I want to take a few minutes this week to take a slight detour from the sequence of writing posts to discuss a couple of time-related scenarios that I believe all writers encounter.
Inconsiderate Inspiration
I am almost certain that all writers, like myself, are prone to let our imaginations wander from time-to-time in the course of our daily work. It seems nearly inevitable that while we are focused on completing some other unrelated task that inspiration strikes. The real problem comes when, at the end of the day, you realize there just isn’t time available to get to the joy of writing. What to do!?!
There are any number of options and most writers eventually develop some way of handling these situations. My personal solution is to always try to carry a pocket-sized notebook with me as often as I can and as soon as the opportunity presents itself, I write down a few notes that may hopefully jog my memory. Years ago I carried a micro-cassette recorder, but I would always have to find a private place to speak into the contraption which wasn’t often feasible.
Old Man Winter
Many years ago, I found that the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas often offered some of the best times to write. Work was slow, vacation time was expected and there really wasn’t much to watch on television. These things changed dramatically as I was married and began to establish more of a family life. Visiting relatives, shopping for gifts, decorating, shopping and all the other sundry holiday excursions really began biting at the time I used to set aside for writing. I have added on a few additional responsibilities as well this year and have found very limited writing time available, beyond short blog articles of course. What can a writer do in this situation? Be patient, and get some rest.
Yes, patience does not always come naturally to a writer whose head is bursting with ideas, but that is precisely how to handle this kind of situation. Keep jotting down those notes and write when and where you can, even if it is only for as little as five or ten minutes. Circumstances usually change and before you know it you will be back to your writing and once more out of ideas. Rest, especially during these busy times, can be even more rewarding than struggling with words every time you get a few minutes of down time. Rest is good for the mind and imagination and will help your ideas flow when you do find the time to write again.
