I, like many other writers out there, work close to a 40 hour week. Sometimes a few hours less, sometimes a few hours more. Either way – lots of us juggle our compulsory pay-the-bills day job with our passion: writing.
It’s not easy by any means. Personally, I’m married and my husband enjoys my company. Whether we sit and watch television, sit and play video games or play with the dogs – we like spending time together. And so sacrificing our few hours in the evening together to go and write is trying. I’m lucky I write first drafts fast or the last few months I would barely have seen him. Then there’s the times I resent anything interrupting my word-counts… including my family.
So I work out in the morning, go to work, get home and write. On a rare Sunday morning, my dogs might even let me sleep in. And there’s still never enough time.
Then there’s the networking. I’m lucky to have a face-to-face local critique group, as well as an online group I’ve known for years.
At the moment I’m also taking part in a writer’s campaign launched by the wonderful Rachel Harrie. It’s a fantastic and 480 writers strong endeavor. However, there is a small drawback to it.
Even though you pick your groups (I only joined a Dystopian and a YA group), and therefore are technically in control of how much you take on. It’s a lot of work. In an already very full daily schedule – it’s very time consuming. The first challenge has produced a mass of, mostly, very well written 200 word flash fiction.
What’s the problem, you ask? Well – it’s not really a problem, just a matter of not enough hours in the day. Trying to get around to the way over 250 entries to the first challenge is time consuming let alone writing one yourself. But damned if I’m not going to try. Hopefully I’ll get my own up before the end of Friday – and next challenge? I’m starting on day 1!
My long rambly point is:
Writing is a commitment. Writing is not just writing. Writing involves being a part of the writing community and networking to find people of your genre, people seeking crit partners, beta readers – and well in general finding people who understand you and the voices in your head.
Writing and getting your writing out there involves sacrifices and a lot of hard work. Other people may try to, but when it’s all said and done – non-writers just don’t understand.
This campaign, might add a bit to the already busy workload of a day job full time writer… but damned doesn’t it feel good to be part of a writing community full of people who understand where you’re coming from?
How do you divide your time if you work, have kids, family etc? Do you ever feel like you’re sacrificing to write? Do you ever get annoyed about having to fulfill obligations other than writing?
I so agree with how amazing it’s been to meet so many writers through the campaign.
I don’t have a job besides being home with my two boys, so I write in the mornings before htey wake up and early afternoon during nap/school time.
but still, I always feel it’s not enough time. I’ve given up most of my TV watching so that I can spend that time reading… next to writing I can’t live without reading 🙂
I think plenty of people would argue that taking care of 2 boys is definitely full time. It’s good that you make time to write.
I don’t think there’s ever enough time. My husband and I got rid of cable recently – so at least that’s easier.
I also work full time, am married, and have 3 kids at home (5total). I love the writers campaign and made sure I did the challenge first thing on the morning it began. I am having a hard time reading all of the entries, but am trying bit by bit. I haven’t written anything on my current wip since Sunday. With twitter, the campaign, and trying to market my YA that is done… You’re right, not enough hours. Plus, I have been downloading books of the new friends I am making since this all began, but I haven’t found the time to start reading them yet. Multitasking the best I can! Good luck.
Wow – how do you make time to write at all! I seriously have respect for everything you’re doing. It’d be awesome if we could buy extra hours in days.
I have a friend who swaps author interviews on her blog – If you’d like I can see if she has any slots?
I work full time and am married. No kidlets yet though. I take the bus, so I have to wait an hour between work and catching the bus. I write in McD’s at that time or right now work on the campaign and write on the bus too. If I didn’t have that time, husband would never give me quiet time to write. Pay attention to me now! is his constant chant.
Which is fine because I like hanging out with him, but I don’t do split attention. If I didn’t have that hour of me time I would be a crazy lady. Believe me, when that time goes away for whatever reason it happens.
I actually work day in and day out with my husband – family business lol. So even though I usually get the puppy dog eyes… I knuckle down and write instead hehe.
An hour a day in McD’s – I admire you for that. I need like complete silence. Probably a good thing I don’t have kids hehe
Ah, it’s a small McD’s, so usually it’s pretty quiet. I get annoyed when it’s not. Particularly if a group of teenage girls sits next to me while I’m trying to write. 🙂
Gotchya, my husband is self employed and has to drive for his job, so on the weekends, my days off, or even if he has a long drive, I get those puppy dog eyes and he begs me to take time off work and go drive with him. He gets the boot on work days, but I can hardly resist when I’m off.
The one good thing about being unemployed is that I have lots of extra time so I’ve been able to get really involved with the community, as well as have time to write and spend time with my family.
I’m looking for work, and i really need to find a job, but I’m really really going to miss the extra time 🙂
I can see that as the one good thing. You’ll probably set yourself up really well so that when you do get that job, you’ll be able to work on edits and revision and queries!
The campaign has opened a whole new world for me and I love it. Meeting other writers has been great.
Your post really resonated with me. I’m having a hard time finding enough time to write/rewrite/edit and I’m not even married with kids. When I write I take my writing to work with me and write as much as I can when I have a few minutes. It actually makes a big difference. Now that I’m busy rewriting, I only do it at home. I take an hour directly after work for that and then do the social media thing during the rest of the evening while doing other things. I try getting up earlier on weekends as well. That’s kind of meh at the moment.
Yes, I get annoyed all the time!
This is what I love. That I meet people who understand where I’m coming from.
Time and other things getting in the way of writing time – It’s just so frustrating.
I hope you get your rewrite done in time 😀
Absolutely, thanks!
You are so right! Writing does take commitment. And sacrifice. And hard work. And luck. It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.
It’s not a quick anything. Writing is a definite way of life and one I’m happy I have.
I’m really glad to have met the people I am meeting through this campaign. I have so many new books to read lol!
Well said!
I have the FT job, husband, 2 kids, and the dog thing going on too. I’m not sure how it gets divided…all I can say is my house is never clean, I watch very little TV, and I don’t get a lot of sleep.
Yep, sleep is usually what suffers. I’ve suffered from bouts of Insomnia since I was 17 lol. Still though, it’s not the ideal option.
I don’t know how you do it with kids on top of dogs and a hubby
Hey K.T.! It’s great to meet another campaigner, and especially one that’s pinched for time as well!
I joke around that I work several full-time jobs right now – I’m a writer, first and foremost. Then a pastor. And, through the end of this week, I’m also an actual employee somewhere. And then I am eternally a chauffer, because hubby and I share a car.
Somewhere in there I have to sleep! There are definitely times that I wish I was one of those people that only needed a few hours of sleep a day.
And yes, I get annoyed at having to cook, or drive, or help my family with things, rather than writing.
I’m lucky that I don’t sleep much, not through choice, just through my body apparently not liking sleep much lol
You sound so busy! But it’s so true – there’s work, and home and writing. A constant barrage of things to do that impede what we’re really here for! So annoying!
This is actually something I’m struggling with right now. I do work 40 hours a week at a new job, I’m living in a new town and I have a new boyfriend. It’s been hard to settle into a schedule and get down to writing. But it is nice to have others who do understand how writing is important to me and struggle with the same things I do.
It’s been fantastic to meet so many people who understand. My internet was out for a good part of the weekend, so I’m really behind on reading the challenge pieces. And back at work now of course… it’s like there’s just never enough time!
I don’t work a day job, but trying to figure out how to fit in time with the kids, other duties/volunteer stuff, writing, editing and now social networking/blogging for the writing is insane! I do resent if something interrupts my writing time or keeps me from it. I thought I’d have more time this year and it hasn’t happened. Tomorrow, no phone, no doorbell, no social media!!