Imagine if you couldn’t write. How would that make you feel? Happy? Relieved? Neutral? A lot of people want to write books. I get ideas thrown at me all the time from others wanting me to write “their story.” I won’t do that. Why? Because it’s their story. And not everyone has a book in them. It’s nice to think we can just sit down at the computer and write a bestseller. I’m sure a lot of people have that dream. Here’s the key to writing: you have to write. Not dream about it. Not scratch notes off on a post-it and think someday. You have to do it. I know it’s not easy sitting in that chair day-after-day. I know others you know are out having fun, going places. Writing is a solitary occupation.
Company is few and far between and sometimes when available: noisy, whiny, needy, and yes, even loving. Our families love to be with us. They don’t want us slaving away at the keyboard. And, truthfully, I’m not suggesting you do that. Writing can take as little as fifteen minutes here and there a day. Those words add up. Before you know it, you have a story. If you’ve got the discipline to write, write. If you don’t, walk away. There are other things to take up your time.
I’ve walked away before. My ex was jealous of anything that took my attention away from him including writing and the kids. It took me a lot of years to come back through that pain and horror of those times, but I did it. Writing was a release. A safe place for me. There were times it kept me from going insane. For me, if I didn’t have writing in my life, I might not be here. Or at least, be a whole person. To me, writing is like a best friend telling you a story. One you can’t wait to see what happens next.
When I sit down to the keyboard, it’s like a door opens inside me and I’m whisked away to wherever my story takes place. I enjoy being there. This is another thing I hear about from some writers: that the joy is gone. Maybe it’s time to take a break from writing for a while. This new year, I’ve implemented a plan to take my weekends off any writing. That’s hard for me as I’m used to writing every day, but I’ve read Kristen Kathryn Rusch’s advice about how to avoid burnout. I don’t want that to happen to me. I hope to take my last breathes writing a story. That would leave me with a smile on my face.
Some people think writing is a waste of time. I think it not only heals the soul but gives joy to other people so that in return, you can bring that joy to your family and friends. I’m still working on getting published but this year, I’ve stepped up things. I want to be out there more, on other blogs. It’ll be practice for when I do publish. What are you doing this year to help your writing? Picking up that craft book? Attending a writer’s conference? Do both. Imagine if you couldn’t write. Would it break your heart? Or could you leave with a smile knowing writing wasn’t part of your journey?
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Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
Never again? That would be terrible, though I look forward to this time of stumbling on the page instead of writing properly. 🙂
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I look forward to the time when I stop stumbling on the page and again write properly. Sheesh.
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We all do it at times. We just have to keep on, we’ll get there!
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That is such a scary thought. It would be as if I lost one of my ten senses, and I couldn’t get to choose which. Whatever one I chose, it would be like I imagine phantom limb must feel.
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I imagine that’s exactly how it would feel, John! Thankfully, nowadays, there are ways to overcome just about anything.
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Thank you, Kevin!
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Great Post Traci, you really got down what most of us feel at one time or another. Px
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Thank you, Paul.
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I love your description: “When I sit down to the keyboard, it’s like a door opens inside me and I’m whisked away to wherever my story takes place.” I feel the same way, Traci. The hardest thing for me is finding that balance between the inner writer world and the “real” world, but never have I felt creativity is a waste of time. Great post and Happy Writing!
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Thank you, D.! I know, it is hard to find that balance. Sometimes, I’d rather be at the keyboard but then I love my family as well.
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😀
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For me writing is an addiction, and I’ve had to firmly persuade my DH that I can’t stop, and then together we worked out when I would and wouldn’t write. It’s so very difficult to explain to non-writers that you are happy alone with your characters and prefer doing this to sitting in cafes having coffee.
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I hear you, Lucinda!
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I said this the other day, Traci, that people who write are compelled to write and they do it regardless of the outcome of their books.
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So true! I’ve written for years and haven’t been published to actually see the results. But I see the stories in files and in boxes and remember what I went through with each story, how much I learned. I wouldn’t change that. Well, other then hoping to change my luck publication-wise.
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it would break my heart
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It would mine too.
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I think that one can construe almost anything as being “a waste of time” if you (the person doing it, or not doing it as the case may be) regards it as such. For me many of the conversations I overhear (we writers are, as you know very good at picking up on other people’s conversations) “a waste of time”, but I am not the person having them fortunately! Thanks for this insightful post and good luck with your writing and getting published. Kevin
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I don’t know if you saw my response above. It got separated from your comment. Thank you, Kevin!
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