I’m Not A Distracted Writer… I’m Just Not Working On My Dream.
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| Quote by Winston Churchill |
There are always distractions for a writer.
I’ve heard this phrase many times in my life, and it generally goes like this: “So when are you going to stop dreaming?” Even after I’ve spent hours writing, and reading, and working on books, I still hear that phrase.
I’m sure we’re all familiar with the old Churchill quote, “Never ever give up,” but what does that mean to a person who has tried harder to do something that they have always wanted to do? If I worked 20 hours a week on my books and my book reviews, I am still behind on everything else. I have moments when I want to quit. I have moments of anger where I want to go and delete this blog and everything else to do with writing. And I don’t do it.
In the last post, there was a bit of a commentary about how using the Internet can be a challenge. I had my doubts about whether that statement is true or not. I argued that it wasn’t Facebook or Twitter that was taking away my time, it was something else. I argued that I had it all worked out, and it was mostly a twenty minute thing.
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| write in a serial notebook |
I was not entirely correct in my argument. I can report that I did stay with my twenty minutes — in the morning. I had that part scheduled, and I observed it closely. What I didn’t factor in was that I checked my email in the afternoon and in the evening. I also found that these distractions lost me at least an extra hour of writing and reading each day.
I’m not distracted, but I’m not working on my dream of being a writer.
I have been toying with the idea of opening up a blog where I review books, and that would mean that I will need to better manage my time. I have a job outside of writing books. I also enjoy reading books and commenting on them. There is nothing wrong with a great book, just as there is nothing wrong with anyone wanting to write, and publish.
I believe the problem lies with time management. I know many new authors who wonder how they can possibly publish as many things as the “big name ones.” My answer is that the big name writers have mastered one thing most of us are still working on, and that is understanding the hidden hours of distraction. I want to continue my dream, I want to publish more books and have some wonderful blogs. I want to be happy and healthy, with joy and family and friends… as long as I have time, and it can fit in my schedule.
Fitting it in my schedule is the wrong answer, because I always have time.
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| Just write- anyway you can |
Ah, there is the Catch 22 — I have time to write; I don’t use it wisely. I can understand why so many people ask new writers if they are going to stop dreaming. I didn’t manage my own time as well as I should have with my last book. I have a better idea, and a better way to edit, now with my second. Publishing is a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be this hard.
Recently I’m engrossed in a book about writing, aptly called Writing with the Master. In it, a new author works with John Grisham. I find this book very interesting since he mentions that not only did he learn from Grisham about patience, but between the lines I saw that the author cut away a lot of distractions. He focused and worked hard. Not once so far have I read anything about Facebook or marketing or anything. It’s about writing. It’s about working towards that dream.
