Life is crazy for me right now. Life is crazy all over. I had a guest poster lined up for Monday and we both forgot about it until last night. Derp. Maybe she'll get me a post by next Monday. Maybe not.
I know she feels guilty about it. I'm definite I feel guilty about it. Just one more thing thrown on the pre-bonfire pile of things I can light to keep myself warm at night.
I feel really guilty about the fact that I haven't written since before I left on my trip to Michigan. I did type up my hand-written pages from before, and I did some thinking about the story (because I hit a wall and didn't know where to go next). But it's not where I want my career goals to head.
Still, the guilt isn't doing me any good. Guilt usually doesn't do anyone any good.
So, from here on out - until my life balances and I'm not crazy-busy - I'm going to ditch the guilt. I'll write what I can when I can, and when I can get back on track, I will set a writing schedule and stick to it.
Because sometimes the other things in life have to take precedence. Now, if I was a published writer, or at least under contract, I might have to adjust that view. For now, though, I am an Unpub. I have the luxury of letting life overwhelm me, and allowing for my writing to slip a little*.
Ditch the guilt. Yeah. That sounds like sound advice. Plus, it makes a great survival tip. If you're drowning in guilt, your creative process is taking a hit, too. Don't let that happen or this guilt could snowball into months of not writing. (Been there, done that.)
What's some guilt you can ditch today?
*Only a little. I will get back to writing as soon as this other stuff settles down. Promise.
Showing posts with label guilt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guilt. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Survival Tip #3: Overcoming the Not-Writing Guilt
I don't know about all y'all but I didn't touch any of my manuscripts over the holiday. Well, at least nothing got done Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I'm such a slacker. I should've been writing instead of watching The Muppet Christmas Carol. I could've been writing during that Santa Clause marathon. Maybe a few pages would've been edited if I spent less time enjoying the holiday and more time utilizing... well, my time.
What it all boils down to is this: I feel guilty when I don't write.
I know I shouldn't. Writers should get the chance to have a life, too. But as an unpublished writer, I should be working extra hard to get my books finished and out there in the world. I'll never get published if I don't put in the time. Right?
I feel guilty when I let the holidays distract me. I feel guilty when some unforeseen emergency pulls me away from my work. I feel guilty when my health effects my writing.
Okay, so maybe this isn't the Survival Tip is ought to be. Lord knows I haven't been able to overcome the guilt yet. My notepad and pen sat next to me for two days, staring at me with accusing eyes. I should've done something.
Maybe the only way to overcome the guilt is to just accept that there are going to be times when you don't write, can't write, or won't write. Holidays are to be enjoyed. Emergencies are to be dealt with. And writing when you're sick doesn't do anyone any good. We should all give ourselves the time we need without the guilt overwhelming us afterwards (or during as is sometimes the case).
So now I leave it up to you. What do you do to combat the not-writing guilt? Or are you one the rare birds who can walk away from the work and not feel guilty about it? If so, how do you do it?
What it all boils down to is this: I feel guilty when I don't write.
I know I shouldn't. Writers should get the chance to have a life, too. But as an unpublished writer, I should be working extra hard to get my books finished and out there in the world. I'll never get published if I don't put in the time. Right?
I feel guilty when I let the holidays distract me. I feel guilty when some unforeseen emergency pulls me away from my work. I feel guilty when my health effects my writing.
Okay, so maybe this isn't the Survival Tip is ought to be. Lord knows I haven't been able to overcome the guilt yet. My notepad and pen sat next to me for two days, staring at me with accusing eyes. I should've done something.
Maybe the only way to overcome the guilt is to just accept that there are going to be times when you don't write, can't write, or won't write. Holidays are to be enjoyed. Emergencies are to be dealt with. And writing when you're sick doesn't do anyone any good. We should all give ourselves the time we need without the guilt overwhelming us afterwards (or during as is sometimes the case).
So now I leave it up to you. What do you do to combat the not-writing guilt? Or are you one the rare birds who can walk away from the work and not feel guilty about it? If so, how do you do it?
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