Brainstorming
For me, summer is a season of indulgences.
I don't put on extra pounds at the holidays; I do it in August, July and June. In the hot summer months, I never say no to a hotdog at the baseball game, a donut for breakfast at the beach, or smores after dinner. (I don't always look great in my bathing suit, but I can do a mean cannonball.) And with my two boys out of school, I indulged myself another way this summer, too. Given the choice between sending them to camp, leaving them with a sitter, or running "mommy camp" on my own, I decided, for the last few weeks, that mommy camp it would be. Yes, I ended up yelling a lot when we got on each other's nerves. Attempting to entertain, or at least supervise, a five-year-old and an eight-year-old all day every day is not bliss. But I don't regret having said goodbye to my writing so completely these past weeks when it meant saying hello to fishing for hermit crabs in a tide pool, playing baseball for two hours at the park, or even enjoying the simple, guilty pleasure of watching a movie at one o'clock in the afternoon.
I don't regret it. But that doesn't mean I didn't feel guilty--on and off--the whole damn time.
I'm lucky to be in a position to take two weeks off with my kids. But when you are a writer, are you ever really off? When I don't write, I feel guilty. I've felt like that as long as I can remember. Writing is not a job like other jobs: it is hard to take a vacation from something that nobody is asking you to do in the first place. There is no one to whom to announce, "I'm taking a few weeks off!" And somehow that makes it even harder, at times, to do it without fear. Because writing is like going to the gym. Miss a workout or two, fine. Get out of the habit of going to the gym, and you may never go to the gym again.
It's time for me to get back into the gym. But I know that I will need a little help. I am feeling flabby, unfocused, and out-of-touch with my book. So I decided to do what I instruct my boys to do when I see them faced with a particularly difficult task, on the verge of exploding with frustration. I asked for help.
Lucky for me, I got to ask Brooke Warner. (You can too, if you're ready to work with SWP!) Formerly Executive Editor at Seal Press, now publisher of She Writes Press (the publisher I will use for my novel), Brooke has agreed to be my editor, coach, and workout-buddy-in-chief from now until I finish the thing. As such she will help me create deadlines, accountability and structure in a process she has perfected, and that I will blog about here.
Step one? Doing something that really scares me -- my version of a literary cannonball.
I'm going to send Brooke all the pages I have so far. Pages I haven't shared with anyone, the product of months of labor; pages that might be ok, pages that might suck. Rather than continuing to insulate my novel-baby from the winds of criticism with the stubborn stalwartness of a daddy penguin, I am going to let it go a little bit, and let an outside reader give me feedback on what I've got so far. I'm not sure how I feel about it, or how that will play out, but I promise to let you know how it goes.
Anyone else have a plan for jump-starting her writing this fall? (Or am I the only one who got so out of shape?) Please share it here. I'm ready to put on my rally-cap.
What a great post Kamy. I am so out of physical and writer shape. I am trying to put my butt in the chair and get back to some sort of schedule but I am having trouble focusing To try to solve this I have committed to doing interviews on my blog and have agreed to do some guest blog posts. Hopefully that will help the work that needs to get done on my book.
Hi Kamy, delightful post and apart from the exciting news (chapeau for SWP, for you and Brooke!!) I am with you as a vacation indulger of the premier order! I took the liberty -- and joy -- to quote you in my blog post "Glad that Summer is Over?" on my weight-loss hCG Cyber Village website... You'll see the connection! :)
I got derailed this summer with three kids home - two from college and one for a week of vacation from his job down south. No writing got done and I went off diet. Well, all are back in school, no more excuses. Thanks for posting this. Glad to know I'm not the only one :)
My writing is okay because I never take time off. I took six days off in August and that'll be it until sometime next year. I am planning to amp up my marketing skills in the coming months. My first novel is being released at the end of the year and I'll be devastated if it doesn't sell well. Nobody else will give a flying fig - most people think I'm being flighty and ridiculous for even thinking I can make it as a writer. But it matters to me and I have to do whatever it takes to make it happen.
How is it that She Writes so often reads my mind?! I got derailed in June, when my publisher backed out of the contract (3 months before the publication date) out of fears that my nonfiction book might draw lawsuits from someone mentioned (not unkindly!) in it. I did pick myself up enough by July to find a publishing lawyer who would do a complete legal review of my book--pro bono. He has now assured me that there is nothing to fear, meaning that, although somebody may bring a lawsuit, they won't win. Now what's my excuse for not querying other publishers (or agents?)?
Well, I used to always tell my students that the hardest part of writing is beginning, and that they should begin early. How? Estimate how long you can realistically stand to spend warming up to the project. If 15 minutes--10 minutes--is all you can manage, then set a timer and sit with the task/manuscript for only that amount of time. Maybe a bit longer the next day, etc. SO, later today, I'm going to take my own advice. Ten minutes seems about right for me today. Usually this method results in writers going way beyond their estimate at some point--when they've finally warmed up those cold embers into a blaze.
