It’s time for another IWSG post. IWSG aka Insecure
Writers Support Group is a online group of writers, we post on the first
Wednesday of every month. IWSG posts give us a chance to discuss all our
writing related worries, anxieties, fears and insecurities. Other writers who
share similar worries help us out with their advice and tips. Check out the IWSG website for amazing writing tips. To read the other IWSG posts, click here.
We must thank Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh (author
of the Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the
Stars) for starting this awesome group. With IWSG, Amazing and Adorable Alex
has ensured that we writers have a buffer system to let off all our writing stress
and worries. So, if you see writers trawling the cyberspace, with a spring in
their steps, thank Alex for it.
The IWSG question
of this month is ‘How do you find the time to write in your busy day?’
Frankly speaking there are days when I just don’t find
the time to write, I need to pull that precious time out of my life. Till last
year when I was teaching creative writing in college (though it was only part
time), it would take me nearly one and a half hours to commute to and fro, add
to that the teaching time, the time I would need to prepare for my classes and
the time required to correct those assignments, more than half my day would
slip away from me, leaving me no energy to do anything else. Added to this was
all the free-lance feature writing and book reviews I did for the newspapers.
To this I would also add my blogging. That left me with very little time to
actually work on my books. I realized then that I was also compromising on my
reading.
That’s when I realized I needed a break from college. And
features writing (though I still do book reviews for the newspapers.) A
separation from both these activities has freed up my time leaving me with more
time to actually write my books. And read a few.
I have realized that we writers need to wage a war with
so many activities to get a little time to write. I have also sacrificed TV for
writing and reading. I just see half an hour of one show, Monday to Friday.
That’s it. I have reduced many activities to find more time to write and
research for my books.
I can write with the television on, so I still see a lot of shows. (No sound though. That would disrupt the music I'm also playing.) But sometimes we just have to kick a few activities to the curb and make time.
ReplyDeleteSo true we have to battle with many activities to get our writing done. That's awesome though that you have paying jobs like teaching and writing for a newspaper from your writing. Glad you're finding your balance.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for working out what you need! I read more now that I watch less TV, and I so enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteIt's okay to take those needed breaks. And don't feel guilty, because life will always get in the way. Good way to keep the balance by cutting something!
ReplyDeleteMaking time to write means making choices. Sounds like you've found what works for you. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a high school English teacher, and it was such a huge time commitment, both in the classroom and out of it. Very little writing happened during that period, and I actually left it because I wanted to focus on writing.
ReplyDeleteNow I just need to work on reducing the amount of television I watch...
It's great that you were able to make those compromises for the benefit of your writing.
I actually don't watch television at all, so what's worse is that for me, I don't even have an excuse. That's pretty sad, right?
ReplyDeleteTrust me not watching TV means you are missing nothing. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Making time is important and congrats on achieving that.
ReplyDeleteHi, Rachna,
ReplyDeleteI agree with emaginette... you're not missing much. I rarely watch TV and mainly rerun comedies because I need the levity.
I am so impressed that you write reviews and features for newspapers and magazines. Not to mention your books....
I finally have free time to write. My loft rehab took me just over a year and ate up all of my time and money. Now maybe I can finish that PB... I'll keep you posted.
C'est une guerre, c'est vrai.
ReplyDeleteI have trouble finding time to write, too. I think we just have to discipline ourselves to make it the same time every day. Even if it's just fifteen minutes.
ReplyDeleteI find promoting a book takes away from writing a lot as well. But it's sooo cool that you've gotten to teach creative writing as well. That's a great gift to pass on to students:)
ReplyDeleteJust the brainpower of writing alone... You can do several brainless things and still write, but when you're mentally engaged to that extreme, there's nothing left. Way to carve out time and take control of your schedule!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I've had to make sacrifices to find writing time, but it is without regret. (I sacrifice a few hours of my sleep to write because that's the only time I can with 5 kids--eeek!) Sometimes I try to write when the kids are distracted. But my 3 year old finds me as his distraction. Aaach! x(
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you taught a creative writing class? That explains how well versed you are in it. I'm impressed! I've taken one and loved it! <3
'I have to pull that precious time out of my life'
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have put it better myself. Finding time to write often means sacrificing other activities. I don't watch a lot of TV for that very reason (plus, it can trigger migraines). I'm also learning to say no to various requests that eat up my time. I can't live another person's life and keep mine.
'I have to pull that precious time out of my life'
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have put it better myself. Finding time to write often means sacrificing other activities. I don't watch a lot of TV for that very reason (plus, it can trigger migraines). I'm also learning to say no to various requests that eat up my time. I can't live another person's life and keep mine.