Second Wind Publishing discussion

I was talking to a co-worker the other day when the fact that I had written a novel came up. “How do you find the time to write?” she asked, citing the demands of my job and my children as perfectly valid reasons for me to forego any other activities. “I don’t get much sleep,” I replied with a yawn. We both had a laugh and went on to another topic of discussion.

It did get me to thinking about the concept of time, or rather how to “make time” for the things one wants to do.

Prior to June of 2007, I didn't believe that I had time to write. I had plenty of ideas about what I would write about, if I ever had the time to do so. My list of excuses was lengthy and pretty valid on a surface level. Then, my sister-in-law tossed down a challenge to me one evening and I found that I actually could find little pockets of time to write. Once I let my imagination off the leash, there was no going back.

Granted, I do the bulk of my writing at night after my kids and my husband are asleep, or in the mornings before they wake up, but I find time throughout the day as well. During my lunch hour, sitting in the doctor’s office, at my son’s baseball practice or games, and when the kids are occupied with an activity that doesn’t require any input from me, other than my physical presence to prevent bodily injury. (Having a laptop computer and a jump drive helps immensely – but in a pinch, the old fashioned pen and paper will suffice.)

How do you carve out the time to write?

I agree, Mairead. Like anything we enjoy, writing isn’t about finding time, it’s making time for it. It’s no different than making time for family, reading, watching a favorite TV show, or a hobby.

I carve out a block on Sunday morning, put on a pot of coffee, strike up a cigar, and lose myself in whatever project in which I find myself immersed—currently a novel, a murder mystery surrounding baseball legend Ty Cobb. My other projects, such as articles, essays, short fiction, blog, I fit in during the remainder of the week, as the mood strikes me, but it has never been about finding time as much as it has been making time. Sometimes I have to sacrifice something else, like mowing the lawn! Not a bad tradeoff.

I disagree just a bit here with you J. As Mairead said above, sometimes making time is extremely difficult. Family and work come first for me no matter what. If my kids need me, then writing has to take a back seat. I could make time, but should they take a backseat to that? No. Until I'm able to write as my career, and I no longer have to work as well as write and raise my family, this is a huge problem for me.

So while in most cases I agree that if you put out the effor and really want to write you will find time, I think occasionally there is no option. Especially if you have a young family and other responsibilities. Time is a luxury then, one that you can't always afford.

That said, these days I do make time as Mairead does. Early in the morning before my kids are awake, and late at night, once everyone has gone to bed. What do I sacrifice? Sleep. Who needs that?

I usually write an hour or three before I go to bed. Or I get up extra early, (and not get too much sleep) And write in the morning.

I can always find time to write, if the mood strikes me, but finding time to read is more difficult. Now don't laugh you guys, but I find the bathroom visit a great time to read. I'm a fast reader, so I get a lot done that way. Also like to read in the tub.

Can't write in the tub, might as well read in it.

Love and blesisngs
Rita

As one with few people needing me anymore, such as children, my life has become my own, for the most part. I do have a husband, grandchildren, lots of friends, and activities, but still, I must find time to write. My mantra is--"you will write...or do this or that...if it is a priority." I'm not talking daily duties such as rearing children--certainly, that's a priority--but in our free time, we have freedom to choose. When I learned to play golf at 40--I was teaching and my kids were in college. Numermous other women would say--"I wish I had time to play golf." Well, I'd say, you would if it was a priority. I also hear--"I wish I had time to write--I'm just too busy." And these are women my age with my kind of life. This irritates me--I recite my usual thing and move on. If these people really wanted to write, they'd give up something else in order to do so. Celia

Yeah, I agree that you have to make the time to write not find the time. I tend to be erratic about it, like fifteen minutes here and there, but mostly Saturday morning to afternoon. And from eleven to one a.m..

Celia you made a good point and it is so true of writers. If you want to write bad enough, you will make time to do it, whether it's 2 Am or whatever. Whether you have to sneak in an hour here, or a all nightere there. You do it. Writing is inside you and the need is inside you. You will make time to write if you are a writer. Anyone can say, "Yeah, I just don't have the time". But making time to write set you apart from those people. It makes you a writer. Writers are creatures who have to do it, whether they have time or not. It's an inborn need.
And a true writer will find the time, somehow, some way.