Well I did some work yesterday, and am trying to get a schedule together for the fall! It is so encouraging to hear that I'm not alone, and to hear what all of you have done to structure your writing time. And @Danyelle, all that matters is that you are back in the saddle! Sometimes I think when we are away from it too long, the guilt makes it hard for us to come back, because we feel so frustrated with ourselves and doubt our own commitment. That question, "Am I REALLY a writer?" haunts us more when are away from it, but of course if you are haunted by that question ever, at all...the answer is probably YES. :)
I can totally relate to everything you're saying and feeling, Kami. Although my kids are twelve and thirteen and I was determined to get my word count in every day this summer, but I was completely derailed by the debut of my first YA novel in June. It's been all really exciting, but my efforts have been on marketing and PR and I must get back to my WIP that I plan on releasing in the spring. It feels so strange, like getting together with friends you haven't seen in a while. I'm a little nervous, but took the plunge today and am feeling a little less overwhelmed. I saw your post and had to comment. It is always nice to hear someone else is going through the same experience. :)
Also, I completely agree with your notion as writers, we don't really ever close the office door and go home. And, I like Lacey's idea about setting aside specific days for specific tasks. I need to go back to my old routine, which was 5 hours of writing/creating and 3 hours of working the business aspect. Good luck everyone, I'm glad to hear I'm not alone and will forge ahead!
The right writing and accountability partner can make all the difference. I'm so glad you found Brooke. I hope, when the time is right, I find someone equally supportive and knowledgeable. Keep us posted on your progress.
BTW, with a work in progress, you qualify to enter Writer Advice's Scintillating Starts Contest.
Grab and hold us with your opening paragraphs. Deadline is October 15, 2012 & details are at www.writeradvice.com.
If you’re opening is shared on Writer Advice, you’ll be able to tell prospective agents, publishers, and book buyers that you were one of the winners of Writer Advice’s First Scintillating Starts Contest.
I'd love to read what you've written.
I've had success with setting a "schedule" for my writing: blogging two days a week, fiction three days a week, research one day a week, and one day off. So far, it's worked much better than anything I've done recently to keep me focused. I know that my time to work on each of these projects is limited, and that motivates me not to put it off. It also makes it so I don't go TOO long away from any one project. I talked about it at greater length over on my blog. Good luck getting back into it -- and definitely don't regret the time spent with your kids. Life is just as important as writing, and sometimes the balance has to tip in that direction.
So glad not to be alone in this; everything you say is true. But at least you had a good reason to take the time off; I haven't really sat down to work on my book for weeks now and yesterday was the first day I got back in the saddle so to speak. I have no excuse, no reason, for avoiding it for so long. I have been down about getting it done by the end of the year deadline I've assigned myself, but the guilt of not writing is also ever present.
I'm so there with you -- I have no idea where this summer went. I had a lot of good times and got a lot of things done that were related to writing... But as for the actual process of putting down new words for my novel, and doing the hard editing for my next narrative nonfiction book... not so much.
And now it's fall, which for me means more pressures -- events, travel, moving, more travel, more events, and always keeping up with emails, social networking, and the news in the Middle East and in publishing (plus my freelance work). In the face of all that, every time I sit down to work on either book (now that I've published one book, I know EXACTLY how much work is really involved), it's like looking up the face of Mt. Everest. Then I glance at my to-do list, and that seems more doable.
Except it grows instead of shrinks as time moves forward. So the writing languishes.
Gotta figure out how to steel myself this fall and winter, block out the time, block out distractions during that time, and just do it!
I meant "Kamy." Sorry!
I can relate. I don't at all regret taking all of August off with my kids to see extended family etc. but now that they're back in school, the novel feels intimidating. Plus, after a break, I can see flaws I didn't know were there. Fortunately my husband is a good cheerleader. He reminded me I'm a writer not a stay at home mother and if for a few more months we have to eat sandwiches every night so that I can eat fast and write after he gets home, then he and the kids can deal. Love the vote of support, the fact that at least one other person cares that I finish this and get it published. My goal is to find an editor and get a draft done to send to that editor by the second week in December so that I can go on Christmas vacation freed entirely! Thanks for the resonant post, Camy!
Oy, I am at my desk now trying to catch a few precious hours, but the back-to-school stuff (and my son's sixth bday, and of course my ex went to Europe this week so it's just me with them) hasn't made it easy, and @Emily, I can't believe you are having to deal with the teacher's strike on top of it all! Let's hope that works out for all concerned...and that you get your writing time back soon. And I am so excited about working with Brooke. :) Glad you had a good experience with her @Norine! I still remember having a drink with you at my first BlogHer.
I'm so glad to hear you say this!!! I'm terrible about sticking to my desk in the summer months. And I don't have small children around to hamper me- no its just the weather, friends, good times and going places that hamper my progress. But, like you, I'm back on track already... I like myself better this way; but I sure had fun all summer! Good luck to you and good writing everyone!
Hey Kami! You'll love working with Brooke. She's my coach too, helping me shape up my memoir in essays. She's helped me tremendously. Good luck. You're in great hands. PS: I get the guilt too. Every day.
i ran camp mom over here all summer too... loving the time with my kids but pretty excited for school to start so i could go back full-strength on my novel-in-progress. last week was 4 days of good getting-back-into-it work, and then: teacher strike. so i'm at a writing standstill again. anyone else in the same boat?
I can totally relate! I finished my 1st draft of my novel in late June just so I could enjoy the summer with my kids and husband, traveling and relaxing. Now it's time to put my nose to the grindstone and polish. And I recently started blogging, to help get those creative juices flowing! Good luck to you!
I'm cheering for you!
Assuming your plan isn't copyrighted, it sounds like a good one and maybe I'll do the same. I need to get my writing butt in gear for sure.
Pages received. I'm honored. Can't wait to dive in!!
Good luck! Sounds like fun. :)
Go for it Kamy!
I did not write as much in the summer, either, even though children are grown and on their own in different communities. There is something about the summer that just calls us to enjoy these weeks of the year.
I did sort through some files, found some earlier works at which I am taking a newer look.
Time to forgive for the summer break, now back to the writing!:)