You know, there’s so much information out there on how to be a writer. Much of it focusses on how to be more productive, or tells us we must write every day.
But, what if that’s not the right fit for your life?
If you’re like us, you’ve got a lot of other things to fit into life and sometimes that’s just not going to work. Things come up. Other people’s needs take priority over yours. Sometimes you’re just too damn tired.
So why not stop fighting it?
We’re taking a new approach to scheduling. Scheduling in days where housework gets to take priority. You can add in bill paying, shopping, whatever else you like to the day – but know that writing will not be the priority that day. If you get some in (like I am now) that’s a bonus. Schedule a few days when writing will be the priority. For me that’s going to be mid-week this week. And schedule a day when you can do coffee, or anything else social you get invited to to. If you know in advance that the day for socialising is Friday, you can straight away give a yes or no to invitations or reschedule to that day, because in your mind you’ve already set aside that time. Without consciously scheduling a day for socialising we all tend to just go with the flow and agree to coffee and the like when it suits everyone else. Our priorities, and our time, dwindle away.
So it’s not really about focus or productivity, it’s about avoiding ‘going with the flow’, and taking charge instead. And the only way to do that is to make a schedule that’s the right fit for you, and your life. Just because our children, friends, family, whatever, are important parts of our life, doesn’t mean we’re not committed to writing. It’s just that the usual rules of writing, are not right for us.
S & L
the art of moi 
trust me, even with kids, housework need never be a priority! (with the possible exception of cleaning up wayward nappies)
I must confess – my version of housework was to clean up the dust from that dust storm several weeks ago. We had trudged lovely clean tracks through it, but it only made the untrudged sections more noticeable. Have no fear, housework will never be a priority, despite my mother’s predictions that my husband will surely be leaving me soon because of this.
I agree, Maree. I don’t want ‘she kept a clean home’ as the incription on my tombstone (not that there’s much danger of that :))
Speaking of which, housework and business is out the window today! It’s our ‘artists date’. Pilates and the movies, to celebrate the end of a project!
Because cancelling your day is SO much fun, yes?
Lou