Are you writing or dreaming about it?

by Donna Earnhardt


Okay, so you say you're a writer. But what are you doing to prove it? Are you actually writing?

Where does the time in your day go? There are many folks, things and situations in our day that need our attention. For example:

Do you have children (or grandchildren) at home?
Do you have a day or night job? Or maybe even 2 or 3 jobs?
Are you a caregiver?
Do you volunteer?
Do you spend quality time with your family?
Are you a minister?
A choir director?
A youth leader?
Do you go shopping for groceries, cook and clean?

The life-list above could go on...but you get the idea, I'm sure. And I bet you can add tons more to the list! And sometimes, those very important things do take up all of our day. By the time bedtime rolls around, we are ready to fall out!

However, if we are honest, there are probably many moments, days, hours and days *gasp* that we waste. Sometimes we waste our moments on things that are perfectly fine activities...we just lose track of time. I know, I know... it's hard to admit. Let's take a look -- how much time do we spend doing these things during the day:

talking on the phone
tweeting
blogging
watching TV
reading email
reading/updating facebook
playing video games
playing internet games
reading/updating Goodreads
etc...etc...

There is nothing wrong with doing any of the things above - as long as they are in moderation. It is very easy to get sucked into time on the computer and other electronic devices, but never get any writing done! My suggestion is to log your hours on the computer and see how much time you are spending on the stuff other than writing. If you find you are spending 7 hours a week on social networking...and only 2 hours on writing and submitting...there just might be a priority problem!

As writers, we need to write. We have to find a way to make it happen. Maybe you can only write on the weekends. That's okay! But write on the weekends.
Maybe you can only write two nights a week. FINE -- but write those two nights.

Maybe you can only write one Saturday a month -- not a problem. Make every second count.

Find the schedule that works for you...and make it work. To quote the Nike catch phrase -- JUST DO IT!

And now... I need to go practice what I preach. Microsoft word...here I come!



Write2Ignite! Conference 2012 – March 16-17, 2012 at North Greenville University