Yes, this feels like the first week back at school and the teacher (Leanne) wants to know what we did this summer. Hmmmm. I definitely wasn’t as productive writing wise as my two wordbitchy cohorts.
I started the summer with the best of intentions. I had searched out a cheap babysitter to use a few times a week. I’d even coordinated one week of kid free mornings thanks to camp. And of course, there was always my old friend… early mornings.
This was the plan...
Yes, I definitely was going to get things done. Ha!
I wrote a total of four pages this summer. *hangs head in shame* With the kids staying up later (damn you Sun), I was having a hard time getting up early enough to write and none of my plans to get writing time seemed to come to fruition. I was frustrated and annoyed with myself. I mean really, why couldn’t I get any writing done?
Thankfully, I stopped berating myself near the end of July and just gave up. I succumbed to life and made a deal that I would take August off and not worry. I didn’t blog, write or even go near the internet except for the odd occasion. I went offline and creatively dark.
This enabled me to enjoy my summer, spend time with my kids and not feel guilty about not getting any writing in. When I had a spare 30 minutes, I read books not blogs. Most of what I read wasn’t in my genre or even good for me. I love me some good old romance in the summertime (let’s hear it for men in kilts). I enjoyed myself and relaxed.
I had…. A vacation.
A vacation from writing. It helped me immensely. I’m feeling refreshed and psyched to get back into my novel. I even figured out my Chapter One during a long drive to a friend’s cabin. Then, I… didn’t write it. At least not until this past week. I let it stew in the back of my mind and I think it’s better for it because it got to cook so long.
So in essence, I had a lot of fun this summer, but not a lot of writing got done. And I think I’m better for it. How about you? What was your summer like?
Leanne Shirtliffe
Elena Aitken
Trish Loye Elliott
Sometimes everyone needs a vacation. Glad you were able to give yourself permission to jump in and ejoy it in August! :>
Thanks, I did need it. Happy writing!
You did the right thing. I didn’t. I didn’t write and felt guilty the whole time. I should have just called a vacation and enjoyed life. Next summer…
Weird… My reply to your comment is at the bottom.
Guess I wasn’t paying attention (again). lol
You won’t hear any badmouthing from me. I’m working on a week of Life List Goals/Writing Overhaul, but my first rule was Life Comes First. I didn’t want to miss out on time spent with my family. It’s good to be reminded of that. But here’s to both of us getting our groove back! C’mon, people, dare us to get out our notebooks!
Sing it, sistah!
Maybe Sept (and not just the New Year) should be about reviewing life/work balance and reaffirming goals. What a good idea. Good luck and Happy Writing! (I’ve got my notebook out!)
Yes, Next summer! Don’t forget family holidays too. Make them guilt free too. Lower your expectations during times when you know it’ll be crazy. I completely wrecked my Christmas one year. Damn guilt. Wish I could live without it.
This totally sounds like me – I had great intentions this summer but the weeks went by and my WIP is still not finished. Argh. I need only a few more chapters. Sigh.
Love the blog – I’m following you guys now. Elena, thanks for the link!
I’m glad you like the blog! And I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who’s muse and self-discipline took a vacation (without letting us know!).
Here’s to us focusing on our goals!
Sounds perfect!! I still managed to get some blogging and Twitter in (I might die if I don’t). But it was definitely harder with the kids around. But yeah, somewhere along the way I stopped trying to beat myself up about it and embraced it for what it was. And now? My time is still sucked into an abyss. But I’ll keep writing anyway!
I totally understand how writing time can be sucked into an abyss. (Kids are little walking black holes that suck our time, energy and will to write away.) But now that fall is almost upon us and school has started (yay!!) we can start to settle into a rhythm and then into a schedule. *fingers crossed* Happy writing!
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No guilt is key! I totally haven’t mastered that yet. Probably never will. But, I do know that breaks are necessary. I did a lot of reading this summer and also started following more blogs.
I seriously don’t have time for all the blogs I want to follow! And guilt is something I don’t think any of us will be able to control (unless we’re some kind of zen master). We just have to stick together and use each other to decide if we’re being too hard on ourselves. Happy Writing.
I think I’m on my writing vacation right now! Since the kids started school, I seem to be busy doing a million other things, but am trying to not feel guilty about it.
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