So tempting...
The following is an article I wrote a number of years ago that was published at a writing website. A few things in my writing world made me think it was worth posting here as a reminder. Writing is first and foremost on this journey to publication, but we get tempted to pause for a number of things, good things that can balloon into more than is healthy for us.
Five traps to be aware of
Each of the following writer-related items is beneficial, but if we aren’t careful, they become traps. We can become caught in a spider web of good intentions which eat into our writing time. Let’s consider them, one by one.
1. Reading About Writing: We buy or borrow dozens of books that give us the keys to good writing. We immerse ourselves in one after another. We might become so busy learning that the application part is forgotten. Read books on the craft of writing but be selective and limit the number.
2. Websites, Blogs, and Newsletters for Writers: The editors of both offer articles to read and classes to take. They present markets and contests, writing prompts and exercises. Seldom satisfied with one, most writers subscribe to several, sometimes much more than several. They do have some excellent information but take precious time to read. Pick the ones you like best and unsubscribe from the others.
3. Critique groups: A face-to-face critique group offers constructive criticism and praise for our work, as well as an opportunity to network with other writers. We can profit greatly in a group like this. They also take time. Ask yourself if it’s worth the precious hours you might otherwise spend writing.
4. Research: This is a necessary part of writing for many as well as being pure joy for some writers. We can get so involved in the process that far more time is spent than is needed. With practice, a writer can determine the appropriate amount of time to give to the research end of a story or article.
5. Organizations for Writers: Joining a local, state or national group offers networking possibilities with other writers, leads on markets and publishers, and a way to keep up with the latest trends in your field. All of them require officers and committee chairs and members who will serve on the committees. Keep your membership in a select number of these groups and limit your participation in what you can handle.
All of the above are worthwhile endeavors. The key is to maintain a healthy balance. Review your writing activities occasionally to make sure you aren’t falling into a trap. When you produce fewer and fewer pages, it may be time to step back and assess the reasons.
Financial experts advise clients to take the savings out of the paycheck first. Writing is no different—those thousand words a day must take precedence over all the other writing-related aspects of your life. You know what the traps are, and by practicing self-discipline, you can avoid all of them. Your greatest benefit will be more time to write.
Great advice! Sometimes, at meetings about writing, I just want to write, not talk about it. One alternative is to be in a group that focuses on actual writing, not the talk.
ReplyDeleteI've had writers ask me if I believe they need a website once they are published. I do encourage having a website but then I warn them: If you have a website then it needs to show activity, not just be static. If you write a blog to give the website life, then you've created another literary mouth to feed. It can eat up your time. Ideally, the writing for your blog will benefit you in other ways, whether from forcing you to write because you have a deadline, making you a better writer from all your writing, or from writing something that can be published. I better stop. I have writing to do.
Loved your phrase ...then you've created another literary mouth to fee.
Delete