I know I have been. And for those who are happy to do so, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It only becomes an issue if we aspire to take it further.
Hobbies are wonderful though, aren’t they? They give us an outlet to explore our interests. And to be honest, this is how writing started out for me. I dreamt of ‘one day’ becoming a published author, but realistically had no idea the work and time involved in making that dream come true.
If you’re like me, you try to squeeze writing into your spare time.
Spare time…(chortle) You know, that period between –
- waking at or before dawn to get the family up and going to work and school,
- going to work yourself,
- coming home,
- getting the kids to and from sport/dance classes/part-time jobs,
- preparing dinner,
- ensuring the kids do their homework,
- putting washing on,
- doing ironing,
- cleaning up after dinner,
- spending what little quality time is left with family
- then collapsing into bed to repeat the next day.
Sigh
Yes, we do cram an awful lot into our day, but it doesn’t have to be at the expense of quiet time to pursue our writing goals. We choose what we wish to prioritise.
Making Time? Finding Time? Taking Time?
There are 24 hours in a day. Period. How we choose to spend those hours is up to us.
But we can organise the day so that our highest priority doesn’t suffer (whatever that may be for you) and still garner a little time for ourselves.
I think it’s more about taking time to save time. Using what we have a little more efficiently.
For example, there was a period in our household where our kids had something on every night of the working week. If it wasn’t Taekwondo, it was footy practice, or dancing class, Cadets, or after-school jobs. During footy off season, it was Little Athletics. It was insane. Though I did play a large part in that. I thought, if they’re busy, they won’t have time to get into trouble, ha ha!
During this time, I’d do a big cook-up of 2-3 different meals on a Sunday afternoon – e.g. stir-fry, or chicken and rice etc. Things that were easy to reheat. That way I’d have a couple of nights a week that I didn’t have to cook from scratch. And when they got home, there were healthy home-cooked meals for them to choose from.
Depending on the support you have at home, or your chosen lifestyle, something may have to give.
I came across this quote from Marie Levey-Pabst on her Create Balance website, and it’s so true –
‘MAKING time means prioritizing and saying both YES to something and NO to something else. There is no “just“ about it.’
Moving from ‘Dream’ to ‘Goal’
If we want to change our writing ‘dream’ to a ‘goal’; from a ‘hobby’ to a ‘profession’; then this requires commitment, and time management options. These, of course, will be individual to you.
- Set the morning alarm an hour earlier to get some words down.
(My sleep cycle is already so whacked; I sometimes find it hard to sacrifice what little I get. But it could be an option for you 😊).
Or if you’re a night owl, grab an hour after the family has settled.
- Curb the Netflix binges. (Say what? I know. But think priorities)
It’s nothing to sit in front of the TV for a couple of hours. Think of what you could achieve in that time!
- Always carry a notebook, and have one beside the bed.
You know ideas will strike at the most random moments, or you’ll see or hear something that’s gold. Don’t trust your memory, you know it’s a sieve.
- Allocate a regular time period on the weekend, and make sure the family knows about it.
A past teacher said she used to do this, and the family knew that the house better be on fire to disturb her, ha ha! It doesn’t have to be hours on end, just whatever time you can comfortably afford.
I find Sunday’s my best days. My daughter will either be in bed until midday (typical teen) or at her casual job, and hubby will be outside or pottering in the shed. My time!
- Turn off the distractions
Don’t get sucked into ‘quickly’ checking your Facebook, or Twitter etc. It’s a black hole for time wasting. (My biggest vice!)
- Allocate chores
Depending on your circumstances, you don’t have to do everything yourself. There will always be housework to do, the classic procrastinator excuse. The world won’t end if the floors or laundry have to wait.
Changing the Mindset
Hobbies don’t tend to bring much stress with them, after all, we do them for enjoyment. But for those who want to make a career or a side-business from their pastime, that’s a whole different story.
If we want to take our writing to the next level, and stop treating it like a hobby (whether that was intentional or by accident), then we need to update how we think and dedicate ourselves to building a pathway.
Though I’ve mentioned stress, that’s not necessarily a negative. Any venture will have some form of stress attached – learning new things; moving out of comfort zones; publicly proclaiming intent. This is all good!
To help take the decision and make it an action, we need to –
- Seek education
If you’ve taken courses already but it’s been a while, now’s the time to pull out the notes and lessons and do a refresher. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to try, e.g. blogging or self-publishing, there are a lot of affordable courses out there, as well as self-help books.
- Reach out to fellow writers
If you’re not already, join an on-line writing community, or a local writing group.
Confession time – I am your textbook introvert – so this is agony for me. This is what I mean about comfort zones. If you’re the same, push through it and make contact, join in discussions, you’ll be surprised how many are just like you! I promise you won’t regret it. Don’t forget to share your knowledge and experience as well as receiving – it’s a two-way street!
- Explore resources
There are so many wonderful websites out there for writers. Here are just a few I shared earlier – Writing Related Websites to Help Kickstart your New Year MOJO. Take the time to research what you want to achieve. You may be surprised as to your options.
- Develop discipline
This will take time, like forming any new habit. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t meet or can’t manage the schedule you’ve set yourself. Adjust it, and adjust it again until it fits. Then be consistent. If it helps, use a planner so you know exactly what’s coming up in the week, and slot yourself in.
- Believe
For some, this is the biggest hurdle. Don’t listen to the negative voice in your head. (Mine’s pretty loud). Not only do we need to believe we can do it, but also that we deserve the chance. Positive thinking is a super power!
Putting Yourself Out There
It’s a sad truth, but unless we start sending our work out into the world, no one is going to know we exist.
Depending on the type of writing you do, consider entering competitions, there’s plenty around, or literary magazines. If you blog, there are groups on Facebook that are happy for you to share your writing related posts with other writers. A great opportunity for feedback! Wattpad is another resource used by many writers to get there stories out to the masses – especially if you write for Young Adults.
The choices are there. The biggest hurdle is getting over the nerves, and the whole Imposter Syndrome thing.
If you’re ready to take your writing passion further, there is no better time than now. Make the decision; get excited; take the plunge.
