I found this picture and I couldn’t help but think it embodies the philosophy of single-minded pursuit. Writing is hard. There are so many demands on our time, and plenty of opportunities to skive off. But if you want to finish that book, get that project out there, get closer to fulfillling your dream (or living it to the full, if you are already published) then you need to make a plan.
I have a lot of excuses I could make at the moment for not working. I just moved to a new country, I’m trying to find a house and I am living in a small apartment with two children under the age of 7 in the midst of a very rainy season. Can anyone say cabin fever?
But while that may have passed scrutiny for a week or so, I have not let it become an ongoing reason for not working. I want certain things too much. And I’m prepared to work to realize my ambitions.
Not everything in this business is within my control, but I can control my attitude, and the time I put into my work. This means sacrifices, in my case, no television whatsoever, when all I want to do is go into a semi-vegetative state, so I can work when the terrible two are asleep. They are going through a huge transition at the moment, and they seem to need me a lot more than they did before while they settle into a new life. I’m sure when we get our rental house and they start school, things will get easier there.
It sometimes helps to take a step back and realize that you DO make sacrifices to write. That you do forego some things in order to further your writing career. What sacrifices do you make to get the job done?
Michelle, I haven’t been sacrificing enough. I should have been done with the first draft of my wip already and on the revisions. I’m determined to finish it now, and then go onto the next shiny new idea I’ve thought of.
Good for you for your determination. You inspire me to get work harder. My morning has been filled with motivations. The universe is talking to me.
I’m not sure anymore. I’ve been into my routine for so long that I’ve actually decided to cut back by getting out of the house for a couple of hours on the weekends for some fresh air. Usually, I get home at 5:30, start dinner, eat, and by 6:30 I’m writing until 11:30pm. The only thing left to sacrifice is sleep and eating and that’s not going to happen.
Michelle, writers absolutely go through stages. At this time in my life, my sacrifices aren’t as daunting. I have my days for writing, which wasn’t always the case when the girls were young. And I don’t have the day-job. For me it would be other dazzles like reading time, movie time, play-time. I have no problem letting house chores go, though.
I’m also guilty of letting things get in the way of my writing, Michelle. It’s so easy to sit back, let yourself get distracted and allow the writing to slide. I’m still trying (unsuccessfully) to get myself into some semblence of a routine. I think I’ll start my New Year’s Resolution early.
Hmmm….I’m still sacrificing sleep.
Used to be that I’d be in bed around midnight, now it’s closer to one a.m. I dream of the day when I can let my head hit the pillow around ten.
Good luck finding the perfect house for your family.
Michelle, I had to scratch my head and really think of what I sacrifice. Since writing is my job, one that comes with all hours of the day and night, and since I really do my best writing between the hours of 11 p.m. an 4 a.m. not going to bed with hubby is a sacrifice. I don’t have kids to wake up to, so I can make my own hours. But when I get jammed up on a deadline as I have it seems for the last year, more than anything I have sacrificed my health. I just don’t get out an walk like I used to, and it shows.
For me it’s not so much the sacrifice, because when I’m in the zone, nothing else matters. But I can say there’s a certain effort involved in remembering the importance of stepping away from writing to take a breath and restock the creative muse.
I admire your tenacity! It can’t be easy making a move to another land. Hope your kids will remember the adventure.
Yep, not everything within your control, but I truly believe if we focus on the important things and do our research and get our writing to a high quality level, the magic will happen. It might be damn slow, but it will happen.
And I’m not so sure it’s sacrifice for me either…when writing and being a published author is the biggest thing you want, your highest ambition, it’s hard to see the stuff you don’t do so you can pursue that goal as a big sacrifice most of the time.
I guess I have to sacrifice laziness and an “I’ll do it tomorrow” attitude.
Isn’t is great when the universe gets in on the act, Edie
. You are a consistently productive writer, and have no need to feel guilty, whatsoever.
Marcia, that was me before I moved. I was so ‘in’ to my schedule, I had to break out of it to smell the roses more. But the new twist in my life has made routine difficult to establish, and I’m only just wrestling that crocodile to the floor now.
LaD, I’m so obsessive compulsive, I can’t let the chores go too long, LOL. But yes, you’re so right about different stages. We have to take what we have and make the best of our circumstances.
Go, Liz, go! I’m still waiting for that reworked sub
.
Oh, Cindy, after a night spent helping my son to the bathroom to throw up about 5 times, sleep is almost the only thing on my mind. I feel your pain.
Karin, don’t underestimate either of those sacrifices. And don’t let that health go! You look after yourself.
Thanks, Kathy. And yes, we need to recharge the creative batteries to keep ourselves productive.
Zoe, that is true. But kids in the mix makes it harder to be too narrow in focus. If I didn’t have kids, I’d be writing a LOT more. But they are as important to me as writing, and they shout louder than the characters in my head, sometimes (although not always
).
Very true, Michelle. There are no kids in my mix. (Oh great, now it sounds like I’m baking them.)
Too funny, Zoe. We’re gonna have to call you the Gingerbread House Lady. LOL.
Well, the day before yesterday I sacrified my children’s safety and hair. When I was feverishly working, #1 took #2 into the other room and chopped off all her little baby locks. The scissors could have done more damage, so that’s a lucky break, and I could have done more damage when I found out, so #1 got a lucky break.
But.
It’s when stuff like that happens that you can’t help but wonder if you’re drawing the sacrifice line in the wrong place.
hehe Liz.
Jody, ROFLMAO here. My daughter cut her own hair the other day, it was getting in her face and annoying her while she was cutting and pasting, so she just cut it off. At least it was her own hair, not her brother’s. LOLOL.