Tuesday 11 September 2012

Decide to Write

From Zazzle
By Candy Gourlay

So I was having a moan at a publisher the other day.

Sort of along the following lines:

There's no time to write.

Life keeps getting in the way.

The children feel neglected.

The husband makes me feel guilty.

It takes too long to write novel.

How does one make money.

And so on and so forth.

He had no sympathy.

'Writing is a decision,' he said, citing all the stories ad nauseam of authors who wrote while holding down several jobs, cooking with one hand, bringing up ten children, etc etc.

He's right, I guess. It's a decision. And for as long as we haven't made up our minds, we won't be writing.

Go on. Decide to write.



15 comments :

  1. How about deciding not to feel guilty when you're not writing?

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    Replies
    1. That's a good one, Nick. Might have to remember that.

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  2. Good point, Nick! So true, Candy! I am always moaning about not writing, but instead of wasting all that time, I could be writing!

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  3. Good for you!!! Write!! Write like the wind!! take care
    x

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  4. Thank you. And I agree with Nick too. :)

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  5. A good reminder Candy. Here is my promise to myself.

    http://www.chitrasoundar.com/blog/2012/09/12/my-resolution/

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  6. i needed that kick this morning. The ironing can wait. Thank you...

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  7. Thanks, Candy. It's still easy to feel like it's 'what you do' whilst you're doing other writerly things (like reading blog posts on writing, or other writers' updates) but you're not actually doing it. I will start writing again on Monday. There. I've said it. I'll have to do it.

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  8. I'm always writing something but then I feel guilty about the amount of time I spend doing it. Especially when my husband asks 'What is it all for?'

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    Replies
    1. The guilt is particularly difficult. But how lucky are we to love something so much that it occupies that kind of space? If we want it so much, surely we should go for it? Isn't that what quality of life is about?

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    2. ... and another thing that stops so many of us: we don't really believe we deserve to write. At the risk of sounding like a shampoo commercial, go ahead and write, you're worth it!

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  9. Writing usually means coffee, toast and time to myself - a recipe for all sorts of guilt. Still, it is what I LOVE to do. It also makes me bearable and even quite a nice person for the people I love.

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    Replies
    1. I'm definitely UNloveable when I'm not writing, as my husband and children will confirm.

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