I Need More Writing Time

/ life, mommyhood, writing

Anyone have any suggestions?

It’s getting to the point where the only interrupted and peaceful time I have is like … NOW and I can’t take it because I have to be up for work in six hours, and work (not counting the commute) means at least eight hours of writing time gone every day. In addition to that:

– Aidan stays up later and later;
– Chris comes home and spends all his time doing other stuff which leaves ME to entertain Aidan all evening;
– Traffic seems to be taking longer and longer to get through every day (and I use BACK ROADS);
– The house NEVER stays clean for longer than an hour after I get done picking up;
– Life, obligations, friends, family, church stuff…all that jazz.

Does anyone have any suggestions???? I feel like I’m part of a losing battle here. :(

When I wrote ONLY YOURS, I didn’t drive yet, so I had to wait for Chris to get me after work, which meant an extra 90 minutes at my desk everyday. As I wasn’t getting paid for it, I used to time to write. Aidan also had a decent bedtime–he’d go down about 9 or 10. Now, it’s more like midnight or one, later if he can help it. He fights it so much and I’m the enforcer. With me being a night owl, it’s hard to get him to sleep when that’s the last thing on MY mind.

Now, it’s HARD to find time, it truly is. And guess what? I have a cough, a scratchy throat, and probably a fever. Guess who is tempted to stay home tomorrow/today? But it’s not as if I’ll get writing done…Chris won’t take Aidan to be watched if I am home sick. :[

If I ever sell a book and make loads of money, I am SO hiring a nanny.

(In the meantime, thank goodness for legal pads and little note pads. At least I can jot things down, even if I can’t seem to find the time to put them into fruition ever.)

P.S. Aidan is still awake. So much for my peaceful, uninterrupted late night time. :( Anyone have any advice on getting headstrong/nightowl/three-year olds to bed before 2am???!??!?!?!!?!?

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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Mrph

/ life

There are a million hours in the day for:

– Work
– Sitting in Traffic
– Tending to OTHER PEOPLE
– Errands
– Cleaning…the NEVERENDING cleaning

There is no time for:

– Writing
– Relaxing
– Reading

Why is that? 🙁

I’m going to be tired and probably cranky at work because all I’ll want to do is get home and write. But then I’ll get home and have to tend to Aidan, and then Chris and Aidan.

I stayed home from work to tend to a feverish and coughing little boy and I got nothing written. Now I’m coming down with a sore throat–GREAT. That’s all I need. I’m just annoyed right now. And broke. Wah.

(And Aidan is STILL awake.)

This sucks. I hope I get SOMETHING done this weekend.

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It’s Fate!

/ writing

Mandy (mandywriter) and I came up with this:

You know you’re a writer when…

…your friends invite you to parties, and you think “Crap. How am I going to get in some computer time amidst all this?”

…when you’re having a conversation with someone, you make note of some of their quotes to use in future novels.

…it pisses you off when you buy a book and it totally sucks, and all you can think is “I write better than this.”

…you know the difference between Chick-Lit, Hen-Lit, Lad-Lit, and Mommy-Lit.

…you have more critique partners than real-life friends.

…you go up to a shelf in a bookstore and make room for the place your book is going to be.

…you read Miss Snark.

…while buying a book, you brag to the cashier at a bookstore about how you know the writer, because she’s your critique partner or she has the same agent, or you once emailed her five months ago.

…you know what a synopsis is, and how much writing one sucks.

…your spouse knows the names of all your characters, because you talk about them like they’re real people.

…your spouse knows what said characters would do when confronted with a moral crisis.

…the words PROPOSAL, ADVANCE, and QUERY mean something to you.

…you have a thumb drive, a CD burner, a stack of 3.5 inch floppies, and an email address… all devoted to backing up your stories.

…you speak of your favorite author as if s/he is an A-list movie star.

…you’re more excited about an autographed book than your anniversary, which you’re skipping to stand in line at a book convention.

…you have regular breakdowns regarding the quality of your work and the futility of an actual career.

…you routinely post on your LJ that you’re a total hack and no one will ever buy your book.

…the next day, you tell everyone how amazing your book is, and how well things are going.

…when you finally sign with an agent/sell a book, the first place you go is to your LJ to share the news.

…you know what NaNoWriMo is.

…you attempt NaNoWriMo.

…and you post word count meters on your LJ.

…no matter what happens, no matter how many rejections you get, how many breakdowns you have, you cannot stop writing. It’s a part of your soul, your life. A part of you.

Happy Writing, everyone! :)

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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OMGHAHA!

/ friends, lol

Mandy (mandywriter) is officially fired from life.

(you know i love you darling!!)

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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DailyOM; Quality vs. Quantity

/ spirituality

January 17, 2006
Focused Value

Quality vs. Quantity

We live in an age of quantity. The media shapes us with the notion that larger, faster, and more are often synonymous with better. We are told that we need to find more time, more possessions, and more love to be truly happy. A smaller quantity of anything that is high in quality will almost always be more satisfying. A single piece of our favorite chocolate or a thin spread of freshly made preserves can satisfy us more than a full bucket of a product that we aren’t very fond of. Similarly, one fulfilling experience can eclipse many empty moments strung together. It is not the quantity of time that matters, but the quality that you experience during each moment. Every minute is an opportunity to love yourself and others, develop confidence and self-respect, and exhibit courage.

Ultimately, quality can make life sweeter. When you focus on quality, all your life experiences can be meaningful. A modest portion of good, healthy food can nourish and satisfy you on multiple levels and, when organically grown, nourish the earth as well. Likewise, a few hours of deep, restful slumber will leave you feeling more refreshed than a night’s worth of frequently interrupted sleep. A few minutes spent with a loved one catching up on the important details about family, work, or community can carry more meaning than two hours spent watching television together.

Often, in the pursuit of quantity we cheat ourselves of quality. Then again, quantity also plays a significant role in our lives. Certain elements, such as hugs, kisses, abundance, and love, are best had in copious amounts that are high in quality. But faced with the choice between a single, heartfelt grin and a lifetime of empty smiles, most would, no doubt, choose the former. Ultimately, it is not how much you live or have or do but what you make of each moment that counts.

© 2004-06 DailyOM

…..

I’ve had people tell me (seemingly for the sake of proving some point or making me feel wronged and/or stupid–or maybe that’s just how I perceived it) that they’ve known so-and-so for so many years–kind of implying that since I’d been in that person’s life for a shorter amount of time, that I somehow wasn’t as worthy of their friendship–or just not as worthy as they were. I’ve had people blow me off, treat me worse than others, using the excuse “well, I’ve known her/him a lot longer than I’ve known you.” I don’t really talk to the people who used to tell me those things anymore–I wonder what that says?

Today’s DailyOM vindicates what I’ve thought all along. It’s definitely about quality, not quantity. 🙂

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