by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I remember being in my twenties, out of college and unhappy with the banking job I had. I’d been an English major and was planning on writing, but was waiting for the right time. I’m not exactly sure when I thought the right time might be, but it didn’t seem to be when I was in a stultifying mortgage banking job. I’d remembered reading about the Lost Generation in Paris in the 1920s. Birmingham, AL in the 1990s didn’t seem to be quite the same.
Directly following my banking stint didn’t seem to be any better, either. I had a baby . . . a pretty active one. I was juggling playgroups, diapers, and grandparent visits. It definitely didn’t seem like the right time.
And that effectively took care of my entire 20s, ha. :)
After a move to NC and baby #2 came, I started looking at things a little differently. There wasn’t going to be a mythical right time, was there? There were always going to be other obligations. There may not even be any peace and quiet. But writing was important to me, so I decided the right time was then and there.
Maybe you’re in the same spot. Maybe you’re wanting life to calm down just a little bit. But there’s that niggling thought in the back of your mind that you should be writing.
Here are some tips that helped me out:
Learn flexibility in terms of place and time. Can you write when you first wake up? During your lunch break? While your baby sleeps? In the carpool line? On paper? On a laptop?
Learn how to tune out what’s going on around you. You’ll get so much more done if you can block noise out. Or if you can write while listening to some sort of music or white noise in your earbuds.
Reduce your expectations. Shoot for something small and doable. 15 minutes. 5 minutes. A single page. Two paragraphs.
Value consistency over excellent work. To keep your project moving forward, it’s helpful to realize that you can always edit later.
How have you adjusted your writing time in order to get more done?
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No, there is no perfect time. You just decide it's time and begin.
Writing was never a burn for me, so I wasn't looking for the right time. But it happened when I found that old manuscript and decided to just do it.
That’s so true…it’s all about when we *decide* it’s going to have to be a good time.
You are so right, Elizabeth! There is no perfect place or time to write. There's always going to be something else that seems to be a priority (e.g. "I'll start when the kids are in college," or "I'll do it after we move."). But as you say, if you see it as something you do every day (like exercise), you figure out when writing works best, and you find ways to make it work. It's a challenge when you have a 'day job,' but putting it off won't help.
Exactly! You might as well just jump right in and figure it out as you go. :)
I wrote on and off again for years but didn't dive back into it for real until my mid 30's. Then once DLP was in full drive, my writing time diminished to next to nothing. But when we had a lull last summer, I dove in and took advantage of it to polish two stories and complete two others. You're right about consistency, because once I was actively committed and writing almost every day, it was easier.
It’s so much easier to be consistent. Otherwise, you lose your pace, train of thought, and drive.
Hi Elizabeth – there's always 'time' to think … even if only for a few seconds – but then we need to remember those thoughts when the light has been lit – if I was starting to write or take things a little more seriously … I'd make sure I noted my thoughts down – then I'd never forget and at least not be wracking my brain about the brain I'd had. The phone has a recording device now-a-days. I admire you for working out your needs and making them work around the family … congratulations – cheers Hilary
The phone can be a very useful tool for writers! And thank you. :)
Exactly this!
I didn't start writing until my kids were older and I wish I'd started earlier. At first I wrote when everyone was in bed. Then writing because more of a need than a luxury and I found myself finding those pockets of 10 minutes where I could add a little more.
It didn't take long to learn to ignore the world going by and dive into the words.
Those 10 minutes really can add up!
My grandma used to say the same thing about children. If you wait for the perfect time, you'll never do it.
Very true about children, as well!!