Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Today is the day after a three-day-weekend, the month after a glut of holidays. Anyone finding it hard to get back into the swing of things? Back to work? I wrote about this a few years back and thought that sharing ideas of how to get back to work might not be such a bad idea.
Here goes:
Nothing seems harder than actually getting down to the work of writing. Writers are constantly alternating between feeling waves of guilt for not meeting writing goals and experiencing a strange euphoria for exceeding that goal. You see the acronym BIC showing up in writer’s advice all the time. It stands for Behind-in-Chair (or something less polite), which is what the quest actually entails. The simple truth is, no writing gets done unless we put our body in our chair and engage with the keyboard.
We often think that multitasking–not only writing but also marketing, networking, Twittering, blogging, Facebook-ing and, oh, yes, taking care of families, church and household duties–is a new wrinkle in the world of publishing. Listen to what writer Virginia Woolf said in her diary: “I’ve shirked two parties, and another Frenchman, and buying a hat, and going to tea with Hilda Trevelyan, for I really can’t combine all this with keeping my imaginary people going.”
In a wonderful article in Victoria magazine (January 2009), Jan Karon says, “When I write, I dive headlong into the work as into a river, where I swim for my life, or, depending on the tenor of the story, float on my back, gazing at the clouds. I inhabit that river for five hours or two minutes, ten or thirty, whatever the day may yield. When there’s nothing more to say or conjure, I make my way to the shore, trying to separate fiction from fact, and get on with the business of living.”
Let’s talk about how we get the actual work of writing done, how we get back to work including deadlines, interruptions, page counts and goals. So how do you do it? Have you done it for 2015?
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So how does a writer get back to work after all the holiday distractions? Click to Tweet
Just yesterday I found my rhythm again – and it feels great!
I think it was Elizabeth George who said that successful writers need “behind glue” -or something like that 🙂
Yes, but what if one uses a standing desk?
glue under the shoes. . . just sayin’
It totally feels great, Sheila! I can so relate!
It’s so true. We need to be tied to our computers.
The Virginia Wolfe quote is hoofing – LOVE it!
I treat writing the way I treated PT when I was well – there are no vacations.
But getting back into shape after operating was hard; the requirements of the field tend to degrade fitness quite rapidly.
Here’s what I did – it may be analogous to writing.
1) Recognize that there will be a ‘learning curve’ (for want of a better term) to achieve the previous level of proficiency.
2) Set manageable goals. Don’t expect that after a month in the field you can do 30 chinups. Ten will be doin’ good.
3) Be KIND to yourself, in regard to meeting goals (Anyone who knows me, reading this, will think I has a recent lobotomy, and am not quite the same at all.)
4) Increase performance goals on a weekly basis; no more than that. It takes about a week to become comfortable at a new set-point.
5) Document what you’re doing, so you can see results.
6) Be kind to yourself. An injury through pushing too hard doesn’t only hurt; it degrades your value as an operator in that your potential return to ops will be delayed.
7) Enjoy life in the spaces between.
I think I needed to hear “be kind to yourself” today! And I’m going to heed the warning! 🙂
This is an amazing journey.
Amazing people tend to have amazing journeys.
I’ve said it before, but what the heck – your strong Texas faith is not just a light in the night.
It’s NYC, lit up for New Years’.
Been through the Weekend from Hell, and I have been going through your archived blogs to gain strength.
Yeah, the smile you just put on my face would definitely light up a New York sky! 🙂
Copy, paste … going to the draft! 🙂
Andrew, I like your list. #2 & #3 are so important. When I’m gentle with myself, I feel motivated to exceed the goal I’d set. Big targets intimidate me and then I freeze; I thrive on small manageable steps. Blessings as you write.
Wendy, thank you.
Small successes are building blocks that lead to things of which we dare not dream.
It’s something about which I tend to go off – the American cultural thing of “Go For The Gold”.
Just showing up is a victory.
Great advice, Andrew. I hadn’t thought about the body needing time to adjust to the new set point. I’m keeping this in mind. 🙂
I work as an office manager at a PT office so the parallels you’ve drawn makes complete sense to me.
