Once again, it's the first Wednesday in the month and time for a post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group.If I thought April was crazy, May was just as bad. Full of medical appointments, a family wedding, catching up with family and friends here in Maryland, lots of rainy weather to keep us housebound and more.
This month I'm going to use the prompt shared by our hosts at the Insecure Writer's Support Group because it fits what has been at the back of my thoughts these past few months.
Did you ever say “I quit”?
If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?
If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?
I haven't quit writing - yet. But I have been considering it. I turn 70 this year and I find myself treasuring my time with my husband as well as pure "me" time. When we first got together back in 2008 and on through 2012, I wasn't writing (other than a blog or two). We spent a lot of time doing things, seeing things, riding through beautiful scenery and more.
Since I took up writing, other than our two years in Ecuador, I find I have to schedule time off. And at 70, time is getting shorter. I am finding it harder and harder to choose between family time and writing time. So I hibernate, getting/giving too little to each.
I am committed to finishing and publishing two novellas in the Lei Crime Kindle World series, the third book in my Klondike Mystery series and one children's short story compilation of fantasy stories.
Once that is done, I think I am going to quit....
What about you?
Time is tough to negotiate. Just curious, does your husband read what you write? My hubs reads for me, and he has even helped brainstorm characters and stories. We even wrote a short story together. I found involving him more made it feel less like time away.
ReplyDeleteHere's my IWSG June post: how to survive the 'little quits'
He does, he's my first reader but not a fan of some of the romance, fantasy stuff. LOL! He enjoys the mysteries and is my firefighter/scuba expert.
DeleteWe are retired and in our first couple of years together, we were out doing stuff all the time. Motorcycle rides, hiking, museums, etc. Now we have slowed down, and that's okay, but I find myself putting off doing things to take time to write.
At least you have a plan for what you want to write, so that's definitely not close to quitting yet. And who knows, maybe along the way you'll come up with some new ideas you'll want to write, too.
ReplyDeleteI have too many ideas, just finding it harder and harder to get motivated. Sigh... And having time off for my eye surgeries and recovery time isn't helping. Hoping things will change in July. I have a LOT to get done!
DeleteI wonder about quitting as I get older too (now in my late 60s.) Is it going to been that important to me in the coming years?
ReplyDeleteI have found my priorities changing more and more...I'd be happy to become a hermit in a little cottage in the woods. That eccentric old lady everyone talks about. LOL!
DeleteSeriously, I am looking at things very differently lately...and I know it's the aging process.
I'm struggling with spreading time between family and writing now, because I finally stepped down from a volunteer job that was taking a large amount of time. So now I feel like I want to make up for my away time previously, and for all the time I spent preoccupied because of that volunteer job (I still have a day job), and it makes it hard for me to tell my family I need to go work in my office. Good luck to you in figuring it all out.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely hard to find the balance, even harder when you have children. Good luck back to you!!!
DeleteFinding a balance is difficult. Maybe after you've taken a break, you'll find a new story, and give yourself time to write it and enjoy family, too.
ReplyDeleteKeeping my fingers crossed...but I am committed to getting my current WIPs done this year!
DeleteWe all have to do what we think is best for us. If you stay true to who you are and to what you need, everything will work out. Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteWise words - thank you!!!
DeleteI'm not sure you're quitting writing as much as you are retiring from it, right?
ReplyDeletePerfect distinction! Thanks, Loni. You always have the right/write words.
DeleteI can see setting aside writing someday to enjoy time with loved ones. I have a lot of friends who eventually just started self-publishing because they didn't want to deal with the battle to get books published and promote them.
ReplyDeleteEven self-publishing takes a lot of time that you don't expect. Marketing is so important and can take over with ease. And I hate marketing...LOL!
DeletePart of my issue is how I write best. I can't do small chunks each day. I have to do 4-5 hours at a stretch and then I'm exhausted. Oh well, it will work out.
Thank you for visiting my blog, Donna. We have more in common than you think, for I turn 74 this year and have been easing back from volunteer work as well. When we first retired about 10 years ago, we traveled everywhere we could . . . but like you, we're now slowing down. Each day, each month, each year is so precious. Each decade presents its own challenges. I hope your eyes soon heal, that life continues in good balance, and that your fingers find those words to tell the stories closest to your heart.
ReplyDelete[Apologies...Google lost my setting to let me know I had comments.]
DeleteThank you so much for visiting and posting such wise words, Beth.