I’m the first to admit that I’m a busy person. My schedule is pretty unforgiving, but since I mostly bring it on myself, I can’t blame anyone else. I work some downtime into the calendar, sure, but usually at the expense of time I could’ve used to do work.
And not just writing work, either. My projects have taken a backseat to my grad class and the comp class I’m teaching at the community college, so most of my “free” time has been spent reading, writing papers, grading, or prepping for my next few weeks’ worth of classes. In between all of that, I work full-time and am president of my local writers’ group. Besides all of my presidential duties, I write and edit the group’s newsletter and we’re in the thick of planning our spring conference. Any time left over is for writing/interviewing/querying, hanging with the b.f., friends, and family. Oh, and reading. Jam-packed? You betcha! Do I ever think of ditching what I truly love (writing and teaching) for the sake of some extra time? NO! I've just simply learned to make it all work.
I’ve gotten used to buzzing through my weeks at a killer pace, so when I stop to think about everything I accomplish in a week, it’s sometimes mind-boggling. So when I hear people say, “Eh, I don’t have time to sit and write”, it makes me so mad! Okay, so the only missing element of my schedule that many other folks have is kids, but my b.f. has a son and the three of us spend a lot of time together, so in a way, I do have that, too. And I make it work. The assignments get done, the queries get sent, and the payments come in. I feel that if you truly love something, you’ll make the time for it.
Where do you make the time in your day to write?
I've been scribbling down short stories for years. My plan was, when I got around to it, I would try to publish a book. Well, I'm too lazy for that! So I started a blog instead. I just started it a few weeks ago and it has empowered me to write, write, write! In fact, I'm writing more now than I did in grad school, which is saying a lot. I still have hope that one day I can turn my blog into a book.
ReplyDeleteBut like you said, I work full time, I'm married, have a teenage son, etc. Somehow this blogging biz has taken priority in my life (even over a very good paying job). I now look forward to getting off work so I can go home and write!
If you've got it in you, then you simply have it in you. Drive that it. There are people who sit around hoping to win the lottery, but you can't win if you don't play :)
I feel like (even if nobody is looking at it) my blog is my winning ticket. Writing humor gives me that warm fuzzy feeling you get from your first drink on a Saturday night. If you get a chance, let me know what you think of my first attempt at entertaining people www.HowNotToBeMee.com. :) I hope you enjoy my silly, brash, and most of the time outrageous humor.
I've been scribbling down short stories for years. My plan was, when I got around to it, I would try to publish a book. Well, I'm too lazy for that! So I started a blog instead. I just started it a few weeks ago and it has empowered me to write, write, write! In fact, I'm writing more now than I did in grad school, which is saying a lot. I still have hope that one day I can turn my blog into a book.
ReplyDeleteBut like you said, I work full time, I'm married, have a teenage son, etc. Somehow this blogging biz has taken priority in my life (even over a very good paying job). I now look forward to getting off work so I can go home and write!
If you've got it in you, then you simply have it in you. Drive that it. There are people who sit around hoping to win the lottery, but you can't win if you don't play :)
I feel like (even if nobody is looking at it) my blog is my winning ticket. Writing humor gives me that warm fuzzy feeling you get from your first drink on a Saturday night. If you get a chance, let me know what you think of my first attempt at entertaining people www.HowNotToBeMee.com. :) I hope you enjoy my silly, brash, and most of the time outrageous humor.
I started freelancing a few years ago when I quit my full-time job in journalism to go to grad school. When the freelancing got going, I was in school and fit it in around school assignments. Easy-peasy. Then I had a son, graduated and got a full-time job in my new field of interior design. Still freelancing on the side. Still not so bad.
ReplyDeleteThen I started writing fiction.
Whoa, baby! The only time I had to do that was time I previously spent watching TV and/or sleeping. I've sacrificed a lot of sleep since last July when I started writing my book. And I cut out almost all TV for a solid year. When I finished my first draft, I relaxed a little, but I'm finding out that revisions are nearly as time-consuming.
And yeah, I have a day job (now part-time, at least), a prolific freelance writing career, a husband, a son, a house, a social life, and I do volunteer work for a local arts group and founded/lead a local chapter of a national interior design group. Are there enough hours in the day for all that? No way. But I make it work, like you said.
When you love something enough, you find time for it.