Every Writer's Lament

"If only I had all day to write."

We're convinced our writing lives would be perfection if only we had hour upon hour to indulge our creativity, free from the draining jobs that keep us out of debtors' prison.

This goal buoyed me through many jobs that seemed intent on breaking my spirit, if I didn't break somebody's head first. I would gaze wistfully into the distance, fantasizing of that day when I could tap away at the keyboard, writing at least one manuscript a day while whistling a happy tune. 

Unfortunately, all of us have a tendency to glamorize jobs that we only see from the outside.

I used to be a Tasting Room Manager at a winery, and I can't even count how many times I heard, "It must be nice to drink wine all day". I nodded and agreed, because that really does sound delightful. However, it wasn't part of MY job, even though my customers thought so. My staff and I worked our butts off to give every customer a pleasant experience while THEY drank wine. (Okay, we might have had a sip at the end of the day, but hey, by then we really deserved it.)

So it's likely we've glamorized the job of full-time writer, and we should examine exactly WHY we want that occupation.

1.       It proves we're a writer

If we're spending all day being a writer, then we must be a writer. Right?  

Wrong. 

You're a writer because you write. You have ideas that swirl through your brain twenty-four hours a day, not just when your muse blows into town. You create plots and characters and you write them down, form them into exciting stories, and edit and revise until they are irresistible page-turners.

If you need to prove to anyone that you're a writer, just whip out your manuscripts, and your rejection letters, and your battered heart that keeps on beating hopefully even when the goal of publication seems as far away as Mars.

So what's another reason we want to write full-time?

2.       More time to write

After an exhausting workday, it's daunting to keep the energy level up high enough to pour our heart and soul into a masterpiece. It's like coming home to another full-time job. But let's face it. Having more time to write is no guarantee that it'll actually get used for writing. 

Avoiding, procrastinating, and "getting ready to write" take up a lot more of a writer's day than whipping out a couple thousand words. Anyone who's done NaNoWriMo knows that the daily 1667 word count takes at most a couple of hours of sitting at the keyboard. However, dragging ourselves to the computer can take at least four times that, not to mention eighteen times the energy.

We accomplish more writing in short bursts of time. Most of us have had to write at least some of our stories that way, stealing lunch hours, or squeezing in a few sentences here and there. It actually keeps us focused on what we need to write. We don't have time to let our attention, or our muse, wander.

Also, the prospect of several uninterrupted hours of writing frightens many people when they finally get it. For some, it can be even more restricting than too little time, and they freeze up. They can't write a single word.   

Haven't you heard the best way to get something done is to give it to someone who has too much to do? It's the same way with writing. 

So what is it, really, that is so appealing about writing full-time?

3.       Freedom

This is what it really boils down to. Writing full-time is like an endless supply of snow days. We can stay home in our jammies, drink coffee, and write bestsellers day after day.

It's not that we want more time. We just want the freedom to decide how we spend those unfettered hours each and every day. 

We get to be our own bosses. Nobody is breathing down our neck, telling us what to do, or the best way to do it. Ahhh. Now that is the definition of bliss.

But there's a down side to all this freedom. 

It's tempting to stay in your jammies too long, and then family members pinch their nose while asking when you last showered, and you have to study your calendar before giving an accurate answer. It's been so long since you left the house, the neighbor kids have nicknamed you Boo Radley, but as a cautionary tale, not a literary homage.

At some point you're going to run out of coffee, and as far as I know, Starbucks hasn't started room service for residences. Even though they totally should. 

Even worse, discipline can desert you. If you think your muse is fickle, discipline has commitment issues that requires prolonged therapy.

So if you can't write full-time yet, don't despair. It may be on the horizon, and until that moment arrives, your writing efforts now are preparing you for it. 

You don't need the validation that you're a writer, and you already know how to make use of short bursts of writing time. Best of all, you have the freedom to write stories that help others escape the tedium of their daily work life. 

Only a writer who has lived that existence can appreciate what a gift that is.

This is a re-post from last year, but it's something I've been thinking about, and hoped others would enjoy seeing it again.