Just showing up is a victory, indeed. And then there’s the willingness to do the hard work. Girding it all is a determination to hope in the outcome. Far from perfect, but stronger. Better equipped to transition into the next adventure.
Excellent protocol. By the way, the “learning curve” is often called ramp time. We go slow at first until we get ramped up again.
It really is planting in the chair. I often need to have that idea first though … but once I get it, I need to sit down and pour it out quickly. While my head is still in that space.
Heading into vacation this week, Lord willing (husband recovering from flu and praying none of us girls get it) … I finished a March deadline in advance so I can be free for vacation. But once I get home, I’ll need to get busy again.
But I worked the whole holiday … thought I’d take it off to gather ideas, just spend time with the family. But the ideas came, I poured it out. And my heart was happy.
Enjoy your vacation, dear Shelli. I pray that you come back refreshed and inspired. ❀
Thank you, Wendy. 🙂
I’ve done that “write it while it’s fresh!” too, Shelli. Sometimes, we have to write the ideas while they’re in our minds. I’ve found this with both blogging and writing. 🙂
Have a wonderful vacation my friend!
Thank you, Jeanne! 🙂
It’s equally hard to shut down work and focus on the people around us when we take a vacation or a family break. Here’s hoping you can shut it all off and vacation.
Oh Shelli, my husband has the flu today too. I just got over it and two of my boys just got over it too. I did get some writing done though, even though there was a lot more temperature taking and Kleenex acquisition that actual writing. What to do: Make a strong cup of tea, sit down, check e-mail, read 3 writing blogs, then ignore facebook until I’ve edited at least a whole chapter and just get to work.
I’m so sorry, Kristen. Yeah, these things always happen right before vacation for us. Bless his heart, we avoided him like the plague. The day he started to feel better, we had a plumbing problem, and he sent us three to a hotel for the night. I told the girls that the hotel probably helped us escape the flu. But, we’ll see.
Im with you on the tea!
Wendy, I love the two quotes. They’re definitely getting written down into my notebook.
I relished the family time on the holidays and am now finding it hard to focus on serious writing and editing. Silly me turned down my husband’s offer of a laptop (I could have used it to get away to my quiet woman cave and write).
The clicking of my daughter’s keyboard and the lovely sounds of her practicing French have finally driven me to distraction (so proud of her grades in French). Yesterday I asked my man, “Is the laptop offer still on?” He smiled. I think he already knew that I’d change my mind.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac ❀
You have a woman cave? That’s way cooler than an office, or a study, or a desk. I want one of my very own!
Shirlee, my husband named it that because it’s an attic room filled with girly stuff alongside a large white desk and an old rocking chair. He’s too tall to stand in much of it. ❀ I love my cave.
I love that, Shirlee! 🙂 I have one too. But the “men” in the form of two boys and one husband, tend to disregard the closed door and come in anyway. 🙂
How sweet, Wendy Mac! You’ll get that laptop! 🙂
Wendy, what a great offer from your honey! I hope you enjoy having one!
Thanks, Jeanne. He’s begun the hunt for one. I trust his judgement on all things tech and so much more. 🙂
I love the idea of a cave. I wish I had one for reading. I read manuscripts in my office now but how I’d love a hideout.
I have the occasional spider to contend with in my cave. Otherwise it’s secluded and quiet (except for my loud gasps when 8-legged ones show up). Blessings as you read in 2015. ❀
In Jan Karon’s stories, Cynthia locks herself in her study when writing and painting. Autobiographical, perhaps?
For me, writing requires behind-in-chair. Much of my thinking/planning is behind-in-car during my long commute. BIC squared!
Yep. The chair and the car. No wonder that part of our anatomy becomes so formidable. 🙂
Love those quotes, Wendy. Good food for thought…
Was just reconnecting and getting into the rhythm and flow of writing my novel and learned this morning of the sudden death of a good friend. Am in shock. Interestingly enough, a couple of my characters are wending their way through my thoughts in the midst of the grieving. Not sure how all of this will unfold, but do know that it seems to be serving as even greater impetus to continue writing. Even if that means keeping the tissues handy to catch the tears between sentences.
