Wednesday, March 6, 2013

INSECURE WRITERS SUPPORT GROUP

I spent about two and a half hours with my doctor the other day trying to decide what I need to do to get to "stay here".  I have known for sometime I had to change my eating habits and my life style if I want to live a few more years. I realize too we all need to eat a balanced diet. There also needs to be balance in our lives.
I don't have a problem with the diet and exercise, it's the "balance in my life."
She said I need to balance work, rest and play (leisure). I remember thinking, you're kidding...right? Rest and play? Without guilt? 

I'm trying. Trying to find a balance in my life. I spent several hours working out a schedule. So many hours for writing, so many hours for everything else.
When I came to writing, I couldn't put it on the "work" side. It was then I realized how important writing is to me. I don't like edits, which is where I am with one manuscript right now.
I also realized my frame of mind when I "let myself" just sit and write. I feel guilty!
Wow, what's up with that?
I decided to list writing in both columns. Work and leisure.....
What keeps you from writing? Is it really your passion?
I would love to hear from you.  

20 comments:

Julie said...

Writing is a best friend and an absolute requirement. It belongs on both lists for me too. If I am not writing, I struggle with dealing with the world. I write fiction and also essays to figure out how I feel about things. Without writing, my worries and hopes don't have a voice and it is easy to get stuck in the here and now, not in place I am working toward. Wish for you the balance that I struggle with in my life!!!

Anonymous said...

Thought-provoking post, Kathryn. I consider writing as my work. I actually feel guilty if I don't carve out time in the day for it. Even though it is not supplying me a steady paycheck, I tell myself that if I diligently keep at it, then one day it will. Cheers. :)

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Julie,
I know what you mean about writing. Even when I didn't "write" I wrote! If you know what I mean. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. One of these days I'll find the balance, but until then we have each other! Right?
Hugs

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Linda,
You are so right. We need to just keep at it. I don't know how so many other "hats" have filtered their way into my life and onto my calendar. I love writing.....I think I actually crave it. When I don't have my computer....I reach for paper and pen.....is that sad??
Hugs
Katt

Chancelet said...

Resting is a guilt-laden activity, even for me whose favorite word in the vocabulary is vacation. I wish you the best with your new path in life of learning to love relaxing and doing nothing.

You could put writing as leisure and editing as work.

VR Barkowski said...

Balance: so easy to say, so hard to achieve.

Believe it or not, I enjoy editing and often use it as an excuse *not* to write (that sounds weird, doesn't it?). I also use social networking as an excuse. Truth is, as much as I Iove to write, it is a chore sometimes. While writing is definitely my passion, it's also hard work.

~VR Barkowski

Carol Garvin said...

I'm not sure when it was, but a long time ago I wrote a post about the need to accept that our writing has value. As long as that nagging inner voice can convince us that because we love writing it must be frivolous, we'll never take ourselves seriously as emerging authors.

Then too, if you believe the inspiration for your writing comes from God, you have to believe he means for you to treat the gift with respect and use it well.

I think your scheduling idea is a good one, as long as you schedule in time for yourself along with everything else you want to get done. Have you read Julia Cameron's books... especially her "Artist's Way"? I don't agree that everything she suggests works for everyone, but she has some excellent ideas about how to stay refilled so that you can continue to produce.

It isn't selfish to care for the total person that God created, so I hope you find that necessary balance, Katt.

Vikki T said...

I remember quite recently reading a quote from, I think it was Judy Reeves, but it might have been Natalie Goldberg. Anyway, it was about making writing an important part of your day, just like brushing your teeth. If you can mentally convince yourself of that, well, you wouldn't skip brushing your teeth would you?

I try, every single day to think about my writing as being THAT important, but it's hard isnt it. Especially when I have a mountain of laundry and a sink full of dirty dishes :(

(((((Hugs)))))

Xx

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Nancy, I love your comment, "vacation is my favorite word", made me laugh.
Why is it we beat ourselves up when we're doing something we NEED to do? I HEAR the advice I give others, guess it doesn't apply to me? ha ha
Hugs
Katt

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

VR,
You are so right! Writing can be hard work. I think the hardest thing for me is finding the time to be able to sit and just write. Once I'm committed, before I know it....2000 words appear. Didn't know I knew that many! I'm hearing from lots of writers who LOVE to edit! That's great. I wish you the best.
Hugs
Katt

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Carol,
I'm going to put Julia Cameron's book on my "to do" list. Or should it be "to read" list! :D
That is exactly the problem I'm having, scheduling time for me. In my "other life" I was a Probate Paralegal. Full of structure and schedules and deadlines. So much pressure.....but actually I was DRIVEN by all of that. Now that I work from home, I still have the structure, schedules and deadlines. What I don't have is time away from the office! There in lies the problem....:D
Thanks so much for your advice!
Hugs
Katt

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Vikki,
You are so right. I can't believe how many distractions there are during the day. I have always dreamed of having an office at home. My grandmother used to say "be careful what you pray for". :D
Now that I have an office at home, I realize how much easier it was to ignore the laundry, and sink full of dirty dishes. Also to be able to pick up the phone, call the IT guy to come fix my printer which just went off line! :D
I'm really not complaining....I LOVE working from home. The best thing that ever happened to me!
Hugs
Katt

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Katt, I'm bad. I procrastinate way too much time. In the winter, hockey keeps me away. In the summer, it's the garden. When we move to New Brunswick, it'll be the grandchildren. I gotta toughing up! As for balance, do cookies count?

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Welcome to the IWSG!
Writing tends to go on the 'work' side for me. If it doesn't, I don't get it done.
I am also a musician, so that passion commands time as well. I'm still undecided which direction I will take...

Carol Garvin said...

Katt, I'm back. I left here yesterday and went on to read elsewhere, and found Jane Kirkpatrick's post. It struck a chord and I thought of you. If you can take time to read it I think you will appreciate it: http://janeswordsofencouragement.blogspot.ca/2013/02/a-season-of-yielding.html

Blessings to you!

Yolanda Renée said...

Awesome goals, and I'm working to achieve the same. Have you joined The Healthy Writers Club, started by Shallee McCarthur?

It a great way to find motivation and inspiration!

http://www.shalleemcarthur.com/p/the-healthy-writers-club.html

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Joy,
Yes, of course cookies count! ha ha

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Carol,
Thank you so much for thinking of me. I read it......Wow!
I need to subscribe to her blog!

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Yolanda,
Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not sure I can take on one more thing right now. But, you're RIGHT....I DO need to be motivated!
Hugs

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Alex,
Thanks for starting this group! I'm so happy to belong.
I know what you mean about a full plate.....I'm finding that just like when I was a kid....I'd push peas off to the side. Eat them later....or not at all!
Hugs,
Katt