Comments

[Melissa]

This post makes me think about what my dream writing schedule would be and, you're right, the full time writing life isn't always as perfect as we imagine! It is hard to find the right balance. When I've had days on end to write I've discovered that a lot of the time I'm a rotten boss of myself. LOL And I get tired of my own company.

So even if I didn't need the money (wouldn't that be nice!) I think I actually need a part time job -- for my own sanity. LOL It's the same thing I'd say for being a full-time mom. Even if I'm always a mom...I am a better mom with some time away. LOL

[Donna Cummings]

Melissa, it is hard to find the right balance. I have to admit I liked having the full-time freedom, so I could choose when I wanted to write, and for how long (when I revise, it can be for 12 hours at a time!)

I do think it's good to have other interests and activities -- although I like your fantasy of doing it not because of the NEED for money. LOL

[Quantum]

It's always greener on the other side!

If you are writing to live, then the pressure to achieve quantitative output and monetary input could be stifling, unless you write best sellers.

For mere mortals I think it's good to live to write.

If you don't need the money then you can write when the inspiration fires you, and spend time living to gain the real world experience to write about.

We hear a lot about multi-million pound banker's bonuses here at the moment, and I know a few scientists who went into the city after their doctorates and earned a fortune at 'rocket science'. They then returned to university to pursue lowly paid research careers but with holidays and beach parties in the Bahamas.

Perhaps there is a moral in this. First earn your millions, then write your novels with minimal pressure and maximal inspiration ..... Bahamas beach party anyone? *grin*

[Donna Cummings]

Q, it is most definitely greener on the other side. LOL And we want the side with the MOST green (money) AND we want the freedom to let the muse roam free.

I agree that there would be pressure if you're writing to live. It would be nicer to do as you suggested -- earn your millions, THEN write.

So everybody, pack up your stuff for the Bahamas beach party. First drink is on Q. LOL

[Samantha Hunter]

Good post, Donna, and on the money -- which, btw, becomes much more important when writing is your day job, and that can take the gloss off of that "freedom" idea. ;) Or, the freedom shifts. When it comes to your writing, you are only as free as the market, sales, editors, readers, income, lifestyle, etc allow.

That seems dark, huh? ;) Not really. When you have that day job, the writing life seems like freedom from the day job. When your writing becomes your job, everything else becomes the freedom from writing, LOL. I don't think that's a bad thing.

For me, the freedom of having all day to write is that I don't have to use all day to write. I can write when I want, and for how long I need to, or not at all. I feel no pressure to use every spare minute for writing. God forbid, actually. There is time for gardening, etc and other pursuits. Because you're right -- more time to write doesn't mean you will spend more time writing, but I'm not sure that should be the goal in the first place. ;)

Sam

[Serena Bell]

Great post, and sooo true! About ten years ago, I wrote full-time briefly. It was the least productive I've ever been. I think I wrote maybe 30k that year. Contrast that with now, when I sneak in bursts of writing forty-five minutes at a time and am able to manage 10k/week. And I feel much more balanced now.

[Samantha Hunter]

I guess I should have amended my above post to suggest I am not a total slacker, LOL -- I do manage 4-5 books a year now, but at a relatively relaxed pace that leaves time for other things. Honestly, I could never do that on top of a day job. I imagine I could only do 2 -- maybe 3, but not likely. The one semester I taught a few courses 2 years ago I just about finished the one book I had due mid-semester. I never want to do that again. I admire the heck out of folks who can write at the same time they work full time, but for me it seems to be one or the other.

Sam

[Donna Cummings]

Samantha, there's no way anyone could consider you a slacker! When I had the chance to write full-time I enjoyed being able to write WHEN I wanted to, whether it was first thing in the morning, or way into the wee hours -- and what I really liked was feeling a lot more energetic when I was writing. It's a little harder now. LOL

I like your approach, leaving time for other non-writing things. I think we can forget sometimes we need to have something to inspire us, so the words can flow when called upon. :)

[Donna Cummings]

Serena, I think it's best to write during those shorter spurts, like the #1k1hr. I stay more focused and I have a sense of accomplishment when I'm done -- and it's only an hour! It really shows how much time I use "getting ready to write" instead of actually writing, or doing the non-writing chores that get pushed aside. :)