I think for the last month I’ve been in denial. Thinking that I can do several things at ONCE.
Multi-tasking is a MYTH. It simply can’t be done. You may *think* you can do it but something always suffers.
When you have another priority in your life besides writing a novel — and seriously that’s almost everyone — you can’t do everything at once. Something has to drop off the list. You have to make priorities.
This is what I have learned this past month: my day job has priority over my writing. That’s my truth right now. Sad but it is a reality for me. At least with the current job I have. Unfortunately most times I can’t leave my work at the office, it follows me. Most people who work in software technology know that this comes with the territory. And I’m sure that others who have jobs that require “homework” activities outside the office also understand this.
I had been thinking that I could do both the day job and the novel with the same intensity, but this last past month, I’ve found that I cannot. So in this type of situation, I have to reassess my expectations.
I had a goal of being done with this revision round by 4/30 and then that got pushed to 5/31 and the way it’s looking, I won’t make that either. Once again, the day job has swooped in and taken priority with production issues, aggressive deadlines, and just overall software geek chaos. And there are only so many hours in the day. I’ve tried putting sleep on the bottom of my list but even that can only work for so long.
So what is the point of this post? Ha. I guess for me, I need to really come to terms that I can’t do my day job AND write at the same intensity. Not right now.
So what does this mean? This means that my novel revision will just take longer. It will be less stressful for me. And if there’s one thing that I’ve learned this past month is this: A stressful mind does not make a productive novelist.
So are you finding hard to tackle multiple responsibilities? What helps you meet your writing goals? Have you had to change your expectations?
Good for you for understanding this at this phase of your life. When my boys were younger and I was home with them full-time, I aimed to write three days a week. Some of those sessions were 10m. The good ones were 2hrs. Sometimes weeks passed before I got back to writing.
By keeping my expectations reasonable during a challenging season of life, I was able to continue and not throw up my hands in defeat.
Right now, your paying job has to come first. And that’s not sad. It’s reality. And the more pressure we put on ourselves to write more – sometimes can lead to writing that is not as good. I agree, stress hurts creativity in ways we many never understand. Keep sticking with your schedule and your revisions will get done! Take heart.
Caroline and Laura: You guys are so right. I think that was the denial part for me. I really thought I could do both but it’s really just not working out.
I’m not going to give up but I am going to start thinking more realistically. I would love to have the novel done sooner — but as long as I know I’m making steps towards that — no matter how small, I can think of it as progress.
As a fellow IT geek, I feel your pain…though I’m pretty good about leaving work at work normally…it may be important, but the world isn’t going to come to an end if I take the evenings for personal time. The work will still be there in the morning.
Work has interfered with writing, insomuch as it drains my brain sometimes so there’s just nothing left. And yeah, that’s the way it has to be since work pays the bills right now. When that happens, just gotta shrug it off and try again the next day.
I’ve slowed down with my novel for a different reason though – namely, I need to work on technique. And in order to do that, I can’t rush it – I need to go slowly, and live with the fact that I might only write a couple hundred words a night (but they’ll be better than the 800 words I might have fast-drafted otherwise). I do only have around an hour every night that I’m willing to give to the novel, so that does make a difference, for sure.
Someday, we’ll be able to tip the scales and call writing our “day job” – but only if we keep at it in whatever time we have for it now. Just gotta keep plugging along. We’ll get there, eventually.
Patience sucks. ;-)
Karen,
I think this is an issue for all creative people. I am retired from teaching and one would think that means hours and hours to write, right? Not hardly. I also design and make jewelry and I’ve found I can’t give my full creative powers to both writing and jewelry making at the same time. And believe me, I tried! I end up with so-so jewelry and poor plotlines :-). If I just concentrate on one at a time, the channeled creative juices flow. So, I alternate using 4-6 weeks as a guideline and taking more or using less if needed, without guilt. My passions feel wonderful and fun, and fulfilling that way.
This is exactly why I don’t set goals. My family comes first in everything. My job is nutty and follows me around all the time. I love my writing, but it comes below these other things on the priority list. So I don’t set goals – I just do what I can when I can. :)
Jamie: Yes you understand my pain. I’m usually good at leaving things at the office but this past month I was hit with an aggressive deadline and usually have been working 14 hour days (I’m on hour 12 right now and still not done). My brain is totally fried when the work day is done. But this won’t last forever.
Keep writing and working on your craft. Writing is an apprenticeship and you only get better with lots of practice and patience.
Gail: So good to hear from you! You said something in your comment that really resonated with me: “If I just concentrate on one at at time, the channeled creative juices flow.” So true! It’s hard to figure out my novel ending when I’m stressed out about meeting a software deadline! Duh.
But I think when it IS time for writing, that I should channel all of my energy into that and like Jamie has said, if possible worry about it in the morning when I get back to the office.
Great comments everyone! Thanks so much. You all have made me feel SO much better. :)
Jemi: I like this strategy. Although goal-setting is good when they are not realistic, it just sets you up for failure. And with your type of job (teacher) I KNOW that it follows you around.
I’m going to use this strategy. This novel will be done when it’s done. Hopefully this year though (ha, see I’m still trying to sneak a goal in there, LOL).
Hey Karen, I know exactly where you’re coming from with this – I am frequently over-ambitious in my expectations in what I can achieve in between the day-job and sleeping, and am thinking there might have to be some non-work related casualties in my pursuit of finding extra time to get more writing done. As to bringing your work home with you, I recently blogged on the subject of finding ways of leaving the work stuff at work to more quickly get into the writing head-space – so we’re in a similar place. I hope you won’t take offence to me posting a link here, but bearing in mind where you’re at, I think you’ll find it interesting: http://jameskillick.blogspot.com/2010/05/getting-into-writing-headspace.html
Hey James:
I hear you about the over-ambitious expectations. A writer friend told me earlier this week to get a grip. If I run myself ragged and write to the goal when I go back — will it really even be good? Or will it just be a bunch of stressed-out dribble. Writing to goal IS a good thing sometimes but if it’s not realistic, it’s just not worth it.
I’ll definitely hop over and read your blog post. I’m sure the Novelista readers will find it useful too.
James’s blog is pretty good reading, so fellow readers/novelists should definitely subscribe! :)
I keep lists for both my day job and my writing. I try my best to fulfill requirements for both, but I must admit that sometimes my writing becomes sloppy because I’m in a rush to finish wips. I just have to face the fact that finishing a manuscript the right way will take longer than I anticipated.