It's difficult for me when I'm writing to focus on other things. The world I create for my characters is all-consuming. It's like Narnia, I'm pulled into the photo on the wall...and sometimes I think I'm drowning.
As much as I think it's hard on me, sometimes I think it worse on my family. I'm not always the nicest person when I'm writing madly and then I'm interrupted with, 'So what's for dinner?' And, for some reason, since I've started writing, I've had non-stop visitors (because my husband loves company) who must wonder where I disappear for hours on end.
So, I ask you, what do you do to juggle worlds?
52 comments:
Fail. And continue trying to succeed.
I'm with Suze. It's impossible. I just take it as it comes ...
Not sure if you call it juggling. That would require catching one of the objects and balancing it well in turn with the many other things up in the air. I just keep plugging away, apologizing to whomever got brave enough to break my concentration and take breaks so I don't alienate the people I love.
It can be interesting at times, but I love it.
I guess hubs invites visitors to have company when you disappear in NArnia :)
Clarissa - I know exactly what you mean. Trying to stay in "the real world" if that's the right expression while still creating your own world is an effort. And that's not even mentioning the time issue. I don't have a magic solution. I do my best and sometimes I fall flat on my ... manuscript ;-). But nobody expects perfection, so I think the first step is to forgive yourself when you don't do the juggling thing as well as you want.
I have to say I just deal as it comes like Jessica and Suze. But I do know what you mean about not being when you write. I'm the same way. I do demand that people knock before they enter my writing space and have been known to grunt or growl in response to those knocks. Sometimes I breathe fire too. ;)
The only way I can juggle is to drop things. All the time. Like you, when I write, I let everything else go, including dinner. Needless to say, we eat a lot of frozen pizza.
And if you're writing, blogging always has to take a back seat. So don't feel guilty.
And I wouldn't worry about what your husband's friends say...it adds to your mysterious allure as a writer.
Good luck with your juggling, Clarissa!! I don't juggle worlds - unfortunately some have to take a backseat!! Take care
x
I juggle too. And when one thing falls to the ground, I pick it and start over again. It's a good thing I don't juggle chain saws.
Hi Clarissa .. I'm not sure I call it juggling .. I just never get to pick them all up and probably do what I shouldn't be doing .. good luck with it all - is all I can say .. cheers Hilary
OMG! How funny. The girls and I just finished Dawn Treader last night at bedtime. Great story...
And oh, yeah. I'm the WORST when it comes to juggling. When I'm in the middle of something, I'm very "just a minute!" My poor children.
They're working on their books about ME! :D <3
I was struggling for the longest time with my networking as it could take me all day long because so many things kept popping up--along with emailing and stuff. *sigh*
I got so tired of being on my computer all day, I prayed for guidance on how to control myself.
Well, I decided to time myself to see how long it takes to do the meat of networking and was shocked to see it was about 15 minutes without piddling around!
I time myself for visiting/commenting blogs, too...
It's a work in progress, that's for sure!
♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
I'm always dropping one of those balls, not necessarily the same one, but one always goes askew.
It's not possible to keep all your balls in the air simultaneously. I make do with snatches of time here. Networking is one of the first things that gets neglected when things go crazy. The good thing is that writer understand these seasons and know we'll come out to play now and then.
I jump ship.
Keep writing.
While I was furiously working to finish my WIP, my blog was gathering cobwebs. It's ok. I totally understand this. I need my focus too when I'm writing, and so the blog and Twitter had to suffer. Right now, I'm done with the WIP so I get a little break before editing comes around. Hence I'm here, commenting. LOL!
Good luck!
Balance between blogging and writing is tough. Do what you can do and leave the rest.
Have fun writing!
Hi Clarissa,
I'm with you.
I try to plan and prioritize, but I'm not always successful doing that, but I keep plugging away.
And I try to avoid blogging and reading e-mails on the weekends. Sometimes it works.
Donna
Oh, dear, ever since I increased work responsibilities, writing has jumped ship. :(((((
I live by myself, but if I had a beautiful family that loved spending time with me, I would never choose to write over that. Just my two cents...but you only have so much time with these people and you never know when it will end. The writing can always get picked up later.
I wish I knew! It's soooo hard.
How do I juggle worlds?
Honestly? I don't. I just try my best to fit all my schoolwork, studying, writing, and blogging into my limited waking hours. Sometimes it works. Sometimes...not so much.
We all need time to get stuff done, no worries:) Glad you're back:)
Can't think of a helpful answer except KEEP WRITING. :)
I have to pull back on some things. I can multi-task when necessary, but it's not easy.
