Writer's love to write. Sometimes life interferes with the process and we have looming deadlines with thousands of words left to write. Time management can be more challenging for authors who work in a home office than for the employee who travels to a job site each day. Why? Distractions!
Authors, does this sound familiar? You get a call from the church asking you to volunteer one morning a week at the office since you "don't work." Or your spouse leaves for work with a list of errands you can do since you'll be home. Or your neighbor drops by unannounced with a coffee cake to share over a cup of your favorite brew since you're home alone. The perception is if you're at home during the day, you must be idle and lonely.
When I worked in an office in downtown Atlanta, family and friends respected my time because, after all, I worked. A neighbor couldn't interrupt me if I wasn't home. I didn't worry about cleaning the bathrooms or vacuuming the carpet. That was building management's job. I focused on my work (and my lunch plans). I faced my own "building management" after I got home and left (in most cases) my job at the office.
So how do authors carve out writing time? Four years ago, I met Kelly L. Stone at a conference and bought her book, Time To WRITE. What an eye-opener! I keep it handy and often reread passages for inspiration. So writers, if you've had time to read this blog post, you've time to write.
If you don't believe it, read her book for yourself. Visit her site, too.
Now, back to my own writing schedule...
During this season, we sometimes lose our way. Parties, gift buying, family stress, all interfere with the joy of the spirit of the season. Take time for yourself, for quiet reflection. Take a moment during shopping trips to help someone struggling.
It may surprise you (unless you're a writer) to learn most writers earn little from their writing. So why do we write? Here's an example of the joy that comes simply from knowing something I wrote touched another's life.
During my struggle with breast cancer treatment, I wrote RECIPES FOR RECOVERY and self-published it for an affordable price just so I could help other patients deal with the nutrition challenges of serious illness. I've given away many copies. My profit margin is tiny, but the rewards are great. People buy it to give as get-well gifts, too. One writer friend asked me to send a copy to a friend's friend. Both she and I received thank-yous from the woman, a two time survivor (colon cancer and leukemia). She wrote:
Thank you for the cookbook and for your dedication to inspire cancer patients like me. It is so helpful to have friends who care when my energy is so low.
This is why I wrote RECIPES FOR RECOVERY. This is why I write. I feel blessed to have my writing impact others in a positive way.
Remember this post as you rush through the holidays. There is no joy like the joy that comes from doing for others. Many blessings to you.
I've tried National Novel Writing Month challenges before, but this is the first year I successfully finished the draft of a book in one month. Even taking off for Thanksgiving (I'm the family cook) didn't deter me. Have any of you writers written a book via the NaNoWriMo challenge? Some famous fiction began life as a NaNoWriMo draft, including WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, a favorite read.
Now it's December and time to decorate and send cards. And time to take a short break from writing!
