Emma’s got a post I relate to very well.
I totally agree with the reading as an indulgence thing. I feel guilty reading, knowing I should be writing. I hate cleaning too, so I try not to do it in any case, but now, even if I want to do it I usually can’t.
I often wonder what life is like for those people not glued to the computer. I look ahead and see one deadline melting into another deadline, and I wonder when I’ll get away. I told my family we’d go on vacation this year, but unless a miracle happens I won’t find the time. Writing is so damn consuming. Days, weeks, months go by in the process of writing a story that will be read within hours. Sometimes I come up for air and realize how much living people fit in while I was writing.
Writing has to be love. :love: Or obsession. :whip: I was talking to Renee the other day and she was saying how she didn’t get much writing done because she took her kids to the pool and watched movies with them. I said, “You lived life. Good for you.” She, however, felt guilty. Were I in her shoes, I would feel guilty too.
Honestly, I think life is one of those things you give up when you become a writer.
I am a galley slave to pen and ink.
Honore de Balzac (1799 - 1850)
But I love it. Those times when I finish a scene and I’m happy with it are what make it all worthwhile. I adore my job, even if I do miss living sometimes.
I love writing, even when it’s hard, but I have to have a bit of ‘real life’ and downtime too. If I didn’t, I’d start to resent the writing because it was denying me a lot of the things I love! I get more pleasure from writing because of the other stuff I allow myself to do!
I don’t let myself to feel guilty over ‘me’ time because I know it makes me a happier writer!:grin:
by WendywooI agree. I feel guilty as well when I’m not writing when I should be, but then I feel left out or annoyed over the fact that there isn’t enough time in the day to get what I need done, as well as have some “real life” time with outside influences(not to mention that my job cuts into a lot of my time). But then I also worry about the future: what about when I get married? Have kids? Will I be so stuck in my current mode of activity that I’ll resent time taken away? :think:
How do other authors cope with this?
by Evangeline May 23rd, 2005 at 1:35 pmYeah, it’s hard to take a break from doing what you love and what you hope will be your career. But watching the kids have a great time swimming almost makes up for the loss of writing time. Almost.
I’ve been told it’s about balancing your life. Tell that to the overflowing laundry basket when my head is in a scene.
But the kids are only small once, so I try to enjoy them when they’re home from school and write at night. Husband gets the least of my attention–except when it comes to research
by Renee May 23rd, 2005 at 5:13 pm