Sacrifice
Those of us who write would like to extend the day by about twelve hours so there’d be enough time to do everything we want, or have to, accomplish–and then write, too.
Sadly, I haven’t yet figured out how to do that, as I’m sure the rest of you have discovered too.
Which means that in order to become a successful writer, some sacrifices have to be made.
For a long time I thought I could do it all. Work, write, spend quality time with the hubby, work in the garden, ride the Harley, watch all my favorite television shows as well as the latest and greatest movies, visit online with my best friends, get the laundry done, cook, grocery shop, sleep eight hours a night and read all my favorite books. It took me awhile to figure out I simply couldn’t do it all—not if I wanted to get a book written (not to mention several books a year), not if I wanted to be a published author, not if I wanted to meet my deadlines—not if I wanted to make sure the books I did write were actually good books.
If you want to be an author—if you really want it bad, then you have to be prepared to make sacrifices. You have to give some things up. And you have to train those around you to make some sacrifices too. If they love and support your choice of career (and yes, people, this is a career), then they’ll sacrifice too. No one does this alone, trust me.
This great new television season I might catch one of the new shows. Other than that, nothing. I’m not watching anything during the week other than Grey’s Anatomy, Men in Trees and CSI. This is a huge drop from what I did last year. My movie watching has dropped significantly (mostly due to the fact that I tend to pass out in front of the television these days. Heh.) My online friends aren’t seeing much of me at night anymore, because I’m spending that time either writing or with my husband (who is very happy to see me). My garden looks like hell because I don’t have time to tend to it. I’m spending every available hour writing. Writing, writing and more writing. You see, I’m taking my career seriously. Plus I also work part time, so I’m juggling that responsibility too.
I’m making this work, and I’m making sacrifices. Writing is my career and I’m taking every moment I can to work hard at it.
Make the sacrifice. Ask those around you to help you if they can. People who love and support your career will do it. Cut out what isn’t essential in your life, fill it with the obligations that you must, and take the leftover time for your writing. Even if you only manage to carve out an additional hour or two a week, it’s worth it. Your career is worth the sacrifice.
November 1st, 2007 at 7:28 am
Great advice!! I just finished doing a month long writing marathon through my RWA online chapter. The biggest thing I learned was that I could fit my writing in when I made it a priority (and let the laundry go for a few days or ordered pizza and few nights - lol) and my family survived just fine! Between this and NANO I’m determined to keep it a priority in my life, and make it a habit of being a priority!
November 1st, 2007 at 8:43 am
Very well said! I used to watch 30+ hours of TV before I started taking my writing seriously. That and our garden looks like hell too, lol
November 1st, 2007 at 9:46 am
It’s always boggled me how people say “I don’t have time to write,” and don’t realize that they must MAKE that time. Long or short, you’ve got to carve it out.
It’s always boggled me about how much TV people watch, too, though. My guy and I have a vow to never get cable TV for this reason (although we do rent and buy DVDs). However, even without TV, it’s easy to fill the time–I was addicted to online chat and RPGs before I started writing seriously. I could spend 30+ hours a week on those, in addition to being a full time student and part time worker (and I kept my grades at honor level!) “I don’t have time” indeed…
I can come up with my fair share of excuses not to write for a day or a week, but I can’t say “I don’t have time” with straight face, because, frankly, I know better.
Thanks for the post!
November 1st, 2007 at 9:56 am
This is my first time doing Sven’s challenge, and it’s helped me cut out a lot of unnecessary stuff. I don’t know if I would call it sacrificing because now those distractions are gone, I don’t really miss them. I cut back my television watching, changed my exercise routine, and play less computer games. I also learned to write faster in the time that I have. I’m still stuck in the day job, unfortunately I can’t ’sacrifice’ that.
PS. I’m hoping it snows soon so no one can see the state of my garden.
November 1st, 2007 at 10:54 am
So true! If it’s important, it’s important. Between three young kids and the normal chaos around here, I had to shave down most extra stuff in my life to make room for writing and I’ve never been sorry. When I do watch tv it’s usually something for me and the dude and it’s more special when we hang out together and it’s actually quiet! I don’t have the best time management skills so really for me, it’s about being really disciplined about it or the time just sort of sifts through my fingers and I get nothing done.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:08 am
You make choices. I don’t sew any more; the time previously spent crafting garments and costumes is spent writing. I took up knitting socks because I use that time to work through plot problems. The knitting is relaxing and lets my mind wander along the avenues it needs to.
