I’m cleaning out the closets and nooks and crannies behind the scenes here at the lighthouse. I have taken a break from writing. Yep, I have put down my pen and picked up the broom and started organizing and compiling and tossing and brainstorming.
Doing some of that…”Hmm..did I write that? Hmm. Wow..did I write that? Oh..gosh, yuck, did I write that??? And they still let me play in their sandbox?? Gosh, are they forgiving or what.
It’s humbling.
It is all in the name of working on THE BOOK. You know…THE Book. The one that we all have floating around in our heads that we say we are going to write but, we dabble a little here and there and some of it gets done and most of it doesn’t? Well, I went into my mental book closet today and started gathering up all of the stuff that I have already written and started to put it all together so I can actually see how much more work I have left to do.
It’s kind of like finally sitting down and paying your bills after weeks of just thinking about it. OR putting away all of the laundry that you had washed and just piled up wrinkled in the laundry baskets but never sorted or ironed. Why is it that the JUST FINISH IT is the hard part when you have already done the JUST DO IT part. I mean, I already wrote most of it. I already washed the laundry. Why is it so hard to put the darn clothes away and start to get things organized for the actual figuring out how to turn written words into a book?
I think its the same reason my closet doesn’t stay cleaned in real life either. I am a gatherer of life. An observer. I watch it, savor the moments, examine the expressions and the emotions of the people around me, I connect the dots, I wonder at the possibilities, I turn it over, watch as the snow-globe sprinkles out all of the magic that no one else sees, and then when all is finished-I put the moment aside. I record it, place it in the pile and like a child who waits for Santa, I turn my eyes to the next experience. I rarely look back. Unless forced to by a need that out ways my inborn drive to propel toward the future at warp speed. Now I want to compile all my essays and writing into THE BOOK. So that need to sit still and NOT create and just compile and task and “to do” is a need greater then writing.
I am impatient with the past. I am impatient period. I don’t like chores that slow me down or make me look backward. Going back and working on words I’ve already written is like walking into yesteryear. I have something to say today. I’m SO NOT INTO THAT NOW.
This is where self-discipline comes in I guess.
I remember feeling like this around the 16th week of training for the marathon. I had fun when I was running 5, 7, 10, and 12 miles every weekend. Around 14 miles on Saturday morning I was grumbly. By the week I had to run 16 miles I was down right bitchy. Who’s bright idea was this anyhow?
Mine.
It usually is.
Everything I have ever wanted to achieve in life has had its moments that just stopped being fun. In fact, most of them had trials that could be considered pure hell. Every single one worth remembering has had something. Every single one. So…I didn’t expect that writing a book would be any different. Not really.
I don’t have to like doing my chores. But if I want to get through to the other side, I have to put my head down and charge through. Just finish the NOT FUN part of the tasks. Like putting the clean clothes away in the closet or figuring out what to do with the stacks of written work. Get things organized. Spend the time figuring out what sections everything should go in. Line everything up all nice and pretty until it all looks good.
It’s time to put my inner kid in time out and put the grown up to work.
It’s time to get things done.
I’m in the same spot. My kid has a lot more fun, bouncing around and reading others’ words, dropping a comment here and there. The grown up needs to go inside and work to pay the bills.
Writer Dad’s last blog post..The Quan
Hey Wendi, you CAN do it!
Sometimes I put stuff off just because of that – because it’s a task I don’t like to do. Just today, in fact, I was doing some work on a computer that I have been putting off. In the end, it was too hard, and didn’t even take that long. But it was something that just didn’t interest me (read: no fun), so I had let it slide.
If you come up with a good way to nip this procrastination bug, please share! I think many of us are affected (or maybe infected is the right term…).
Lance’s last blog post..Don’t Ever Give Up
Oh, Wendi. So wish I could understand this “visit”. Never do I rush forward or look into the future. I hold to the past and lessons learned. The known more comforting than the unknown.
Getting things done is no longer an issue, being alone and retired. And, being an obsessive compulsive. So, cleaning closets or dishes or gardens or . . . . . never something to be thought about. Today’s cleaning of the house to my south, was delightful. It is just something that I need. Perhaps, this cleaning addiction, now turned into a money making part time job, is ok, after all. It keeps me off the streets and from living under bridges.
Lance, I loved your term “letting it slide”. Sometimes, it is a good thing to just Be! Those moments of “non-doing” that our bodies and souls need, ever as much as the “work”. Your work may be of good purpose, but You, You the Person, experiencing life and loved ones – now that is the most important thing!
Dad, that book, the one You and Wendi and Lance and all the other writers who share blogs, is within. As far as compleating your books, I totally disagree with some statements. When your books are published – they will still be “works in progress”, cause all you most talented wonderful people who visit here, will be experiencing. . . er, the Next Book! At the moment of your death/transition, another Book will be in the making!
What gifted people each of you truly are. It is most humbling to visit among you. Thanks for allowing me this weekly “gift”.
Ms. O
No true writer, but one hell of a reader!
Oh, Wendi, do I know where you’re at right now. This is what I wrote about in the piece I had the Lab-Rats working from this week. I’m at the same spot again prepping my next novel too.
The only thing that worked for me (and continues to work) is committing to a goal each day – with the first book it was 1000 words a day, now with the prep it’s 30 minutes a day. I don’t manage to do it every day (usually 4 or 5 days out of 7) but it’s better than procrastinating all 7 days of the week.
