in the bank wins every time...

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  20. I'm not a writer so I don't need any excuses, but I certainly admire the work ethic of you and your fellow authors.
    I just thought I'd stop by and let you know I'm still around, hope you have a great weekend.

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  21. #2 is an excuse I could never make. Where would I keep a horse here? But I know what you mean. My best thoughts often come in the shower.

    I hope you find time to write. : )

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  22. I can solve number 1 and 3 for you. Spend a day buying more clothes for everyone, so you don't have to do laundry as much. Buy in bulk and cook in bulk, then you can freeze meals so you don't have to worry about making something fresh each night.

    My lamest excuse right now is...I need to take a nap with Peaches.

    I've actually been doing really well this past few months. I write down at least one writing goal for m-f and I usually get it done.

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  23. I love the horses one. I can't say some pictures need scrapbooking in quite the same way lol.

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  24. Hahaha! I've used these excuses too.

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  25. I have too many excuses for counting. I'm sorry to say. Thanks for reminding me always to get going with all that wonderful Robyn encouragement :)

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