Ahhh, Time! Thank you for this rich list of resources and the reminder about making time. Time is an issue for all of us (I assume) ... without a job, child, husband, dog or even a house to take care of, time shouldn't be a problem for me ... but, it is. I'm in constant negotiation with myself for how to spend the luxurious amount of time I have at my disposal. To the point that I'm looking at one or more writer's retreats for 2024.
I've come to the conclusion that time is something we have to ask for (even if we have to ask ourselves for it.) And, it seems particularly tricky when we aren't at the point where writing time equals money.
I love this season when we reflect on the old year and set intentions for the new one. What if we thought about writing time with the same sense of priority and necessity we do for paying the "rent?" It's critical to our well-being. It can't be sloughed off till next month. It can't be frittered away on social media. Life rent. Life-health rent.
Maslow didn't put writing time on the first level of his hierarchy with physiological needs ... but maybe, as writers, we should think seriously about the importance of writing time for us and do everything we can to meet that need.
Oh shoot, I just deleted my comment by accident. Well, anyway, to summarize the very long comment I wrote before: I think this is all so true. Sometimes the more time we have the harder it is to find time to write.
I think you're absolutely right that we have to ask for time (even if we're simply asking ourselves for permission). If writing is critical to our well-being, then we must treat it like a job, even if we're not making any money from it. Just because something doesn't make you money doesn't mean it isn't important.
Good luck to you! Here's to writing retreats and coffee-shop-writing-dates in 2024!
Eva Langston replied to your comment on The Gift We Writers REALLY Want.
Yes, this is all so true!! Sometimes the more time we have the harder it seems to find time to write. I look back at the time before I had kids, and I think, what was I DOING with all that time??? Lately I had a realization that just because I don't make much money from my writing, it's still my chosen career, and it's still incredibly important to my mental health and well-being. I mean, yes, my husband makes a lot more money from his job, and that's how we're able to pay for food and our house and etc., but still, STILL... my career is important, too. And I will treat it as such. And I will demand that others treat it as such as well. If we are serious about our writing, we must treat it like a job, even if we're not making money from it. Just because something doesn't make you money (ahem, taking care of children or elders) doesn't mean it isn't important and worthwhile. Anyway, I think you're right that you have to ask for time for your writing (even if you are asking yourself). And if writing is critical for our well-being then yes, we absolutely have to make it a priority. Whether that means going on writing retreats or taking oneself to a coffee shop every day at the same time. Thanks for your thoughts, and here's to more writing time in 2024!!
I could cry reading this, because it’s so true! Time away for creativity is the most precious gift. I work from home as a freelance writer and interruption is a constant challenge. My heart is always aching to be set free for long periods of quiet to work and create - there’s that book still in the wings. I’m doing better now that the kids are older, but it’s always been something worth negotiating.
Oh my gosh, yes, when you work from home it can be so hard. And then when your work is writing, I'm sure it's especially hard to set aside time to do your own creative writing. Plus, sometimes the creative process means just having time -- not necessarily time at the computer but time to walk or go to a museum or read and let your thoughts percolate. That's what can be hard to allow ourselves to do. Here's to you getting some quiet, interruption-free time to write and be creative. :-)
Thank you for those well wishes! I wish that for all of us. My creative writing comes to me in the night, when it’s (drumroll, please) QUIET! It also comes on hikes and in bed and at the kitchen sink. Rarely can I be truly creative by shear will. Thank you for this thoughtful essay on what we really want!!
Hi Eva: I liked your essay on time very much. Time does move more rapid as we age. I'm 81. I know. My problem is concentration, but that's a topic for another discussion. I found this link and thought it was apropos. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CySwC2KqScl/ I hope your holidays will be full of joy and laughter and you have time to enjoy them. And your writing. Best regards, h.
Ahhh, Time! Thank you for this rich list of resources and the reminder about making time. Time is an issue for all of us (I assume) ... without a job, child, husband, dog or even a house to take care of, time shouldn't be a problem for me ... but, it is. I'm in constant negotiation with myself for how to spend the luxurious amount of time I have at my disposal. To the point that I'm looking at one or more writer's retreats for 2024.
I've come to the conclusion that time is something we have to ask for (even if we have to ask ourselves for it.) And, it seems particularly tricky when we aren't at the point where writing time equals money.
I love this season when we reflect on the old year and set intentions for the new one. What if we thought about writing time with the same sense of priority and necessity we do for paying the "rent?" It's critical to our well-being. It can't be sloughed off till next month. It can't be frittered away on social media. Life rent. Life-health rent.
Maslow didn't put writing time on the first level of his hierarchy with physiological needs ... but maybe, as writers, we should think seriously about the importance of writing time for us and do everything we can to meet that need.
Oh shoot, I just deleted my comment by accident. Well, anyway, to summarize the very long comment I wrote before: I think this is all so true. Sometimes the more time we have the harder it is to find time to write.
I think you're absolutely right that we have to ask for time (even if we're simply asking ourselves for permission). If writing is critical to our well-being, then we must treat it like a job, even if we're not making any money from it. Just because something doesn't make you money doesn't mean it isn't important.
Good luck to you! Here's to writing retreats and coffee-shop-writing-dates in 2024!
I wondered where it went! ;-)
For history's sake, it was still in my email:
Eva Langston replied to your comment on The Gift We Writers REALLY Want.
Yes, this is all so true!! Sometimes the more time we have the harder it seems to find time to write. I look back at the time before I had kids, and I think, what was I DOING with all that time??? Lately I had a realization that just because I don't make much money from my writing, it's still my chosen career, and it's still incredibly important to my mental health and well-being. I mean, yes, my husband makes a lot more money from his job, and that's how we're able to pay for food and our house and etc., but still, STILL... my career is important, too. And I will treat it as such. And I will demand that others treat it as such as well. If we are serious about our writing, we must treat it like a job, even if we're not making money from it. Just because something doesn't make you money (ahem, taking care of children or elders) doesn't mean it isn't important and worthwhile. Anyway, I think you're right that you have to ask for time for your writing (even if you are asking yourself). And if writing is critical for our well-being then yes, we absolutely have to make it a priority. Whether that means going on writing retreats or taking oneself to a coffee shop every day at the same time. Thanks for your thoughts, and here's to more writing time in 2024!!
I could cry reading this, because it’s so true! Time away for creativity is the most precious gift. I work from home as a freelance writer and interruption is a constant challenge. My heart is always aching to be set free for long periods of quiet to work and create - there’s that book still in the wings. I’m doing better now that the kids are older, but it’s always been something worth negotiating.
Oh my gosh, yes, when you work from home it can be so hard. And then when your work is writing, I'm sure it's especially hard to set aside time to do your own creative writing. Plus, sometimes the creative process means just having time -- not necessarily time at the computer but time to walk or go to a museum or read and let your thoughts percolate. That's what can be hard to allow ourselves to do. Here's to you getting some quiet, interruption-free time to write and be creative. :-)
Thank you for those well wishes! I wish that for all of us. My creative writing comes to me in the night, when it’s (drumroll, please) QUIET! It also comes on hikes and in bed and at the kitchen sink. Rarely can I be truly creative by shear will. Thank you for this thoughtful essay on what we really want!!
Hi Eva: I liked your essay on time very much. Time does move more rapid as we age. I'm 81. I know. My problem is concentration, but that's a topic for another discussion. I found this link and thought it was apropos. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CySwC2KqScl/ I hope your holidays will be full of joy and laughter and you have time to enjoy them. And your writing. Best regards, h.