"The point is to have balance in life."
I've heard that often enough and I've even said it a time or two, but is it true? Can we have a balanced life and be a success as a writer?
The Unbalanced Life
I'd like to think so. Sure, when I was in university the cost of earning good grades was not having anything even vaguely resembling a balanced life. I would stay up all night studying, guzzle coffee and eat junk food.
Also, it was difficult keeping in touch with old friends because I was too busy studying to spend time with them. The only friends I had were my study partners!
Is that what is required to be a professional author?
No.
Or at least I hope not! There's another expression: Older and wiser.
The Key To A Balanced Life: Prioritizing
The number one thing a writer must do is write. Anything that is not writing takes a backseat. Even editing.
Editing is important, absolutely, but one needs to write to have something to edit.
Over the past couple of days I've started to record the amount of actual writing time, as well as editing time, I put in. The results were sobering. I spend more time doing other writing-related tasks than I do working on my stories. (See: Getting Ready for 2013: A Writer's Guide)
I need to streamline my schedule so that I can accomplish the same things but in a more efficient way. I need to prioritize, accomplishing the most important tasks first and leaving the less important for the end. That way I'll at least accomplish the most important things.
Have you made any writing resolutions for the new year?
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Photo credit: "Kindness is like snow" by Lel4nd under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0.
I'd hate to do that time analysis myself. It's clear that now that I've started blogging, plus the MFA, that I spend more time doing other writing-related things than actually writing. And that's a sobering notion, as you say. Something that really does have to change, right? Good luck to both of us in adjusting our use of time.
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not alone! Dean Wesley Smith's advice to start keeping track of my time was brilliant. It's one thing to know I don't spend enough time writing and it's another to see the numbers!
DeleteThanks csoffer, I need all the luck I can get, and best of luck to you in the new year. :-)
thanks
ReplyDelete