People thought I was nuts, writing novels with infants under foot, then toddlers. “You’ll have more time when they’re older,” people said to me. Ha. I knew that was a Writer Myth. When you have an infant, maybe you only get 5 hours of sleep on a good night, but they nap twice a day and go to bed early. That’s prime writing time, right there. Assuming you can stay awake, which I managed to do more often than not assisted by the power of caffeine and the astounding cost of raising small people. (Writing time is money when it’s what you get paid for.)
I wrote through colic, through growth spurts, through toddler tantrums, through sleep deprivation I look back on and wonder how I survived. Because I knew I would not have more than 24 hours in a day when the kids got older. And more of those hours would not be mine.
And now, behold, they are older. The oldest takes a short nap, and goes to bed late and gets up long before sunrise. In between brief bouts of sleep, I have two small people who need assistance with shoelaces, zippers, hairbrushes, and who continually thirst for knowledge and burst to show me their creations.
The oldest wants to learn biology and natural science. She checks out nonfiction books from the library on all kinds of animals and wildlife. She asks endless questions. She watches educational movies. Her set hours of school are a thimble of liquid to a curious child who wants to drink the ocean of knowledge dry.
They need challenges. They need trips to the library, educational activities and ventures, praise for all the things they did right and gritted teeth and a silent count to one hundred for the equal number of things they did to shred my sanity.
They’re older, and I do not have more time to write. But I knew this. And if you’re a writer, you should, too. You don’t get more than 24 hours in a day, ever.
You don’t get more time when the kids are older, or after they’re gone to college or married or whatever. You don’t get more time after that promotion or that move or after you get your degree or your spouse does. These are just endless ways to live in the future instead of the present.
In the present, you can write. Maybe not as much or as well as you’d like. But it’s what you have now, and you can make the most of it. I’m not writing as much or as well as I’d like, but I’m writing as much and as well as I can. If I take advantage of my opportunities, I’ll get a lot further than I would if I just waited for some ideal future that never comes. You will, too. If you’re far, far short of your NaNo goal, don’t give up. Keep writing. One paragraph or one page a day if it’s all you can do. Eventually you’ll get to The End.
I don’t think you’re nuts (at least not for that 🙂 ), I do think you’re amazing for getting it all done.
Have a great day.
P.S. Keep your fingers crossed, I’m off to a job interview. (eek)
I feel I have sooo much catching up to do because this is exactly what I did. My youngest began kindergarten this fall and I realized I’d been using him and my other two as an excuse to take a 10+ yr vacation.
Whatever writing must be done, I do it now. My daily goals are high but if I don’t meet them it’s okay as long as I don’t lose momentum.
Oh, I never get it “all” done. I just do what I can each day. *g* Good luck with the interview!
I could not have said it better. I took a four-year hiatus from writing. But when I made the initiative to start writing again I did it in the mist of a major life crisis, but I knew it was the right time and the right thing for me to do. I might not be where I want to be but I’m determined to at least make a valid reach for those goals and continue to struggle along because I know I’m the only one who can make the time for me to get the words on paper 🙂
You’re so right, Heather, momentum is the key. And I find it’s better to set a low goal I can attain than aim too high and be discouraged before I even start. Write on!
Exactly right, Charli. I had a kind of “life shift” this week, and felt discouraged that I wouldn’t have enough time to write. But what happened is I started guarding the time I DO have. If you want something bad enough, you find a way to get it done. Which is how I’m looking at NaNo…yeah, in all likelihood, I won’t make my goal. But I’ve already written 23,000 words this month, and that’s not half bad.
Writing through a crisis is one way to cope. I speak from experience. *g*
Carolynn, life does shift, and sometimes you can’t see it coming. 23,000 is a decent chunk of a novel! I think the best thing I did after kid #1 came along was to train myself to write when I had five minutes. It was hard to do, but it was the only way I could get anything written.
I think you’re amazing to get as much done as you do.
And it’s good advice to do what you can, when you can. That’s something we all need to remember.
Despite the fact that I never feel like I do enough, I have six releases next year. GIven the way my time’s shrunk this year, I’ll be adjusting the schedule next year. I’ll be doing less, but I’ll still be doing. : )
And you, NJ, are a power writer. Awesomely productive and consistently good!