And fortunately not a lot of people invade my home.
Oh this is a challenge for me too. I can multi-task for some things, but not well for others, like writing. I need a stunt double to do the mundane office stuff and write an occasional blog post, I'm thinking. Hang in there, you aren't alone!
Writers attempting to be jugglers... we must belong to the worst circus ever. *grins*
Seriously, I think that's something we all struggle with. It's a matter of shifting priorities--not the easiest thing to do. Here's to hoping things let up soon! :)
I find it a constant battle to juggle writing, blogging, mothering and housework. My kids have set chores which help with the running of the house and they know to leave me alone when I'm writing - usually!! The rest just somehow falls into place.
Juggling all of our many activities at one time can be maddening. Sometimes I think we try to multi-task too much. Something (or two) usually gets dropped in my juggling act. We just try again the next day. :)
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Freelance Editing By Mason
I wish there were more hours in a day...with all my commitments I would appreciate it!
I do the best I can, and try not to beat myself up too much when I fail.
I just watched a Narnia movie . . .
But as for juggling, I just try to deal with what happens--and I hate multitasking.
I finally had to assign a time to write each night. So from 8-9pm, I'm writing. No one can bother me. It's just me, a beer, and my computer.
I've always had difficulty with this, which is why I suppose I only wrote stories when my kids were young. I never started a full length book until my youngest went into school and even then it took 10 years to finish LOL. I don't know that anyone feels they can manage it well. Balance is a constant struggle to us artsy types.
Funny, I can immerse myself in a fictional story for short bursts of ten minutes here and there without a problem. It's non-fiction writing where I need to go hide somewhere in order to concentrate.
Drink, cry, and pick myself back up and go at it again!
Just keep doing what you're doing, Clarissa! It's the only way to get that book finished.
I'm fortunate. No husband to bother me, and an aide 30 hours a week for my daughter. I've been there, done that where you are in life. And it's so ironic that even with my disabled daughter, I'm at a peaceful place in my life where I have time to write. I once dreamed about going into a garret and writing, and here I am, metaphorically speaking, in one!
For now, Clarissa, you have to fight for your space, and I don't think you should stop doing this. Just my humble opinion.
And blogging can wait, also.
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets
I get lot's of interruptions too along with profuse apologies... It's hard to be mad but you do lose your train of thought. Then again it's hard to stop (even for meals) when you're on a roll. I guess you just have to keep going and doing what you're doing as best as you can.
When my writing reaches that moment when the words are coming faster than I can type, I'm so very grateful my husband takes over all the cooking and cleaning. Marcelo, your name should be on the cover as well!
Well I live alone but I did realize lately that I'm depressing the dogs because I've been skipping his walk to edit.
BAD HOOMAN!!!
His walks are not optional...but can I finishing one more paragraph first?
Tirz
If I don't both walk in the woods and meditate every day, I can't do it. Taking the time to do these two things causes my worlds to become one do-able world.
I have a double-sided sign I hang from my office door. One side says Do Not Disturb. The reverse says Happy to Chat. If anyone knocks on the door or enters the room when Do Not Disturb is showing I don't look up from the keyboard and I don't speak. Sounds harsh but it works.
I just grit my teeth and do it. Try and make time for everything, not easy. :P
I can turn it off and turn it back on pretty easily, though admittedly I do snap at my family from time to time.
:) take care...you will find a way out soon.. :)
take ur time, forced things never work out good
Um, I'm constantly trying to juggle. I find the best writing time eats into my sleeping time. Sadly, that's all the "spare" time I have to give and it ends up biting me in the a**.
It's been insanely busy over my way. Siiigh. Monday night it kept me up, all the ideas and stuff racing through my head. Made Tues. very rough, but I fell asleep early. which had me up early today and very productive. So, hope for more today's is my answer. That and I make a time and day schedule. That doesn't always work, but it helps since I have multiple projects going on these days. But yeah, it's not easy.
I could have written this post. I don't juggle/balance well. It is what it is. Husband deserves an award for putting up with me.
I just go at it and takes it as it comes, although it can be rough keeping up with writing ones characters and then the blogging, yeah my rhyming makes it fun to do, so it's a tad easier, it's true.
I'm afraid I can't juggle. If I'm writing, everything else takes a back seat. Fortunately, my family are used to this. They also know that, if they ask me a question, they may not get a reply because I'm in a world of my own. They're very forgiving. :)
Good luck with your juggling!
that's a good question. I have struggle with daily life juggling. lol. try, try and try again.
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