Sunday 27 March 2016

'I'd love to write a book, but I don't have the time...' Lynn Huggins-Cooper



Well, the title says it all. I have lost count of the times I have heard this at parties and gatherings. I try to smile politely, and I hope it works. I wonder if people think my days are spent lounging on a sofa drinking tea and eating chocolates...

Like many writers, I write because I *have* to. If I don't write, I get jittery and unsettled - the world doesn't feel quite 'right.' I love writing, and have done it for as long as I can remember. That doesn't mean it always 'works' though. Sometimes I find it hard to settle, or the writing refuses to flow. When it *does* work, it is bliss.

Currently, my writing is flowing well; the characters are co-operating and the story is playing out in my mind's eye like a film. That feeling is hard to beat - and I intend to make the most of it! So why are things working? I think it is because I have carved out time every morning to write this new novel. I have been very busy lately, setting up new projects and completing existing work. So I have been setting the alarm early, to give me two hours each morning to work on this book. When it goes off, I moan - but very quickly make tea and sit at my desk. I am excited at my progress, and will be keeping up my early morning sessions. If you are struggling to find time for your writing, have a look at your schedule and think about where you can carve time out of your day. For me, that was getting up early; for you, it could be staying up late, watching less television, or fitting in short writing sprints in odd moments. Have a go - you might surprise yourself with what you can achieve!



7 comments:

Sue Bursztynski said...

At least you don't seem to have been cornered at parties, as I have, by the kind of person who says, "I had this great idea for a book, will you write it?" I suppose, of course, the best response to that would be, "Sure! Here are my rates for ghost writing," but that kind of person has no sense of humour. They think they're doing YOU a favour. ;-)

Alas, I'd need to set the alarm to five a.m to get in even an hour before having to get ready for work! I do know a lady who did that, the brave girl, but I know I'd just whimper and turn over. I write when I can. On the wY to work. On the way home. Over a meal at my local cafe, where there's free wifi when I want to research. In the public library on the weekend, where I go to avoid distraction. Or, when there's a deadline, late at night.

Sue Bursztynski said...

PS I have a friend who actually DID have a great idea gif a book and knew he wasn't good enough to write it. As I wanted to keep his friendship, though, I said no.

Susan Price said...

"If I don't write, I get jittery and unsettled - the world doesn't feel quite 'right.'"
This is completely true.

Susan Price said...

And, Sue B - yeah,I've met these people too. And the ones who you hardly even know, but want you to give up hours of your time to read and critique their WIP. Or think that, because you've been published, you can somehow make a publisher publish their book.

Have you met this one? - The girl who wanted to buy into my franchise? She said, since I must have a lot of work (yeah, right) she would be willing to write some of it for me. I'd met her five minutes before this proposal.

Sue Bursztynski said...

I have to admit, I haven't met that one, Sue! That sounds like fan fiction except she was presumably wanting to be paid for it. Me, I'd tell her she can write fanfic to her heart's content on Wattpad or Fan Fiction Net as long as I never had to read it!

Lynne Benton said...

Quite right, Lynn and both Sues. If your excuse for not writing a book is that you don't have the time, you're not a writer. There are some strange people out there!
Some years ago I had a phone call from someone who had once taught my children, saying "You write children's books, don't you? Well I've got a great story for you..." She went on to tell me a rambling story about her friend Jackie who'd hatched a chicken from an egg. It was neither exciting nor original, but I did my best to sound politely interested. However at last I said something like "Well I'm very busy at the moment, but thank you for telling me. I must go now." To which she replied, very indignantly, "Don't you want Jackie's phone number?" I have done my best to avoid her ever since!

Susan Price said...

Nick - LOL!