So I pretty much forgot that I had an anniversary this weekend. I mean I remembered, but only after I planned out all the hours I wanted to spend working on my revisions.
Needless to say, I did not get as much done as I wanted to.
That made me think of how to be a writer you need to be really strict and organized with yourself if you want to get anything done. BUT most writers are naturally a little more, um, unscheduled.
We can be chaotic if we let ourselves. I mean we hear voices in our heads (of our characters, of course) and we write on napkins in the middle of restaurants so we don’t lose amazing ideas. I love being spontaneous, but I will never achieve the level of writing and revision I want if I let my whims rule my schedule.
I am one of those people that hates wearing a watch—it feels so restricting. I don’t want to think about time. However, I went out and bought a stopwatch to help me stay on track. Have I used it? Heck no, but the idea…
Anyways, I don’t know if you have one of these, but I ran my excuses through my very scientific BS-OMeter at home, and this was what I found:
I need to revise another 20 pages, but I’ll be able to concentrate better if I go eat Chipotle first.
Okay, this is kinda bullcrap because I eat Chipotle like three times a day, so I never really neeeed it, but it is important to be fed and well rested before trying to hone your brain on your story. So why am I always up till 2am working on it???
.
I’ll be able to write better if I just clean the house first.
Total BS. First of all, I am a horrible cleaner, and cleaning my house would take me all day because I get sidetracked too much. That’s what amazing husbands are for (shhhh). Also, once I get into my story, I’m in the zone, I don’t really see or hear the room around me. The important thing is to get your butt in that chair and get into that zone.
.
I can juggle family time and writing time AT ONCE. Go ahead, sweetie-face, pop in that movie. I’ll just sit on the couch, watch the movie, and somehow still type coherently.
ding ding ding. Absolute BS. You will not be able to concentrate. I tried this weekend and I started typing what the characters in the movie were saying, or I’d completely space out, and then the movie would play this really dramatic music and I’d be like, “Wha’d I miss? Wha’d I miss????” booo.
.
Anyways, feel free to share your excuses that keep you from writing. Along with ways you combat them.
My best advice is just to sit there and type. It’s getting into that chair that’s hard for me.
Peace♥
homework is usually my excuse…but i’m running out of time on that one. i finish school in three weeks!
i did discover the power of a daily word quota, though, during NaNoWriMo. i think i might try something like that this summer…
Seriously, would have nothing completed without the beauty that is NaNoWriMo…except I didn’t do it in November, I did it in a separate month. It still worked wonders.
*nods* I HATE wearing a watch too, it’s so dul sometimes. Last time I regularly donned a watch I always set it slightly fast or to a different time zone because I just got bored.. hehe
Oooh food is defintely an excuse (mainly Doritos or Jam&Toast – those are my weapons of choice), or just checking my email. Bad ideas when I should be writing :S
Just wanted to say Hi *waves* and thank you for stopping by my blog. I’m happily returning the follow because this place *glances around* looks to be made of awesome ;~)
Happy Monday!
heehee. I always set my clocks fast, too. Except it doesn’t help me get anywhere early, because I’m always like, “Oh, I’ve really got five more minutes. That clock is fast.”
Thanks for the super sweet words
you’re so right molly. we always have a million excuses to postpone writing. but we just need to sit our behinds in our chairs and do the work. (i don’t wear a watch either!)
but hey, happy anniversary!!
.-= T.H. Mafi´s last blog ..where did it all begin? =-.
I’m glad I’m not alone in my watch hating!! and thanks
GOOD ones!!!!!!!!!!!! My excuse is always, one more cup of coffee!
.-= write-brained´s last blog ..Stick it to me Tuesday =-.
lol. that’s how I am with earl grey.
My excuses are always very professional. I’m following the blogs, reading books on… (all related to writing of course!). But I’m really going to hit it in June, I swear, I swear!
Thank GOD, I don’t have a BS-O-METER! Cause I pretty tell myself all of those every day..:)
Melissa, The BS-OMeter is going off!! lol
Creepy, I seriously don’t know what I would do without it. The only bad part is that it goes off all the time when I’m reading my Manuscript aloud. bummer.
Excuses…hmmm, let me think.
The big one is I’ll just wait until the kids are in bed so I can concentrate. Only by the time they’re asleep, I’m too tired to do write anything interesting.
The other is that I’m just not feeling inspired. This is semi-valid, depending on what scene I’m writing next, however even if I’m not inspired I could spend the time working on character sheets or revising the beginning or researching something.
Can I hire you to send me threatening ‘get back to work’ messages? hahahaha.
Love the