I just discovered an awesome blog called The Write Power. The most recent post is about Embracing the Call to Write. In it, author Maryann Diorio asks,
"Why are you not a writer? It is either that you do not want to be a writer, or that you do not believe that God can make you one.
Either response reveals a lack of faith in Almighty God to complete the good work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6)."
The main reason I am not, is lack of self-discipline. I can complain and squirm all I want to, but the simple fact is: I am terrible at managing my time. It is a problem that I can freely admit to the world - and everyone in my corner of the world knows it anyway - but am at a loss to solve. So that is something I desperately need to seek God's help on.
Okay, I'm going to take the next 30 minutes and write instead of blogging. Here I go...
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4 comments:
Most writers who actually get published (whether short fiction, novels, non-fiction, or whatever) make it like a job in some ways, with a dedicated place and time for writing, and often an output goal for each day.
So just pick a time of day when you won't be distracted or interrupted, find a good spot for writing (make one if you have to) and decide what you'll commit to. If you can commit to watching a TV show each week or getting a kid to school each day, you can commit to writing for half an hour each morning or evening.
Don't believe the blather about needing to wait for creativity to hit you. You'll never get Marenya out of the cave like that. Just commit to the daily writing and accept that some days you'll write well, some days you won't, and it doesn't matter because whatever you don't like, you'll edit. You can't edit a blank page.
My own writing setup is a corner of one of the bedrooms where I have a laptop, a laptop stand, and a cozy chair. I settle in to write each night after 11:00, because that's when my husband goes to bed. After he's in bed, the house is quiet and I know I'll have no distractions. I commit to one page per night, no matter how awful it is. If I have a completed novel, an hour of editing is an okay substitute.
So don't think of it as a time-management problem so much as a habit problem. You need to find a way to make writing a daily habit.
I am working on a writing space in the corner of my daughter's bedroom. Put the desk together yesterday. :) I believe I will accomplish more in privacy than at the family computer in the diningroom.
Christine, MaryAnn Diorio is my dear friend. I think you'll enjoy her blog.
I have a place, the problem is that I waste so much time on the Internet (especially at, um, CIC, for example) or playing with our new dog (who needs a lot of attention) that I'm always running behind on everything, so the time I would spend writing gets used for catching up on other things.
An option you didn't mention here (I'll be going to the original next, so maybe this comment is moot) is that if anyone isn't writing, it could be that God simply hasn't called them to write. Doesn't at all have to be a faith-issue.
My Brother is not called to write. We all can see this. And, while some writing is a basic skill like reading, it is not to everyone a core need like, say, exercise that is ignored at the individual's peril.
For some of us it is, but we tend to know who we are, and just wrestle with it like the exercise issue.
That sounds like you. If I may be so bold.
re: discussing faith on your blog. It's your space. Some people don't want to read about my novel. or my opinions on childrearing. Or my ooiegooie marriage.
They either go away or skip the posts they don't like. Blogging is for the writer. The size of the audience is up to God.
Cheers to your journey.
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