I have failed to meet one person who hasn't thought of writing a book. But that doesn't make them a writer. A writer is one who does it, despite the odds. That's what makes us writers. That's true of several professions. An Artist, and musician. You don't find the time to paint or practice you make it. That's what seperates us from others.

Love and blessings
Rita

I carve moments, both to read and to write, the only difference being the writing has to be when the computer's switched on. I leave books that I'm reading all over the house, and files that I'm writing scattered over the computer. A major improvement in organization was when I stuck the files on a thumb drive so I could transfer them if someone else wanted "my" machine. Now, even with kids grown and no job (though still job-hunting) I'm totally disorganized. But it gets done somehow - the reading and the writing.

I've written a rough draft of a novel that a bunch of friends and coworkers liked. I whipped it out in the evenings and weekends in about 2 months. But for me, the question of time was about writing it well, in a polished and beautiful way and it seemed to me that it would have taken me maybe 6 months of full time focus to make it good enough to be considered by a real publisher. And therefore, I dropped it having had a fun experience, but feeling like I would never have the ability to write something like "The Shadow of the Wind," or some other outstanding book because of this lack of time.

I find its not the physical writing time that's difficult to find, it's the thinking time. With a demanding "day job" that taxes my creative powers, I find it hard now to clear a space to think myself back into the world of my book and my characters - or anyone else's book and characters, because finding time to read is equally difficult. I too cordon off Sunday mornings, when not required to go visiting for the weekend. It's like a holiday to find that space from the manic world of work and take myself off somewhere I prefer to be.

But I wish - I wish - I wish that it was not all down to authors to sell and promote their own books. I really hate this, and it detracts from my ability to write. Writing is a very raw experience for me - I write for the pleasure of doing it and the fascination of exploring ideas and characters. Selling and promoting requires a hide like an elephant. I'm learning to balance the two, but I find it really hard.

Every novel will not be a bestseller. As professional writers you know that, even though you know how much time and effort went into it. But novels are not written just to make money, but to satisfy something inside of us. To share something of ourselves with the world.

So far for me I just write whenever I can. I've tried to plan out time to write with mixed results. Sometimes I can get inspired and spend a lot of time working on a story. Other times when I do make times I suffer from writer's block. So now I mostly write whenever I get a scene of something that keeps running around in my head that I want to get down on paper.

When I have to do housework or something i hate doing I find my mind kicks in real fast on what I should be writing. I mean really, does this vaccuming have to be done right now when I have this great idea? That's when my mind works telling me "Hey shut the machine off and go type a while". Yep, you give me a job I don't want to do, and my mind become retroactive. I have ideas pouring out of me.

I guess that is a form of escape. But it is certainly more enjoyable than watching the dirt being sucked up off the floor.

Creative minds work when least expected, like oh, I've got a doctors appointment, but hey, my character is talking now, I gotta remember this.
Love and blessings
Rita

Hi

Sir and Madams

The subject very interesting

As I did not enjoy a happy childhood because my mother died, I used to steal time so I can do my homework for school, so I used to read and memorize memory the most difficult circumstances and situations!!

The creative writing, they need of inspiration and revelation, and must capture the moment to commence creative ideas when they start landing on the author !

Each author in his own way, according to the psychological state and mood, those who are more creative they are more suffering was even greater.

Frankly

Accustomed my nerves a lot of coffee, has become one of the older addicts and heavy on the coffee! Not advise any of you to repeat the same fault.

It helps me to focus more and gives me an hour or two to increase the reading and research before going to sleep

But the problem lies in the morning

I must become of the three cups at least until I wake up completely


Greetings to you all and please left this issue and the debate is open for a good time, to take advantage of each other
Often I reminded of Leonardo da Vinci and his large dispersion, because I am in very hard dispersing

I love learning about many things, and a number of things, both related to the arts or design or writing and psychology creativity

In addition to my main projects is constantly decoration, painting and sculpture

So I in particular, do not ask how I get the time, because you will fear you, if you know my suffering and my patience and my determination




I will be working on the translation your discussing into Arabic

Welcome in my group here in good reads :

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/2...

