Wednesday, November 7, 2012

IWSG

Uh, apparently it's Insecure Writer's Support Group day. 

I have one overwhelming insecurity this month: I'm not certain I can write enough to feel like I'm making progress while taking care of business at home.  Writing is definitely coming in third after my kids and my health this month.  Maybe that's the way it should be...actually I'm sure it is.  Still, it kind of sucks that I can't seem to find a way to carve out more time for writing - I'm happier when I write.

I'm not giving up on writing.  Just feeling disappointed in myself and a little hopeless that the situation will improve any time soon, if ever.

Go to Alex J Cavanaugh's site to see the list of other participants this month.

40 comments:

  1. I think that you are doing the best you can with the time you have... hang in there!

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  2. Even just a little bit is progress, Tonja! Don't lose heart.

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    1. I do believe it will all add up in the end and I won't remember the days I didn't write - but my kids would remember it if I didn't take care of them when they needed care.

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  3. I have periods of time like that. You've find time again and even if you're just thinking about your writing, you're doing something.

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  4. Tonya- I have three girls (only one year apart) and a demanding schedule. Plus, I suffer from an auto-immune disease that sometimes steals the joy of writing right from my brain. I can't work when I'm sick. Which, unfortunately, is a lot more than I'd like to admit. But I never give up. I always come back to it, the second I feel better. I try to make the time I can spend writing, count. You do what you can, and try not to feel guilty about taking some time for yourself to write. Take care, and try to cut yourself some slack.

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    1. Some things in life trump writing. They just do. I'll get back to it. Hopefully tonight. Assuming my small one doesn't have another hour long hissy fit. Fingers crossed.

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  5. I think it's amazing you manage to get as much writing done as you do. I don't have children and still feel like I struggle to write as much as I want to. Hang in there and I hope you will be feeling better soon.

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    1. Thanks, Julie. I don't have a normal job, so I don't know how you do it either.

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  6. FWIW, you're not alone. I wrote a similar post this month. It's difficult to find the time, but if we don't then our draft will always remain a Work-In-Progress. I wish there was an easy answer for relieving our busy schedule, but I have not been able to find one. If you do please, pass it on.

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    1. I had to look up FWIW in an online urban dictionary. Now I can use that on my kids and feel cool. :)

      I feel very stalled out right now. Not a good feeling.

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  7. Hi, Tonja, I just stopped by to say hello!
    Cheers from Argentina.
    HD

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  8. I'm hearing this a lot these days from other writers. I'll add, "Me, too!" It's a long uphill pull.

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    1. I'm sure that's true. I suspect the struggle will make crossing the finish line feel even better.

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  9. Hey there. Don't be discouraged. Tomorrow is a new start. I tell myself that everyday.

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    1. I tell myself that too - and the universe giggles.

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  10. Yeah, I only have the on child, and he's almost sixteen, so I don't have that demand anymore. And yet I still struggle to squeeze in as much writing as I wish I could do. I am lucky I can write every day, but sometimes life gets in the way. And that's okay. It's the journey, not the destination. << feel free to puke over that last part. :PP

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    1. Wait, I thought it was the destination.... :)

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  11. *hugs. I'm sending you good vibes through the internets and telling you that I believe in you completely. Perhaps when you read these words you will feel encouraged to publish masterpiece after masterpiece. At least I hope so :)

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    1. I do feel encouraged. You write a pretty pep talk, Michael. Maybe you should have been a therapist or life coach or ... no, definitely a writer.

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  12. Oh, no. Good luck getting it all done. It's so frustrating when you want to write, but the rest of your life keeps getting in the way. I hope this is temporary.

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    1. It's so frustrating. I deserve one hour a day of my life to be for me (this one is, but I'm actually cooking at the same time).

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  13. Home can keep us busy. Hang in there, you'll find time to write!

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  14. Try not to be disappointed. Remember 'Family First' and without your health, you aren't going to be doing much. Take care of yourself. You'll get it back

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  15. Will do. We can hang together.

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  16. Don't lose your ambition! YOU CAN DO IT! Make time! It may be hard but writing is what you love and you gotta fulfill your dream to the best of your ability. You'll get back to it before you know it - just give it time :)

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  17. Life gets busy, especially this time of year. Why not just do what you can, and don't feel obligated to a steady schedule? Relax, we'll understand.

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  18. Many mothers have trouble balancing it all, Tonya. Your priorities are in order if your family and health come first. Don't be hard on yourself. All of us have real lives and our own pace for reaching our goals. It may take you longer to work your way through an ms, but you'll DO IT!! :-D

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  19. Health and family first! I know, sucky advice. But you gotta do what you gotta do. If you were sick, you still wouldn't feel like writing and as far as family goes, well, gotta have a quiet time to write. It will all work out!

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  20. Don't feel disappointed. You are doing just fine. Even if you just manage to write one sentence, write. Life sometimes intervenes, but just do what you can and do not be too hard on yourself. Simply being a mother is tough enough and I admire you for that.

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  21. Of course there'll be time for writing in your life. We all have periods when we can't do it - in my case it took 5 years once. But you will get back to it, if you're passionate about it.

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  22. Snap! I've been through this and Susan's advice above is absolutely right. Try to 'chill' about it, knowing that you will come back to it. It will still be there when your family don't need you as much. If all you do in a week is 100 words, it's still 100 words!

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  23. You're a writer, and I'm sure you'll always have time for writing. We always go through these insecurities, but I'm sure you'll make it through!
    hugs@!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  24. Hang in there! You've got your priorities right.

    And if you can, finding the joy in having written only one sentence is SO much better than beating yourself up over the thousands of unwritten sentences you wanted to get done.

    I am coming out of a period where I got almost NO writing done, and horribly neglected my blog, and yet -- I am happy that I got a few stories a little farther along. Not much, but some. It's a snail's pace, but it's at least still progress, and that counts.

    Peace, strength, health, and serenity to you, my friend!

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  25. We do what we can, Tonja. Make peace with that. You will find a way to get in what you love. Maybe not as much as you'd like, but you'll find a bit of time somewhere. Hope you're feeling better soon.

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  26. Sometimes writing just has to come in 3rd, 4th, 5th etc. Life has a way of taking over. But that's okay, because every experience you have will feed the creative mind (the writer's mind you can't escape). So when you are able to put writing first, you'll be ready to go.
    Hugs

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  27. You are an excellent juggler, and when the timing is right you'll be able to do it all again. In the meantime, take care of yourself and your family. Julie

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