Micky, what a tough season to walk through. I hope you have a great support system to journey with.
Jenni, many thanks for your kind thoughts.
Prayers for you, and may there be comfort for your friend’s family and loved ones.
Thank you, Andrew. Appreciate you, and all that you bring to this community.
I’m so sorry, Micky.
Your words, Shelli, are balm to the spirit. Thank you.
So sorry, Micky. I lost a lifelong friend almost two years ago. It’s hard. Be sure to leave yourself time and space to remember and to grieve. And the fact that the book mirrors some of your grief is a blessing. We work out a lot of stuff on the page and the writing is all the more powerful for it.
Thank you for your compassionate counsel. It means so much…
That Virginia Woolf quote struck me. To have time for writing, we must sometimes say no to time takers that come in other forms. Even the good ones.
I’ve begun looking at my calendar on the weekend and scheduling writing time on the calendar for the following week. Both for my blogs and for my story. I look at what each day holds, determine how much time I can allocate for each day and add it as an appointment. I also set an alarm to remind me writing time is coming up.
The January days off have limited my writing time some days, but this method is helping me. 🙂
Scheduling is a powerful tool. Having friends who realize we are working people even when we work from home is a huge help as well.
Jeanne, what a great idea to set an alarm as a reminder to write. ❀
I tend to put off writing so much that I finally have to tell my family, okay, you’re not going to see me for the next three days! One of my goals this year is to set, and stick to, regular office hours. Multitasking is not good for my brain 🙂 I love the Virginia Woof quote! I might need to print that out and post it on my mirror.
I know that, Angela. I felt horrible the other day … felt like I’d spent too much time writing. My oldest hugged me … “Mom, I’m really proud of you.” 🙂 The guilt fled.
Yep. the guilt is the hardest thing– balancing writing with all other things. Regular Office hours is a good discipline, especially since you are essentially scheduling the non-work hours by default.
Since I work two days a week, I have to take advantage of writing time during the other three days while my daughter is in school.
Do I achieve this as consistently as I’d like? No. But it helps immensely that I have a critique group who is waiting for the next chapter in my WIP. It also helps that I’ve set aside a writing weekend in February. Holing away in a hotel near the setting of my story will add fuel to the story fire.
If I may, I’d like to rework Virginia Woolf’s fabulous quote.
“I’ve shirked two pedicures, and another walkablock, and buying a scarf, and going to coffee with my bosom buddy, for I can’t really combine all this and create scenes rife with palatable drama.” 😉
That’s sweet, Jenni. A writing weekend … dreamy! 🙂
I like the way you modernized the quote.
Jenni, I love your paraphrase.❀ You do wonders with words.
I had lost my accountability when the critique group I’ve been a part of for over 6 years dissolved. Accountability is a big motivator for me. It took me a while, but I finally got three, possibly four new CP’s. This week, two of us exchanged chapters for feedback. Now I’m ready to get back to work and it feels wonderful! Happy New Year everyone!
Sounds like everything has worked back out. That’s great, Linda.
Critique partners are the best. I’m glad you were proactive in finding new ones.
After a long break from writing, I find that maintaining reasonably low expectations, initially, helps me to reach modest goals. The more I meet my own expectations, the higher they become, until I’m finally back in the swing of things. If I try to start too ambitiously after time off, I become easily discouraged and start to procrastinate. Not a good way to encourage productivity.
What a wonderful plan for easing yourself back into the rhythm of writing/
I’m ramping into a new story (one started but set aside over a year ago) this week. Trying not to think about how it’s going to take me the rest of the year to finish it, barring another detour, and that there will be hard days. Instead I’m trying to focus on these characters I’m about to fall in love with. Again.
Woohoo, Lori!
Excited for you!
Oh it’s soon hard. My blog is orphaned, but my novel is getting a deep tissue massage! I’m just starting where I feel interested and hoping my head falls into line for the obligatory stuff