In my forum also

http://www.salaam-ingilah.com/vb/foru...

this my face book page :

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?i...



best regards

Salaam

While I do agree that if you really want to write, you will make the time, I just don't think it's always there. I love writing, can write any time anywhere, without waiting for inspiration. I have so many 'projects' on the go right now that I don't need inspiration really, I work on whatever my mood seems to suit. Days that I am not able to write, i feel like I'm missing something, to the point of feeling anxious and restless about it.

But SA made a really good point. It's not finding the time to write, it's finding the time to think, and maybe that's what I'm trying to explain here. I think anyone wanting or needing to write, will do so. I write all over the house, scenes, dialogue, character ideas, etc. on envelopes, in notebooks, on scrap paper and such but sometimes, when I'm working on a scene that is crucial, that has to be just so, I need the right amount of time and quiet. Distractions like kids interrupting for snacks and arguments, dogs pooping in closets or the phone ringing, make it nearly impossible to focus on what I'm doing. You can't drown that stuff out. You don't believe me? I'll ship my household over to yours and you can try it. I guarantee between the kids and the dogs, your head will explode.

If I don't write on a particular day, it isn't because I didn't make the time, it's that I didn't have the kind of time I needed. Does that make sense?

When I had a full-time job, I used to write at night after my children were in bed. I'd also write during my lunch hour, and at every spare moment when I was working on a project. There were nights when my writing went on into the wee hours of the morning. My co-workers knowing I was writing a novel demanded to read the chapters as I went along. And if it didn't work out that I wrote the previous night, they were all disappointed. It got to be that it was their "fix" at lunch time to read chapters from my book, wondering where I was going with it. They all tried to guess the ending, but since I didn't know it myself, no one guessed it...not even me. :-)!

I work full time too, but I'm lucky it's out of my home. What's not so lucky is that I run a daycare. Some days, I can sit them down doing a craft or something like that and write a bit then. But when I have babies or toddlers, forget it. No one naps at the same time, and someone's always got a full diaper. My days start at 5am and end at 7pm or later.

I have found time, but occasionally, I need to put off writing for one day to catch up. One can only go so long on four hours of sleep, especially when you're running all day long.

I had people reading my chapters as I went along too. It's a great way to keep you going. They are disappointed when you have nothing for them.(which I hope indicates a darn good story) It's kind of like having a boss or a parent looking over your shoulder, that look of dismay is enough to make you strive to give them something every day. Now, I have just one or two readers who read after I've got about half through. It was too distracting because I'd go back and edit based on their reviews of each chapter, and then I'd lose the flow. I save all reviews until the end now. Unless of course, it inspires me to go another direction. That's always a bonus.

When I can’t or don’t write, I get edgy and cranky. I started writing in my 8-5 job on a regular basis a couple of decades ago and it didn’t take long for it to extend into my personal time for personal pursuits. The net result chomped into my reading time and along the way, a natural balance sort-of worked its way into routine and day-to-day life. I find when I’m writing I read a little less and vice versa. When I’m blocked, all I do is read and to that end, I always keep a queue of books handy. My younger friends spend their time gaming and watching stuff on cable. I declined the invite to join them playing Warcraft. My point is, whatever it is you find important to have in your life, you find time for who or whatever it might be. And in all fairness, my kids are grown and on their own. I remember how tough it was getting personal time while having them and all their commotion underfoot. I always surrendered to them and their wishes to go do what ever. During those years, I carried one of those small black journaling books and always took a moment to pen the funny little things they said and moments of inspiration and wisdom they revealed.

I do that too Nicholas. I've kept journals for both my girls and they're full of little things they've done or said that I found funny or sweet. I suppose I was writing all along. I've always been scribbling something.

I just began writing 'seriously' in the last couple of years. Now that I've started though, you're right, it creeps in on everything else. i'd rather stay home writing than do almost anything else. Though, now and then, I need a night away. I do that too. A group of drunk housewives is excellent material. I can't pass that up.

Pat said readers should respond too so here's my quick answer:

Retire; eliminate family members; choose cats as pets since they don't demand much care, just food; forget about housework, buy ready to eat food, ignore any friends that still call themselves your friend...

Plenty of time to read!

