Writers always seem to wish for more time to write. This is especially true for those who have a day job, kids, family, parents that need care, and the million other occurrences in mainstream life.
The mainstream of life explanation falls short for me. I am retired. Our kids are launched and need no tending. Our parents are no longer with us. So, why don’t I have more time to write?
I could play the old record: “Graestone is four acres adorned with every flower, bush, and tree known to man, and a few others Master Gardners can’t identify. Keeping things wet, tend to drip, and water lines take some of my time.” I could follow with, I lead worship several times a month in our parish, so there are sermons to be researched and written. But, why don’t I have more time to write?
The bigger question is, why don’t I write more?
Splitting Time between my published book, Members of the Cast, and Editing/Revising the WIP trilogy is part of the answer. (See Getting Noticed) Book launch, publicity, and author’s platform take much more of my time than I ever imagined.
I suppose I thought when Members of the Cast was out, I would be done. The reverse is true. I spend more hours per day on publicity and platform, than I did editing and revising the book. Don’t get me wrong, I went through the book multiple times after it was “ready for publishing.” And I don’t mind writing this blog or supporting my writing friend on Twitter.
A thought has bounced around in my empty brain: Will each book take more time until I don’t have a minute to write the next book? I hope not. I doubt I will start a separate blog. My Twitter friends will remain and only increase as I learn to know and love more talented writers there. Facebook will remain Facebook.
I will end with the nagging thought that I am taking the easy road. Editing, real revision, line by line scrutiny of a novel is hard work. I love pounding out new scenes when writing a book–events happening on the screen, faster than I can type.
It is exhausting honing a WIP until lines and scenes don’t leave me with the nagging feeling that it is not quite right. It is easy to look up in the middle of a tough revision and think, “Maybe I will check book sales or see how my Twitter friends are doing.”
The good news is that when I work on The Ship from Wolfskill trilogy, I think, “These are good books!” I am not bragging as much as marveling at how interested I get in the tale as I am reviewing and revising. That feeling of “I want to get this published before the end of 2021″ raises an excitement in my heart and makes me think I should stop now and get to work on Chapter 44… But first, I have an appointment for muffler work on the HotorMome.
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