I don’t watch as much television, either, and what I do watch is usually recorded on my DVR for later viewing (we’re still working our way through The War). Ugly Betty and CSI are the only shows I watch “live” — though I will confess to adding Project Runway to the schedule when it appears next week. Gotta have my Tim fix! The rest gets watched when I’ve done my writing.
Now, we’re faced with re-arranging our life again as my mother-in-law has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and my husband is one of her primary care givers. In some ways, carving out the writing time becomes even more important because that helps keep me on an even keel (I’m always happier when I write regularly), which will better allow me to provide the husband with the support he’s going to need during what’s going to be a very stressful time.
It’s all about priorities and making choices.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:25 am
Very true. You have to carve that time out.
I watch tv no more than 4 hours a week. I watch from 8-11 tuesdays, Beauty and the Geek, Reaper and Boston Legal. Tuesday is my mush brain day but I’m still productive during that time. I keep my laptop on and do blogging, promo, web design type stuff. I watch Supernatural on Thursdays, b/c it’s my one addiction and the boys have my undivided attention. I only watch shows the muse seems to get a kick out of. I only watch movies if it’s family/hubby sharing time.
My garden looks like hell, my house looks like a tornado ripped through it. I need my hair cut, and coloured, my nails are a mess, and my butt’s grown. I work full time and I have three adhd kids, but yes, every night between “I don’t care, go to bed anyway” and passing out myself I turn the computer on for a couple of hours. If I don’t write I at least work on character building or spit out bits of dialogue, setting, etc, that I hear/see but don’t fit anywhere yet.
Except last night. I don’t have to work today, (well I do, but from home and at my own pace, which is slloooowww this morning lol) and my kids aren’t going to school today so after I took the candy away and shoo’d them all to bed I slept… I miss sleep.
November 1st, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Writing definitely requires sacrifice!
November 1st, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I think y’all are great. It does require sacrifice, but it’s doable. And definitely worth it
November 1st, 2007 at 8:27 pm
I’ve no excuse, as I work in an office one day of the week (either Monday or Tuesday), and the rest of the time I’m free to focus on my writing. With NaNoWriMo in full swing and a massive historical novel requiring my full attention, the sacrifices include my early morning LifetimeTV fix. Thursday Night Must-See TV on NBC is sacred, as is Sunday night with my girl Kimora Lee Simmons. Otherwise, the TV is off (except for when I watch old WW2 movies for research), and I’m either writing the novel, doing freelance work or blogging (which I consider part of my work).
But I guess “sacrifice” is not exactly the appropriate word for me because I genuinely love doing this. The writing is a bitch, and sometimes I just want to tear my hair out, but to paraphrase that old saw about mountain climbing, a bad day at my writing desk is infinitely better than a good day at the office.
Happy Writing!
Cheers,
Marjorie
p.s. Oh, but my garden does look like hell. Thank God winter’s around the corner so that the snow can cover up my misdeeds.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Well said!
I took on Sven for three reasons: to gain discipline, to finish my WIP, and to have motivation powerful enough to make me stop procrastinating. I’m learning about sacrifice in the process and about time that can be better spent. The funny thing is, most of what I’ve sacrificed, I don’t even miss!
November 1st, 2007 at 11:40 pm
I think it is a matter of making writing part of your routine, part of your schedule. I work a full-time job running a bakery in Wal-Mart/Hell. I have nine rescued dogs whose runs have to be scooped twice a day, hosed out once a day, they have to be fed, watered and loved every day. I have two days off and I have to use part of those to clean house, do laundry, run errands, etc. I have started using a kitchen timer for specific activities. I spend a certain amount of time cleaning, etc. I have cut back on television, no cable out here in the sticks. Thank God! I want this so badly that I am going to have to make more sacrifices and get more words per day. Sven is definitely helping me out as are all of you wonderful writers.
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:33 pm
If you want bad enough, you’ll make time for it.
And sometimes saccrifice is a part of that. I was once addicted to RPG, chatted on IM a lot and chatted a lot. I just don’t have the time now if I want to keep this writing going. Makes me sad sometimes but I want “this,” my career.
November 3rd, 2007 at 4:23 am
I don’t feel that giving up television is a worthwhile sacrifice for me because it’s my window on the world and culture and is a rich source of inspiration and research material. But there’s a lot of ’silly’ web surfing I do that really is a complete waste of time and which I must *not* get involved in!
November 9th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Ok so I’m catching up on posts late, but well timed for my week. I feel like I’ve been giving a lot up lately to get all the writing in since we don’t have a 36 hour day. But mostly it’s not that much of a sacrifice…