Balancing Life & Writing

Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans
John Lennon


This quote has never seemed more relevant to me than when I plan to write. Your head is full of these ideas. Brilliant, wonderful ideas. Life goes on around you, but you are lost in a fantasy land with make believe characters and then, life is on you, wanting you/needing you to do things. You wish you had a watch to pause life while you write. Write before your head explodes with wonderful dreams and stories.

There is always something that needs doing.
Always someone that wants something.
Always something else to be getting on with.
A million reasons not to write. And, for me anyway, one reason to write. I have to. I go Jack Nicholson if I don't write every day! Some days I may as well write "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"! But that's all part of it, isn't it. Writing, re-writing, editing, making your work as amazing as possible.

It comes down to time, of course. But more than that, it comes down to will power. It sounds cliché, I know that. But think about it - if you really want to, you will find the time. It is currently 22:30, my wife and son are asleep, and I'm typing away. Why? I grab what time I can. I wrote half an essay earlier, between kiddo going to bed and wifey getting home from work. I won't work on my latest book today, and maybe not tomorrow, but I will write, something. It is so important to get into a habit of writing something daily. It becomes routine. Just as it is routine to find a reason not to.

Having understanding family is also important. People do not generally like to see you sitting behind a computer screen for hours on end, (even if they are behind a mobile screen just as much), so make allowances for family time. Comprise and cut deals. Hell, you are an author, be creative!
Snippets of time are available to you, use them wisely. Do not be afraid to piss someone off once in a while, I usually do this if I coming to the end of a project, I will risk the wrath if I have a finished product to soften the blow!

Being a writer can be lonely, learn to love your characters, if you believe they exist, the reader will too and that is half the battle.

I had better sleep before life comes calling in the middle of the night in the shape of my child and I'm too tired to move.

Happy writing

Richard Dodd

Author of 'Fluffy Hugs'

https://www.facebook.com/fluffythemagicpenguin/?ref=hl

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fluffy-Hugs-Magic-Penguin/dp/1519517726/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451919769&sr=8-1&keywords=fluffy+hugs+richard+dodd

http://www.richarddodd.co.uk