The Secret Pleasure of Writing
Merry Christmas from Writers In The Storm!
We are delighted to welcome back Louisa Bacio to talk to you about stealing time for your writing, especially during this season where it feels like everything is pulling you in a million directions. Take it away, Louisa...
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Shhh! Come here. I want to share something with you. Are we alone? No one lurking, and listening?
I’ve got a secret pleasure. One that many people don’t understand. In fact, my family – who are the closest to me, and you know LIVE with me – don’t really get it.
I need to write.
Do you feel me?
And when time gets tight, the kids are off school for winter break and the holidays creep in, well, then I don’t often get that much-needed writing time.
And you know what happens when I don't write? I get cranky. It’s like my fingers itch for a keyboard. I wake in the middle of the night, dreaming about stories.
So my question is, why don’t people get it? I mean, my husband can watch college football for ten hours on a Saturday. My daughters can play with their favorite toy-of-the-day for hours on end, but if Momma wants to write? No way! It’s like I’ve got a dirty habit that needs to be done in the closet.
With so much going on, here’s how I sneak in time:
1) Gift shopping – Sneaky, I know. But I’ve been known to tell my kids that I need time to shop for presents, and I’m actually writing. Same thing goes for wrapping.
2) Notebook in the kitchen – Say what? Seriously, if you’ve got writing in your head, can you scratch out a few lines between trays of cookies?
3) AMC Family Holiday Movies – Do you really need to see Charlie Brown’s Christmas again? While Home Alone distracts the kids, get in your word count.
4) Bath time – It all depends upon the age of your child. For my almost 5-year-old daughter, if I desperately need some quiet time, I can stick her in the tub with some mermaid dolls.
5) Late nights – Yep – less sleep. Here’s some info on one of my latest releases (most of it was written very late at night when the family was asleep):
Thanks for listening, and hopefully … you don’t think any less of me. Oh, and I know that it’s like only DAYS before Christmas, but if you take a moment to commiserate and leave a comment, along with your email address (it won't show, except to the gals at WITS), I’ll pick one winner for one of the full-length books on my backlist.
What do you do to steal time for your writing? We promise not to tell!
Visit Louisa on Facebook or Twitter. Or at one of the sites below:
http://louisabacio.blogspot.com
http://louisabacio.com
Note from WITS:
Trust us, you want to read Louisa's latest: The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf: Chains of Silver
Adopted at birth, Silver Ashe discovers her blood-brother Trevor Pack is a werewolf, with a vampire and witch for lovers. All her teachings about the evils of the paranormal Others come into question. She runs to a family friend, Nick, for help.
Nick Stake takes his hobby as a vampire hunter personally. He strives to rid the world of evil bloodsuckers. When his best friend’s “kid” sister comes to him for advice, Nick discovers Silver’s more than grown up. He battles his growing desire for Silver and blindly holds true to his convictions.
Once Silver reaches her sexual maturity, she’ll inherit her full genetic heritage and turn into a werewolf. When death comes calling, Silver and Nick must face their darkest fears in order to break free from the chains that bind.
Available now via Ravenous Romance, Amazon and All Romance eBooks.
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Louisa,
Except for the part about the husband not understanding, I completely feel your pain (which is why you're always seeing me on Twitter at the wee hours of the night and morning). I miss a lot of sleep but it's worth it.
But do most of the friends get that this is more than a hobby? Not really. And I've learned to have some Zen with that and just enjoy myself. I surround myself with a large writing community like you do and that makes all the difference in the world.
Thanks for sharing your secrets with us! We love it when you visit here at WITS. 🙂
Thanks so much for having me here again! Such a delightful bunch! It's always good to know that I'm not alone in this journey! Now, off to do some last-minute shopping, then baking ... but you know I'll be pre-writing in my head!
My husband SAYS he gets it. He SAYS "Oh sure, go write" but it never works out that way. I'd love some time right now. I have my NaNo burning a hole in my hard drive (though I should just let it sit for a bit) and another WIP that I'm making so real headway on.
I hope as soon as the craziness that is Christmas is over I'll be able to get in a bit of time.
Wow, Louisa, are you sure you haven't been rattling around in my head with all the other people who live there? It's startling to read some of my own thoughts in another writer's work. I'm restored to know I'm not alone!
I enjoyed your post and look forward to reading your work. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!
Carrie -- I get it. Hubby wants to support, but then never did much about toddler banging on the door crying. Really, I can distract her. Can't he?
Carra -- Although it feels like we're the only one ... really, we're not. Lots of company in that head, eh?
Happy holidays!
Louisa, are you sure we're not related? (g) I've found that if I need to write and I'm not allowed, evil, nasty things happen. Somewhere I read that if writers can't write, they end up gnawing furniture and sweating blood. It's true.
Writing is essential for writers. It's how we breathe.
Louisa, I so enjoyed your post because it is soooo true! Others assume that our writing should be put aside until our every other obligation is met. When all along, we are consumed with getting back to our writing. I think we writers are addicted to writing the way chocoholics are addicted to chocolate. When we're not at our keyboards, we are creating a story in our minds. It can be the story we're presently working on, or the story that's coming three books away. In the meanwhile, let's TRY to relax and enjoy the holidays!
I appreciate the post. I struggle with this all the time. As a single Dad with a full-time job I use the "I have to work late" excuse. Then I find a coffee shop, fast food restaurant or park and write. I also sneak time in while waiting in the car during innumerable shuttling errands. I write at work during my lunch break and I stay up late. It's difficult, but sometimes it's like being stuck in a mine with a single crack in the rocks letting in fresh air. I have to crawl over and breathe the freshness or suffer and hallucinate in the dark.
What a relief to know I'm not alone. I don't have kids but I have a hubby who, although supportive of the fact I'm a creative individual, just doesn't get that if I don't get to spend some time writing I get cranky! LOL
Whew. I'm not the only one! My family is happy to let me head to my writing nook and get busy . . . but then they interrupt every five minutes, needing this or that, or just wanting to chat. I don't want to give them the heave-ho like they don't matter (they obviously do!), but it is super-hard to get anything done that way. So I'm thinking a coffee shop visit is in order very soon.
Lara -- Love the metaphor of writing being how we breathe. Ah, deep inhale!
Kathleen -- Thanks so much for stopping by! Definitely trying to spend more time away from the computer these two weeks, even though it's tough. My little ones are being appreciative of it. Had some good snuggle time tonight!
Craig -- Definitely, YES! Thank you for the reminder that moms are not solo in this writing-boat. And, some good tips about getting some time in the car, or anywhere that's possible.
Kathils -- Does your hubby ask, "What's wrong?" when you're focused on a story? Mine does! 😉
Julie -- Good luck on the coffee shop visit. I'm a people-watcher, and find trying to write in public quite distracting. But, if necessary -- I would do it!
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