Glenda;

It's been that easy all along? Shoot, here i've been worrying about how I was going to do it. As it is, in order to write, I have left toilets to the point of it becoming a biohazard, begun shifting laundry through the house in baskets, most dressers and closets are empty, screen my calls, and make the kids recycle their underwear to cut down on laundry. Hey, if you turn it inside out it's still okay.
The dogs occasionally snack on each other, but I do remember to feed them eventually, and Kraft Dinner is food. I'm teaching my oldest to make it herself. That's fifteen more minutes of writing time. If I can get her to teach her sister to read and dress herself we're on our way.

Renee - I had to laugh, and of course, me being a guy, I can't follow a group of drunk housewives around, my luck would get me arrested. Before all the security hit the airports I used to go watch and listen to arrivals and departures. Great stuff. Hug those little ones, it seems to me now like it all went by in a flash.

You got it Renee! Kraft dinner sounds like a good choice for dinner tonight...I think I still have one box left...

I did clean the toilet this week since I was expecting company who didn't then show up...lost some good time there, I don't mind biohazards as long as all the potential germs are mine (hence the need to eliminate family)

Actually, I don't mind washing clothes...quick in and out gives me stretching time...it's the stacked unfolded clothes that fall onto the floor that sometimes gets on my nerves and I have to stoop and pick them up and throw them back on the top...

Underwear? Surely you jest? Who wears it unless you're going "away" Oh and if you wear the same thing to sleep in, that also helps...and if you just take your next day's clothes out of the unfolded stack, then that stack goes down through the week, right?

See, you've just had to make so many adjustments due to your children...soooooo sorry! When one of my cats tries to get attention while I'm reading, I just pick him or her up and toss him outside...

and since I've had to stop reading and get up, I'll make a cup of tea while I'm up and get back to my book...always keep your teakettle full and on low and you don't have to wait to reheat...No I don't like to use the microwave to heat, that takes too long away from my book!

It does go by in a flash. They also provide great material for my children's books.

The horror fiction is where my friends inspire me. It's not only their antics that inspire me, but the men that they seem to attract. Goodness some of these characters you just cannot make up.
Actually, one of my characters, Jack Murphy, I used every guy I've ever known to create him. Yes, only the bad qualities. he's a gem. It was so much fun to write him, I hated to see him go when I was done.

Glenda;

Too funny. I tend to leave the underwear when I'm going away. I hope I haven't had it backwards all this time.

And yes, sleeping in the next day's clothes does save time. I used to do that in high school. Why did I stop?

Does anyone here ever have any success reading at Starbucks or any other coffee shop? Years back I noticed on different times, different days there was always somebody reading. I tried it and couldn’t stay focused. Maybe I’m too much of a people watcher. Anywho, Starbucks built one two miles closer to my house and it has a drive up. Went there one day in PJ’s. So much for social contact.

Hi everybody,
Here's how I do it. I try to set aside chunks of time to write, review books (read & write them up) & work on my critique group. It depends on what comes up that day whether it all gets done the way I want it. Right now, a crisis has hit the critique group so that comes first. My writing & reviewing have temporarily taken a back seat. Like Rita says, if you want to write bad enough, you make time.

I can't read in any coffee shop, too interested in the people. Same goes for restaurants. I've seen people reading during lunch breaks and just can't. I can doodle little notes about what I see, but nothing more than that. When I take the kids to the park I take a notebook. Sometimes I write, other times I describe interesting people; what they look like, what they're doing. There are some weird people at the park.
I live in a small town and it never fails that a random person I don't know will ask to see what I'm writing. Of course, I don't show them. Sometimes, depending on how annoying or creepy they are, I'll make something up. But usually I just say, "I'm sorry, but it's top secret. I'd have to kill you if I told you." Usually I get a laugh and they leave. Once or twice they've been oddly fascinated.

Another great way I’ve carved out time to write is on business trips, travel by train. Yes, I told the grand lie at work that I was afraid of flying and for the most part, it worked, except there are no trains from here to London. Getting on a boat was never part of the deal. Going cross country via train used to be fun but in the past ten years or so, not so much. Then there was that moment when forced to fly that my fabrication turned out to be closer to the truth than first realized.

