Larry Kollar blogged recently about getting writing done using a phone and a Bluetooth keyboard, and it got me to thinking.
Aspiring writers often ask, "how do I find time to write?" and the answers that come back range from the practical (always have a notepad or equivalent on you) to the metaphysical (if you truly want to write, you will find the time). A lot of the advice comes down to beating up the questioner, as in, "You don't really want to be a writer, because if you did, you'd already have found the time! You're just a loser! A poser! If you want to write, kick yourself in the ass and write! I just kicked your ass pre-emptively! Now kick it some more!!!"
Errrrrm, yeah. That's why I liked the phone-and-Bluetooth-keyboard post. It acknowledged that maybe, just maybe, the writer was already legitimately busy (day jobs and families will certainly make you busy), so it's not so much about finding the time, but rather being ready for the time when the time does come up.
My take is, if you want to write, and you're not writing, it's time to do a root cause analysis. Start with "not writing" and then work your way back. The root cause may be nowhere near the will to write. It may be nowhere near the act of writing at all.
Truth: I absolutely despise doing the dishes. There have been too many times where the dishes have been meted out as punishment instead of just an ordinary chore, too many times where I've been told I was "incompetent at life" (and that's a quote) because I missed a crumb on the underside of a dinner plate. The time that I was sick in bed all day, finally dragged myself down to the kitchen at four in the afternoon to make myself a tea, and then got yelled at for not doing the dishes before dinner-time comes to mind. Attitudes are malleable and associations can be re-tuned, sure, but seriously, washing the dishes sucks.
At the same time, I've had it drilled into me that the dishes must be done or else I can't have my fun (writing, anything) time. So I would wash them, resentfully, in that single sink with the never-enough-hot-water faucet, and slouch off to do writing or whatever else feeling thoroughly awful.
Now I live in an apartment with a dishwasher. The dishwasher keeps me from getting dishpan hands, it cleans the dishes far better than I ever could, but it does more than that. It helps. It doesn't criticise. I can't be punished — washing the dishes is the function of a machine. If a crumb of food gets stuck to a plate, the machine did it. Machines can't have moral issues.
Now I stack the dishwasher last thing before I go to bed, and then run it the following evening when I get home from work. I get a lot of writing done with the hum of the dishwasher in the background. A lot of writing done. I get clean dishes, a word count, and a clear conscience. And that makes me happy, which not only makes me want to write more, but encourages me to keep up with the dishes too.
Now, maybe doing the dishes isn't a root cause for you. Maybe you even like doing the dishes, because it gives you a chance to mull over story ideas while you're cleaning. I'll respect your preferences.
Where's the root cause, then? What's keeping you from writing? What would you like to:
Six months later the unhealthy person of mystery had a debut novel released which became a bestseller. He now has several published novels and other writings. I'm not in contact, but all appearances indicate no lingering symptoms.
Ahem. I know people who genuinely have chronic health problems are rightfully sensitive about accusations of shamming, but this one has never passed the smell test for me. Seems like the root cause for not writing was the social circuit, and the "illness" was an attempt to bow out and get some work done without hurting any feelings.
Find the root cause. Solve it. Then write.
Aspiring writers often ask, "how do I find time to write?" and the answers that come back range from the practical (always have a notepad or equivalent on you) to the metaphysical (if you truly want to write, you will find the time). A lot of the advice comes down to beating up the questioner, as in, "You don't really want to be a writer, because if you did, you'd already have found the time! You're just a loser! A poser! If you want to write, kick yourself in the ass and write! I just kicked your ass pre-emptively! Now kick it some more!!!"
Errrrrm, yeah. That's why I liked the phone-and-Bluetooth-keyboard post. It acknowledged that maybe, just maybe, the writer was already legitimately busy (day jobs and families will certainly make you busy), so it's not so much about finding the time, but rather being ready for the time when the time does come up.
My take is, if you want to write, and you're not writing, it's time to do a root cause analysis. Start with "not writing" and then work your way back. The root cause may be nowhere near the will to write. It may be nowhere near the act of writing at all.
Truth: I absolutely despise doing the dishes. There have been too many times where the dishes have been meted out as punishment instead of just an ordinary chore, too many times where I've been told I was "incompetent at life" (and that's a quote) because I missed a crumb on the underside of a dinner plate. The time that I was sick in bed all day, finally dragged myself down to the kitchen at four in the afternoon to make myself a tea, and then got yelled at for not doing the dishes before dinner-time comes to mind. Attitudes are malleable and associations can be re-tuned, sure, but seriously, washing the dishes sucks.
At the same time, I've had it drilled into me that the dishes must be done or else I can't have my fun (writing, anything) time. So I would wash them, resentfully, in that single sink with the never-enough-hot-water faucet, and slouch off to do writing or whatever else feeling thoroughly awful.
Now I live in an apartment with a dishwasher. The dishwasher keeps me from getting dishpan hands, it cleans the dishes far better than I ever could, but it does more than that. It helps. It doesn't criticise. I can't be punished — washing the dishes is the function of a machine. If a crumb of food gets stuck to a plate, the machine did it. Machines can't have moral issues.
Now I stack the dishwasher last thing before I go to bed, and then run it the following evening when I get home from work. I get a lot of writing done with the hum of the dishwasher in the background. A lot of writing done. I get clean dishes, a word count, and a clear conscience. And that makes me happy, which not only makes me want to write more, but encourages me to keep up with the dishes too.
Now, maybe doing the dishes isn't a root cause for you. Maybe you even like doing the dishes, because it gives you a chance to mull over story ideas while you're cleaning. I'll respect your preferences.
Where's the root cause, then? What's keeping you from writing? What would you like to:
- automate or
- delegate?
- Spend one weekend every month making soups and stews, and then freezing them in single-meal portions, ready to heat and eat the nights you have set aside for writing.
- Learn how to emulate Jane Austen, and write while simultaneously spending time with your family. It can be done.
- Practise saying, "I'm really busy this year, can someone else be in charge and I'll just be a regular volunteer?" in the mirror until you convince yourself. Then use it.
- Get a Bluetooth keyboard.
- Get a dishwasher.
Six months later the unhealthy person of mystery had a debut novel released which became a bestseller. He now has several published novels and other writings. I'm not in contact, but all appearances indicate no lingering symptoms.
Ahem. I know people who genuinely have chronic health problems are rightfully sensitive about accusations of shamming, but this one has never passed the smell test for me. Seems like the root cause for not writing was the social circuit, and the "illness" was an attempt to bow out and get some work done without hurting any feelings.
Find the root cause. Solve it. Then write.