And once you get into the rhythm of regular work you’ll feel like something is missing when you don’t do it.
Good luck!
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..Fearfully Moving Forward – Full Text Answers
Can you see into my house or something? I have three loads of laundry, clean, just waiting to be folded. And a compilation of short essays that need editing before being turned into a book.
For me proscrastination becomes 1 of 3 things
1) At the end of the day my heart isn’t there, so I don’t do it. I think I SHOULD.
2) There is so much I WANT to do, I have a hard time determining where to start!
3) Fear that what I produce will not be “good”.
I’m with you – and sometimes cleaning house or taking a break and having fun in general is the “clearing” I need to get back into the swing. As adults we need to find that balance.
Good luck!
Stacey Shipman’s last blog post..Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Ways
Wow Wendi,
You hit my soft spot. The responsible side. Like other readers, I prefer my creative side. But I am learning that paying the bills and cleaning closets is a moment, a now, that if I stay open with my creative joy intact, I may just find inspiration.
Like trying on last years jeans (while closet cleaning)and they still fit! Yay I am so slim. Or shoot, they don’t fit…what can they become instead? Yay! My gift to a slim person. 🙂
Harmony’s last blog post..The Power Broker Bust (pt 2 of 4)
I can relate! I’m in the same place.
Wishing you all the focus you can muster!
Steph,
Back at ya! We have to do this Hand in Hand. Stick together!
Harmony,
Yes, that really is the secret, to do our *chores* and responsibilities with creative joy intact. Some days are easier, but, when I do, it is better!
Stacey,
I agree with your three reasons. I think they are universal. as well as that pile of laundry. ( except for Ms O- she is amazing and doesn’t have it. And FlyLady..she doesn’t either)
Alex, I was actually thinking about you as I was going through all my stuff. I was thinking, Where oh where is that profeccional organizing buddy of mine? I sure could use someone like that right now.
Your ideas seem helpful. I think that is exactly my problem. I am trying to nail myself to a chair and do to much at once and I am loosing my joy. I think I will take that advice and set a time limit each day.
Thanks.
Ms O,
Thank you for your lovely comment and for reminding me-I need reminding now and then as you know- to stay in the moment and not always going rushing off to the next moment.
Your viewpoint is very valuable here and I treasure it! But you really MUST quit refering to yourself as a non-writer as your way with words is beautiful.
Lance,
Thanks friend for the encouragement. It is really nice to be able to write a post like this and have encouragement from the community. I have put in a couple of good days and feel better already. As far as procrastination advice, scroll down to Alex’s comment, from our Someday Syndrome Expert. I’m going to listen to him.
Hi Sean/Writer Dad,
Thanks for your understanding and commiseration! 🙂
Hey, if you get a chance to do me a favor- Mz O here needs to read your article that you guest posted- if you would like to come and drop a link for her I think she would love that article!
Wendi,
Just from the little I’ve seen of how you think and how you write, it’s already there…it’s totally there. Every detail. And it’s brilliant.
If Alex’s plan works for you, great. But somehow, I don’t see you putting a “limit” on your writing. It goes straight from your brain to paper…and the thinking…and writing…never STOP once you START!
Rita
Rita’s last blog post..I Was a Mail-Order Bride – Part II
Rita,
LOL, It’s not the writing that’s the problem. In fact you are right. If I could just write and write- no problem. It’s the stopping that is the issue. The stopping and doing the dirty work of organizing and putting things together.
But..I’ve had a few good days. AND…I think I’m going to call in the expert. I gave birth to the perfect person for this job.
I’ve recently decided that I’m a pro at organizing everything except my writing. My closet and drawers look great, my bookshelves neat as a pin, but the writing files in binders and on my computer? I just can’t come up with a good system. Wendi, I bet once you get going on the process, the fun will come back into it. I sure can’t wait to read your book!
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Writing for Change
Wendi, congratulations on the book. You have already accomplished so much more than many writers. I look forward to celebrating with you when it’s done, and published!
SeanWriterDad,
Looking forward to receiving this article.
Ms. O
From Wendi to SeanWriterDad:
“Thanks for your understanding and commiseration!
Hey, if you get a chance to do me a favor- Mz O here needs to read your article that you guest posted- if you would like to come and drop a link for her I think she would love that article!”
I hope you got things cleaned up and straightened out! I need to do that, but finding the time is a bit of a struggle. I’ll be on my own for a few weeks so maybe I’ll have time then!
Jenny’s last blog post..Don’t Laugh At…
I can totally relate to what you are saying. The worst part for myself is that I am not a very organized person. My notes are all over the place. It will take me a while to write MY BOOK. There are also just too many distractions every day. How to find time?
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..Soul Revelations From Past Life Memories
Evelyn,
A little at a time, a little each day. That is helping me. It was advice from Alex and I like it. Mabe it will help you too? We can do it together. WE hold hands here.
Hugs.
Jenny-Ditto to you. A little each day. No elephant eating. A for me, I have to take that advice too 🙂
http://www.copyblogger.com/are-you-a-writer/
Ms O,
THe link up above is the the post I was talking about. Sean ( Writer Dad) wrote it as a guest post on a different blogger’s blog and it is very inspiring about who is- or what makes a person a writer. YOU are a writer!
Nice and usefull post, thanks, this is one for my bookmarks!