On misconceptions about writers and free time, commitment to writing, and how to find time to write.
RELATED LINKS:
- Why Writers Must Read (vlog)
- Why Writers Must Read (blog post version)
- Writing When You Don't Want To
- How to Write a Novel in Only 500 Words a Day
- How to Juggle Writing and Life
- On Prioritizing Your Time
- Writing When You Don't Want To (vlog)
Twitter-sized bites:
"If you don't find the time to write when you're [busy] you won't find the time...when you're not." (Click to tweet)
Writer @Ava_Jae says, "finding the time to write takes sacrifice." What do you think? (Click to tweet)
I can't say that I've come across such a misconception but that is simply because I don't talk about my writing with anyone apart from my family and friends, who know exactly how little time I've actually got most of the year. In fact, that are often astonished that I find time for writing at all, which makes me feel really guilty, because I know that I don't write as much as I could when I do have the time - especially in summer.
ReplyDeleteI should probably watch this video each time I find an excuse NOT to write. I don't know what is the problem. I love writing more than anything. I feel very bad when I'm not writing and yet sometimes - quite often, actually - I have this strange reluctance to actually sit down and start working on something I really care about and I can't explain it. I mean, what is it? Maybe the idea of finishing another book is no longer enough to motivate me?
Thank you very much! I hope you got my email)
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of writers definitely struggle with that (which is why I posted a vlog a couple weeks back about writing when you don't want to). If it's an ongoing thing, the best thing you can do, IMO, is just force yourself to write anyway. Sometimes I find I don't really feel like writing until I've started writing. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're so welcome! And yes I did! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats Farida!
ReplyDeleteAmen. I've gotten the classic response, "I've thought of writing a book, but I just don't have the free time. Maybe later in life." It's irritating how writing is a profession so many people have wrong impressions of or just think lesser of than other ones like in the same week I got this number, "Are you STILL writing?" And I thought to myself, "Uh-huh, are you STILL a firefighter?" Writing is just as important and takes just as much hardwork as any other profession.
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This! All of this. I think people frequently don't recognize writing as a profession, for whatever reason, and no matter how much you write or sell even, it tends to remain firmly entrenched in the "hobby" category in many people's minds, which is frustrating. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteIt is frustrating. Though I've explained all the work that goes into it to a few people and that certainly gives them a new light on it then there are the stubborn ones, but you know we ignore those. XD
ReplyDeleteYuuuup. I can definitely relate to this. I find that more frequently than not, strangers are more accepting than people who are close—probably because strangers just hear the good news (I have a book deal!) while people close to us have to see all the hard work and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting.
ReplyDeleteLol very true.
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