Confronting yourself about your commitment to writing can be tough. If you’re sensitive like me, it’s even more stressful. But seriously ask yourself: are you getting in the way of your own writing?
My Epiphany
About a month ago, a friend from my local writing group asked me how my writing was going. Simple enough question, right? I knew I hadn’t given much time to my writing and as I crafted my response, I had an epiphany. I’m getting in the way of my own writing.
It wasn’t an easy thing to confront myself about, but the thought was there, whether I liked it or not. I’m notorious for not being able to find time for writing. I always say I don’t have the time. But the truth is I don’t make the time. If I really want to make my writing dream happen. I need to make myself do it.
The Acceptable Excuses
Everyone has excuses for not making time to write. And for a lot of writers out there, writing is not our top priority. But that’s okay.
I had an epiphany, yes. But in that epiphany, I also had to recognize that I do have things going on in my life that need to come before my writing. I have a family. I have a husband and a soon-to-be two-year-old son. They come first. They always will. I have a job. I need to make a living. That’s an absolute necessity. That comes second.
As I thought about it, I realized that writing came third. That’s perfectly okay for me. But that’s still a top priority. I need to treat it as such. What other things am I putting in that spot? Mostly on TV. After work and taking care of my son all day, I indulge in a bit of binge-watching. It helps me relax. In reality, this time could be better spent doing some writing. Even for just a little bit.
Making Time For Writing
I don’t know why I have it in my head that I need to have a plethora of time in order to sit down and write. Maybe it’s because I used to literally spend hours plotting and writing when I first began this journey. But that’s not the case.
Whether I have 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, or more, I can devote time to writing. Any writing time is better than no writing time at all. Let’s face it. This is my dream! I don’t want to let the moments of working toward that dream slip by me. I deserve better than that for myself.
I Challenge You
Do you find yourself in a similar situation? Be honest! If you do, I have a challenge for you. For one week, keep a diary of your daily activities. Time how long you spend doing them. At the end of the week, take a look at where you could manage your time to fit in writing, no matter how long. Then, the next week, I want you to make it a priority to get those writing minutes (or hours) in.
I would love to hear your results if you’re open to sharing them! So shoot me an email or send me a message on social media and let me know how it goes.
