Girls, I'm not finding time to write....
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Girls, I'm not finding time to write....
| Sun, 09-30-2001 - 8:47pm |
Girls, I'm not finding time to write...msg
I have never worked 40 hours/wk in forever and now with this new job I am finding it hard to find time to write. By the time I get home, do whatever needs to be done and take a bath it is time for bed. My husband and I saw each other 2hrs. on Monday of last week and then that was it until Friday because he was having to leave before I got home. I miss the extra time I had for my writing and to see my husband. How do you all balance your time for writing?
I'm wrestling with if I made the right decision about taking this job. I always just jump into things without thinking them through. Why can't God just write what we are supposed to do in the sky? That would be so much easier for me. Struggling, Debbie
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Creativity comes in handy...
Hi Debbie! Gosh I so much can empathize! Although I do not work at all now, this is the first time that I have not worked at least one full-time job, if not one full-time and a part-time, since I was 15 years-old. It is difficult to find time to write, let alone the free space in your brain to be creative! Once you settle in to you job I am almost certain you should have so lull's in your day when you can jot down writing ideas - even if its only a few key words.
But seriously, I think the thing that was hardest for me was that I pushed myself to write these brilliant and large pieces. The less time I had, the more I felt like I wasn't writing anything of value. So I changed my expectations. A short poem was fine...a short story (that will eventually turn into a collection of short stories) was even better. I even tried my hand (and was quite successful) at greeting cards that were much more meaningful than Hallmark produces. And of course, journaling. Once you get into the rhythm of journaling, you can pull so much from that into future stories, and not feel pressured to produce anything to impress people...just work on expressing yourself.
But, what helped me improve my writing skills AND not feel like I had to spend hours doing it. It's a book called "Fiction Writing Workshop" by Josif Novakovich. Each chapter (Character, Setting, etc.) has a handful of short and longer exercises. His other book "Writing Fiction Step by Step" has exercises set up so that by the time you are done with them, you are well on your way to writing a novel of your own ideas.
Well, that's ALL I have for you! Realistic suggestions include getting up an hour earlier or going to bed an hour later...writing in the "Little Girls Room" or while you're bathing (they do have bath desks at Bed/Bath and Beyond)...
About the job...it's still not too late for you to continue praying for God to show you what is best for you...I'm sure He will give you the perfect answer in the perfect time!
Hugs! April
Did I mention how imporant it is to floss? Well let me mention it again...
As a Newbie ...
I hope I'm not butting in.
I sympathize with anyone working and trying to balance a spiritual life, marriage, family and personal fulfillment. I am fortunate in that I stay home, but I still find time NOT to write.
I went through a period where, rather than write, I collected books ON writing. Some were helpful, most were rubbishy psycho-babble. I kept two. One was "For Writers Only" by Sophy Burnham. The book is not a how-to but is full of quotes and anecdotes about famous writers and poets, and interspersed with her own thoughts and experiences concerning writing. While I don't necessarily agree with her on some spiritual issues raised, I found it to be a great book to open to any page and read when you need a little pick-me-up.
One of the anecdotes concerned a famous British author from the last century -- name forgotten in a pre-menopausal haze - who wrote several books over his lifetime, using the twenty or so minutes he had before going to work. Others used the cocktail hour or other bits of time to jot down ideas or even write whole scenes.
I was heartened to read this. We forget that our lives are made of minutes and that a few minutes here and there add up to hours, days and years. When I'm battling with myself and don't want to write, I make myself do 500 words. That's not much -- on my word processor it works out to less than two pages of 12 point text. If I do the 500 words, I'm not a failure and can hold my head high. Okay, it's a trite trick of the mind, but I can dream can't I?
Anyway, tiny bits here and there can make a big difference. And carrying a notebook to jot down ideas helps. This gives you something to work on when you do find larger chunks of time.
Oh, the book also said that Agatha Christie plotted her novels while sitting in the bathtub eating apples. Maybe tonight you could grab a couple before drawing the water and see what comes.
SK
I feel your pain!
I don't remember if you were around the boards last spring, but I took a new job on May 15th and have had to seriously cut back on how much time I can spend writing! It has been a long time since I've been able to right on such a regular basis. But Sue's right, it's encouraging to think what you can do with just a few minutes... and every little bit helps!
Let's do something for each other. Let's pray that God will help us both find the time that we need. Because at least in my case, it's clearly going to take more than I can do by myself to make my schedule work out!!!
Hugs,
Becky
Ah, the story sounds familiar.... msg
It is very hard to juggle all we have to do... I know that I hardly have time it seems to get everything done... so I decide what is most important and do that first... it takes time, but you soon fall into a schedule. I have a set day for laundry, a set day for grocery shopping, etc. As for DH, well, he likes to watch his tv, so I let him do that while I'm on the computer. I write a lot in my head, and I am gonna take a note book to work with me and during our slow times I'm gonna write. I have less than 3 months to complete my story if it's gonna be a christmas gift. do you get a lunch hour? write while you nibble on your sandwhich. Or go to bed 1/2 hour later and write during that time. Or get up 1/2 hour earlier and write then.... Also, watch our you spend your "free time" you will soon see that you have more than you think, you just aren't paying attention to how you use it. hang in there... you will soon get into a "schedule" and things will fall neatly into place! And if things get too hectic, just climb on up into the treehouse and have a rocket pop! They are good for what ails you!