My children are grown, but we have a couple of them living with us right now due to the tough economy and that includes a new baby. We help some, but really don't do that much. Our grandson comes after school for a few hours. I'm like Deb, I try and dedicate chunks of time to write during school hours, but lots of times I write in the evening between 8 and 11 or so depending on how the muse is flowing. However, I've learned not to beat myself up for not writing absolutely every day on one of my manuscripts. It helps when trying to write to just relax about it.

Sometimes I'm forced to push when I have a deadline coming up for a ghostwriting project or a deadline for one of my own stories or novels. That's different. To me the biggest challenge is the balance between promoting books that are already published, those getting ready to launch and working on the next book. It really is all about priorities.

For myself, I wrote very little and only in spurts at lunch or late evenings when my children were growing up. My hat's off to moms with a writing career.

That is a very good question--I try to squeeze in time in the evenings and on the weekends. Sometimes I take my note book to the laundry room and jot down ideas for my current work.

I don't write, but I do read. A lot. Now that my kids are grown, most of my free time is spent reading since I don't have to entertain them. When they were small, I started early on with a "quiet hour". That was when I read to them before bed. I'd read a chapter or two out of whatever I was currently reading (if appropriate) or whatever book they picked out. We got through some wonderful stories together. Anyway, as they got older and were able to read themselves, that "quiet hour" stuck, only they were reading their books and I mine. Its easy to use time already there if you set the ground rules early :)

Dawn wrote: "I don't write, but I do read. A lot. Now that my kids are grown, most of my free time is spent reading since I don't have to entertain them. When they were small, I started early on with a "quie..."

That is a cool idea Dawn

Dawn that's a good practice to have a set time for kids to read and keep doing so when they are older they are still reading. REally good idea sometimes I think with moderrn inventions, things like reading get put aside.

Deb good to see you here, and Deb can give fout some very good reviews folks, if anyone is interested.

Well, it is always interesting to see how other writers use their time and what their habits are.
We are just people after all.

The joy of writing is that you can do it any time you decide to. And I love this freedom of not having to get something done, but wanting to. It's such a wonderful freedom I hope America never loses it.
Love and blessings
Rita

There is no excuse for not doing it at all or for giving up on it. If it you are a writer, you won't stop writing no matter what obstacles are in your way.

But there are things that prevent many writers from doing so as much as they want or need to. I may not always have the time that I need, but I will always write. If that's only ten minutes here and there in between homework, bedtime stories and crazy dogs, then so be it.

Sometimes, I have more than ten minutes to come up with stuff. The kids are in bed.

Well, on finding time to write. It's hard. I work fulltime as a psychiatric nurse and I'm also working on getting my business off the ground. I usually work 3-11 and I can't just go right to sleep. So most of the time between 12mn and around 2am I check my messages and write a little at time. It's taking me a long time to finish this book because I don't have much freetime.

Renee you are absolutely right. If you're a true author, writing is in you blood and you have to do or you feel like your missing something in your life. I know that's how I feel at times. I don't care if I don't have but 15 minutes. I'm going to write some most every day.

I try to keep to my goal of 2000 words each day. Most days I meet it, but occasionally it's far from that. I don't always use that 2000 words, sometimes I read it and wonder what I was thinking last night, but it's keeping my brain focused and my creativity flowing. That's important.

Renee wrote: "I try to keep to my goal of 2000 words each day. Most days I meet it, but occasionally it's far from that. I don't always use that 2000 words, sometimes I read it and wonder what I was thinking las..."

I try to write a chapter a day if not at least a computer equvalent to a page. a chapter amounts 1000-2000 words

yep, you got it. Though, sometimes I write outlines, bits and pieces to future scenes, and stuff like that. Most of the time it's the same as you Karen, a chapter or two. Today I outlined several different things I've been thinking about for a while, so I wouldn't lose the ideas, and then wrote a chapter. I've got a high word count today, but I usually do because I get more time on the weekends. i can stay up later, and my kids are busy doing their own thing in the mornings.

