When I first started writing, I was distracted by practically everything—dirty dishes in the sink, dust on the coffee table, barking dogs, kittens wanting to play, phone calls, lunch invitations… It’s a wonder I got any writing done. And remember, these were the days before computers. I handwrote my articles and books and then typed them out on a manual typewriter.
Producing an article then could take days. Receiving an acceptance or rejection letter could take weeks. Receiving a check took months. Now, I can write an article and be paid for it within hours.
Back then, instead of an iPad, I carried a steno pad everywhere I went. (For those of you who were born into the technology age, a steno pad is a tablet comprised of paper.) I could write anywhere and I did. I wrote while traveling, in front of the TV, while waiting in the doctor’s or dentist’s office and at my daughters’ sports events, for example.
Eventually, I was able to commit to writing certain hours during the day whether there were dogs barking and dishes in the sink or not. I developed a habit. I began letting the answering machine pick up. I returned phone calls after my “work” hours. I was consistent, thus I trained my friends and family to respect my writing time and, in the process, I began to take myself more seriously.
Today, I spend most of my time writing, promoting my books and working with other authors. I put in 8 to 10-hour days and I often work every day of the week.
How much time do you devote to your writing projects? Are you accomplishing as much as you want? Have you made a strong commitment to your writing work or are you still a bit wishy washy about it?
There are generally two things that get in the way of a stern writing commitment. Both of them fall back on you! If you don’t take your writing seriously and yourself seriously as a writer, you won’t get much writing work done.
And if you live a life full of obligations and activities, you won’t get much writing work done unless you make some changes.
Have you added writing to your busy schedule? How did you make room for it? What did you change/give up?
Have you found a way to honor your commitment to writing? What caused you to make this decision?
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