RULE #2
Uninterrupted hours with my laptop is not the dream
Writing a book takes time. Not only the hours it takes to write the words, but the time it takes to think about my story.
So whining about wanting more time with my laptop isn’t the answer (it’s easy to make time with my laptop…just maybe not to write).
Even if I were gifted with 5 hours of attentive, uninterrupted time to write, I hope I would reject it.
Because that is not my dream.
Having consistent time carved out to write is important. But setting parameters is important too.
My stories aren’t better for giving myself more time to write. I’m pretty sure they become worse.
The secret to writing a good story is not to write, write, write, and write some more.
It’s more like: live, observe, ponder, write.
Now repeat.
What I find so exciting about writing is that I am trying to capture reality on paper (even in magical stories!). Writing is an exploration of reality. And reality is…interesting. It is full of contradictions. It is tragic and inspiring. Despairingly grey one moment and full of colour the next. It is infuriating and hilarious by turns.
Writing has the power to make those invisible things visible, and that’s pretty cool.
Observing reality and interacting with it is a key part of my writing process.
But I still need to remind myself –
– that I love my day job. The time it takes me away from my writing gives me so much in return.
– that the fear I experience swimming in lakes, looking into those murky depths or feeling something wrap around my ankle, makes the fear in my stories more palpable.
– that fighting with, and for, the people I love makes relationships all the stronger and more real in my stories.
Writing is worthwhile, but it’s essential to keep all things in their proper order.
Overall, living life provides better fuel for stories than carving out endless hours of writing time.