Thats great Renee. I don't have to worry about kids--just the hubby thinking that because I am sitting at the computer it's to do things for him-- suffer the fool if I have my writers hat on. Argh disturb at your own peril--he forgets that I write murder.
I usually have my note book to jot down ideas for that or other WIPs

People here don't get the do not disturb look. Well, my husband does, but the kids are oblivious. That's my own fault, for setting it all aside to deal with them. Their dad is getting better at helping out though. Now he'll come get them and find out what they need and tell them to give Mommy her alone time. We set the kitchen timer for 30 mins when he's home. they can't bother me until it goes off. It works sometimes.

theres something I try to point out that I am wearing THE hat but sometimes He doesn't get it.

The bathroom is my refuge, and it's stocked with books (for when I want to read), journals, and antique lead pencils--the ones with the old "fat" leads (don't like pens and I "crush" the thin pencil leads of modern pencils). I even have a thin, tall bookcase in there. :)

Some of my best work (especially poems) begin there, and I once wrote an entire short story on toilet tissue (with a marker). And yes, it was published (though not in its original form--LOL!).

While I sometimes "lie" about appointments that I have (and fulfill--in a coffee shop), I do find it hard to "carve" a writing time. Even though, early on, I "trained" my family that my writing time is just as important as any of their activities, I still found very few "blank times" in which to write. I just had too much to do in order to pay the bills, live in a relatively clutter-free and clean house.

Now that my children are grown, moved out, and so on, teaching takes up most of my waking hours, and I find that I'm grading papers when I'd rather be writing.

Soooo . . .

I write when others tend to leave me alone: late at night and in the wee hours of the morning, but most often in the bathroom. Few dare bother me there. ;)

Finding the time is never easy. Weeks go by so quickly some times that it hardly seems real. That said, when a story is really hitting on all cylinders, it's easier, since it's aways there, grabbing up most of my mind wherever I am. When a story isn't cooperating, being busy becomes a superb and far too easy excuse.

Being a little selfish helps. There are times when people only want you there, rather than needing you. If you're to get the writing done, being able to tell the difference is important.

As others have said, being able to grab those little times--the twenty minutes before you need to be to work, the good half an hour left after you eat at lunch, the ninety minutes you have to wait while your car's being inspected--these are the times when you can chip away at your story.

Don't ever let 'em say that this stuff's easy, though.

Patrick:
Awoman!!!! That's all I have to say. It's enough. :)

Renee wrote: "I disagree just a bit here with you J. As Mairead said above, sometimes making time is extremely difficult. Family and work come first for me no matter what. If my kids need me, then writing has to..."

Sure, Renee, family always comes first. Emergencies often arise, sicknesses; but the point I was trying to make is that life is what happens while we're planning other things. If you write only when you "find" time, it's likely you will write little. A parent deserves alone time, too. Sometimes necessity prevents it; but it you don't plan for it, lay claim to it, then you'll never achieve it.

You're right J. I have had to demand time quite often. When my kids are a little older, I'll be able to demand more, but right now they are young (10 & 5) so it's not always easy.

My husband works shift too, so for days I only see him for a couple of hours, I don't spend that time writing.

But I do make the time nearly every day, so that's why I only disagreed in part. I personally find the time even if that means I stay up late or get up early. Others though, say with even younger children, may find that difficult and more often than not have to put the writing aside even though they don't want to. Does that make sense? It's early here.

Renee wrote: "You're right J. I have had to demand time quite often. When my kids are a little older, I'll be able to demand more, but right now they are young (10 & 5) so it's not always easy.

My husband wor..."

It's early here, too, Renee!

I don't have children, so I can't speak to the demands and sacrifices that must, and should, be made for their sake. I do wish more people understood how much needs to be sacrificed for sake of children, but that's another topic.

I've heard it said that each age has its trials--from the terrible twos all the way up to adolescence and beyond. If you think it gets easier once a child starts school, guess again.

Frankly, I think the same can be said about adulthood. I find it more difficult to concentrate for longer periods of time now that I'm over 50. I used to find it easy to file away, mentally, ideas, bits of dialogue or narrative for use later (even if I had no idea where in the text it might appear) while on my way to work. Now I find myself writing these down so I won't forget them.

None of us is promised tomorrow, but sadly, most of us live our lives as if tomrrow is a given. My mother had dreams, many that went unlived because she contracted Parkinson's disease at age 52. It's important to try to live each day fully.