Writing To Be Read

Although I have not been posting as often as I like, Writing To Be Read has been on my mind.  In fact, I’m in the process of researching what I hope will be a great blog post about self-promotion.  I have been learning a lot about self-promotion and other writing issues that I was previously ignorant regarding.  One lesson that I am learning, oh so well, is how time consuming research can be.  I had heard all the talk about being able to meet deadlines, but I guess I really didn’t get it until recently.  Meeting deadlines can be tough, even when the deadlines are self imposed and vague. 

I am currently committed to my blog, here, which I had hoped to make at least a couple of posts a week to, as well as being the Southern Colorado Literature Examiner, which requires three to four articles per week.  Doesn’t sound like a lot, does it?  Okay, now figure in the fact that I am not making enough off of these endeavors to make even a fair living, so I must hold a “real job” in addition.  Lately, it has been necessary for me to pick up extra shifts at my “real job”, which has cut into my writing time considerably.  Suddenly, my self imposed blog quota and Examiner requirements have been thrown way behind schedule and it’s not just a matter of sitting down and writing, because I want to write things that people will actually want to read, so I am faced with doing the research that will make me an expert on my subjects. 

The upside to this has been that I have been privileged to make the acquaintance of many prominent authors, as well as those who are just breaking into the scene and it has given me access to many new books to read and review.  The downside is that there have been times when other obligations, like work and family, clash with those of my struggling writing career.  Because of this, I am starting to realize what seasoned authors were talking about when they emphasized the importance and/or difficulty of meeting deadlines. 

When you have obligations that seem to conflict or prohibit one another, something has to give.  Priorities must be set, but the question is, what will take priority and how do you decide?  Working extra shifts to make enough to satisfy those that I owe?  A husband that acts as if he is terribly neglected, (and probably is, if I’m honest)?  My loyal readers that check into my sites regularly to read my latest blog posts and articles?  My sanity that could be lost if I short change myself on me time?  Sleep, (half the time I don’t even know what that is)?  Hmmmm…

In her feature article for Worldwide Freelancer, Help for Writer’s Stress - 6 Tips to De-Stress Your Life, Dawn Arkin, (author and senior moderator for Writing.com), gives as her number one piece of writing advice, “Don’t take on more than you can handle. Keep in mind that the more you promise to do, the less time you’ll have to do the things you want to do. If you really can’t write that article this month either see if you can push the due date to something more doable or just say no. Don’t over book yourself.”  I think that this advice applies to prioritizing, as well as de-stressing your life.  I have signed up and submitted one or two pieces to other sites, such as Helium, Hubpages, and Textbroker.com, thinking that they might pay better that the two that I already write for, but haven’t had time to do more than that.  Although they may pay better, I haven’t written for them enough to find out, because there simply is not enough of me to go around.  Although the only deadlines that I have with these sites, are the ones that I set for myself, I know that if I want to build a readership, I must post regularly and as it is, I’ve been lucky if I get one post a week done for Writing to be Read lately, as well as my Examiner articles.  Of course, it goes without saying, that I haven’t written any new stories or poetry to submit either.  I just didn’t realize how much work must be put into writing an article, but I do now.  Boy, do I.

Other writers stress the importance of “me time” and/or physical exercise, implying that this is where our priorities must lie.  Get out from in front of the keyboard and move a little.  In fact, I responded to this advice from romance author Barbara O’Neal and blogger, Carlene Brice in an earlier post Exercise is Good Writing Advice.   I suppose that is good advice, but do I let everything else go, just so I can take an afternoon in the woods?  Don’t get me wrong.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy that type of thing.  In fact, it’s one of my favorite things to do and I often find it quite inspiring.  When I’m at a loss for something to write, it can be exactly what I need.  But times like now, when I have an abundance of things to write about and not enough time to get it all down, and I should have had three articles written three days ago, spending an afternoon being non-productive is not what I call a stress reliever.

What I’d really like to do, is skip all the extra shifts and put that time into writing.  Then I could meet all of my deadlines, plus some.  It’s no secret that I would love to be able to make enough writing to give up the “real” job altogether.  Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.  It’s kind of a catch 22, because as I’ve said, I don’t have the time to take on any writing projects that would pay better.  In order to do that, I’d have to quit my job, and I can’t afford to do that.  I’m realistic enough to know that if I don’t pay the bills, I wouldn’t be able to write at all.  Again, it all comes back to time management.  It seems the only choice I have is to leave off sleep, because my other priorities just won’t wait.

What is Sleep? 

My husband says, “You should get some sleep.”

I don’t know what that is.

I have way too much to do to rest.

My life is just a whiz.

I worked all day, but can’t stop now.

I’ve got deadlines drawing near.

My fingers speed across the keys.

I won’t be done, I fear.

With seven different articles, two stories

And one poem to write.

Researching authors and writer’s groups,

I may be up all night.

I’m so tired, I can’t think straight.

What I’ve typed doesn’t look like words.

To think that I will get all this done

Is really just absurd.

Don’t try to ask me anything

Because I can’t even speak.

Don’t worry about little me

I’ll get some sleep next week.

Copyright ©2009  Kaye Lynne Booth

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