As a reader, I was always frustrated that I had to wait nearly a year in between books by my favorite authors, especially those writing series. As an author, I understand that writing takes time. Finding those moments is an art form, for I must carve them out of my life. Whether it’s with a putty knife or a jack hammer, it is part of the craft of writing. How many times has someone come to you and told you they have great ideas for books, as if that were all you needed?
Every one who has spent innumerable hours searching for the perfect way to express a thought or vision, knows that the idea is the seed. In order for it to become a satisfying reading experience it takes time to grow into a plot, characters, word pictures on a page, revised and rewritten. In the midst of building our written worlds, reality intrudes.
But our process in how and when we write is individual. Yes, I freely admit that I am envious of those authors that are able to write full time. I tell myself it’s only three best sellers away. You may laugh…Okay, stop rolling on the floor in amusement. Being able to write full time is that secret wish in my heart, that and having a secretary to take my dictation and type for me. Yea, I know I’m pushing on the last one.
Everyone gives advice on how to set your schedules so that you can do it all. You only have to give up sleep or interacting with live human beings. It’s like dieting, there’s always a new book on how to do it fast and simple. Surprisingly, at some point in the book they mention cutting back on your food intake and exercising. As a writer even I could write a book with that plot. As a yo yo dieter, I have been thin and fat and prefer thin. Yet, here I am not thin. If the loosing weight was important to me, I would be thin.
I write, because it is important to me. I find time to write. I could tell you that it is because I have no choice, the muses are hammering in my head forcing me to hunch over the dim glow of my laptop, but I’d be lying. I enjoy making the vision in my head come to life on a page. I may only write one or two books a year, but I’d like to believe they are long, satisfying novels that will take the reader out of their own lives and into the story until the very last word. By the time I finish, my characters are like old friends that I’ve lived with for years. I know their secrets and their dreams. And hopefully so does the reader.
So, I ask you, the writers and readers, how do you carve out the time to do what it important to you?
Rhianna Samuels
http://Rhiannasamuels.com
Shaking Off the Dust
“Where laughter is bright
and Love incandescent”
Honestly? I treat writing like it was a full-time job. I’m a stay-at-home mom, but I have a husband who works long, long hours- sometimes travels for work for a month at a time – and my children are in kindergarten and second grade. They take a lot of my time, as does everything that it takes to make sure bills are paid, people are fed and clothed, etc. But because I want more than anything to be able to be able to have a living wage off my writing – my children are not going to little forever – I’m starting now.
I write or do write-related stuff like editing or marketing at least 40 hours a week. I find those hours around the other parts of my days, which usually means a couple hours while the kids are in school, a couple scattered through the afternoon, then 4 hours after they go to bed. That’s not every day (Mondays are killer for me with lessons and musical practice), so that fluctuates. I also have a writing partner who lives in a different time zone, who has her own busy life, so I work around her schedule as well for our collaborative material.
But for me, I know that if I want writing to be my job, I need to treat it as such. I find the time because I have to.
Are you finding that making yourself treat it like a forty hour work week has increased your productivity in the writing end? Since my book was released I find myself doing a lot of internet PR. It’s taking writing time away, and yet in order to get the book in the eyes and ears of the reading public it seem necessary. The actually writing time is what needs carving out.
Rhianna
Like you, I work a 40 hour week and I’m exhausted when I come home, so I’ve been taking my laptop to work and writing during lunch hours and down time.
The nice thing about that is when I interact with people all day it stimulates my creativity and has been useful in getting good words on the page.
As much as I would like to able to write all day, I realize my best material comes after a day of people watching.
What I really need is a part time job—-with BENEFITS. LOL!
Maria,
I don’t take in my lap top, because I bought a 17 inch screen and it’s too big to lug around, but I do find that I sit alone at lunch with a writing pad and I can write several pages in just a half hour or so. It is a very creative time, just like you said.
Rhianna
Rhianna, my output hasn’t suffered actually. I had three novels and one novella released under my solo name in ’07, and nine novels and two novellas under my collaborative name. For me, writing is a discipline. Without having structure and goals that I set for myself, I don’t finish anything. I average writing at least 3k a day, with editing and marketing taking up the rest of my worktime. If I didn’t make writing a priority, it just wouldn’t get done.
Sometimes, I just don’t feel like writing. Maybe the kids have been crazy all day, or there have been catastrophes at home, or I’ve spent six hours editing. I still write that 3k. It doesn’t matter if it’s not the most polished 3k ever, because I can always go back and polish it on the first edit. The important thing is that it’s there. I’ve moved the story forward.
I’m not saying this is how everybody should work, but it works for me.
You are productive! What you are doing is working for you. Stick with what works best.
I’m still finding my way, I know at work that I ask for deadlines, I do best on some one elses deadline. I worked for a long time to learn to savor the things I enjoy, it’s wonderful, but takes time. If I have a work related deadline, I make it and if I can’t they know way before then.
Thank you for the feed back.
Rhianna