Writer's Survival Guide Part 7: And Life Goes On
It's easy to get so caught up in my writing dreams that life around me goes by in a haze. At times nothing feels as important or immediate as my work-in-progress, writing a blog post, checking Twitter, or any of the other tasks I attend to each weekday. I routinely slip into "the zone" when revising, writing, or even thinking about these things.
Since I am excrutiatingly aware of this all-or-nothing tendency in myself, I work hard to practice present moment awareness. Sometimes I'm more successful than others! And sometimes I cringe when I realize my kids have been talking to me for three minutes and I have no idea what they said. Being a writer can be humbling in more ways than one.
Writing with the intent of being traditionally published has been a long, intense journey for me. I don't want to wake up one day with a contract in my hand and no recollection of the previous years outside of writing.
On Friday, I woke up to no Internet. Our modem went wonky. I ended up at our gorgeous library for most of the morning. With a soaring glass wall overlooking the river, spacious tables wired for technology, and free WiFi, the library is a soothing oasis, ideal for the frazzled writer in me. I enjoyed it so much, I might make it a weekly habit. I imagine some of my fondest memories from this year could be of me sitting before the view of rushing water, Great Blue Herons, Canadian Geese, and an island full of trees.
We had a busy weekend, one of those rush around for this and that weekends, and I fell onto the couch last night completely exhausted. But I was happy too. I'd been able to cook three delicious meals, take my kids to various birthday parties, and give back to our community through MVRWA's Spring Book Lover's Event. Sure, I had two novels I would have loved to read, a stack of magazines begging for my attention, and a mini-wiener dog ready to snuggle, but again, I knew the activities we chose would fulfill me and my kids. I don't regret a thing.
What I'm trying to say, in a roundabout way, is that while writing is important to me, the rest of my life is too. Rather than putting my life on hold for years, I'm living it. And loving it. And still losing myself in my work-in-progress for hours on end!
Do you ever find yourself turning down activities because you "should write"? How do you prevent yourself from disengaging from life?
Have an amazing Monday!
Showing posts with label articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label articles. Show all posts
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
What Keeps Me Writing When Life Gets Rough
I have a secret. Occasionally I'm hit with a terrible mood that won't lift. It not only affects my daily life, but it kills my writing. Any number of things might cause it--you know--bad news sometimes gets us down, but I work very hard to not let the mood stop me from working toward my dreams.
My secret?
Well, I have more than one. Since I like to go big or not at all, I have five.
1. Prayer.
Only through daily conversations with God am I able to find the strength to turn on my laptop and open my manuscript.
2. Sugar.
Many of you know I am a chocoholic. When life is going great, I eat healthier and rarely snack during my writing sessions. But...when life runs me over, I turn to my stash of candy bars. I kid you not, Nestle Crunch and M&Ms have salvaged more writing sessions than I care to admit. I also stock hard candy, such as Lifesavers, during the crazies.
3. Permission to do whatever it takes.
If I'm struggling and sitting in front of my laptop with a glazed look on my face and pigeons fluttering through my brain, I give myself permission to watch a silly YouTube video. Maybe I wrote 125 words and feel a massive urge to crack a can of Pepsi open? I go ahead and do that. And while I'm in the fridge I tell myself that if it takes four sodas, I will get my daily word count in. Whatever. It. Takes.
4. I whine.
My local writer friends listen to me whine a lot. They're wonderful. I could not make it without them.
5. I remind myself that the mood will pass.
Everything really WILL get better soon. I just have to ride it out. Moods come and go. Seasons come and go. Good times come. Then they go. It's the way of life. :)
So if you find yourself in a mood darker than a starless, moonless night, and the very thought of opening your manuscript makes you tremble inside--take a deep breath. Pray. Eat a candy bar. Give yourself temporary permission to be unhealthy, whine, and remind yourself that this mood will end.
How do you keep writing when life gets rough?
Have a wonderful Monday!
My secret?
Well, I have more than one. Since I like to go big or not at all, I have five.
1. Prayer.
Only through daily conversations with God am I able to find the strength to turn on my laptop and open my manuscript.
2. Sugar.
Many of you know I am a chocoholic. When life is going great, I eat healthier and rarely snack during my writing sessions. But...when life runs me over, I turn to my stash of candy bars. I kid you not, Nestle Crunch and M&Ms have salvaged more writing sessions than I care to admit. I also stock hard candy, such as Lifesavers, during the crazies.
3. Permission to do whatever it takes.
If I'm struggling and sitting in front of my laptop with a glazed look on my face and pigeons fluttering through my brain, I give myself permission to watch a silly YouTube video. Maybe I wrote 125 words and feel a massive urge to crack a can of Pepsi open? I go ahead and do that. And while I'm in the fridge I tell myself that if it takes four sodas, I will get my daily word count in. Whatever. It. Takes.
4. I whine.
My local writer friends listen to me whine a lot. They're wonderful. I could not make it without them.
5. I remind myself that the mood will pass.
Everything really WILL get better soon. I just have to ride it out. Moods come and go. Seasons come and go. Good times come. Then they go. It's the way of life. :)
So if you find yourself in a mood darker than a starless, moonless night, and the very thought of opening your manuscript makes you tremble inside--take a deep breath. Pray. Eat a candy bar. Give yourself temporary permission to be unhealthy, whine, and remind yourself that this mood will end.
How do you keep writing when life gets rough?
Have a wonderful Monday!
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