Time

[prillalar]

When do you write? (or vid or create other creative works) How do you find the time?

I'm struggling with this at the moment. I'm trying to write several stories, work on a vid, and write intelligent posts for LJ. But I seem to be so busy with work and other commitments that it's just not happening, except at the weekends.

I'm not sure if I need an external solution -- like cut down on some of my activities -- or an internal one -- worry less about producing all the time.

What are your strategies?

Comments

[tir.livejournal.com]

I'm struggling with it, too, and have yet to hit on a good solution. So I'm just posting to commiserate. Let me know if you find an answer.

[barkley.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I have obscene amounts of time, and I screw around and never get anything done. I could rule fandom if only I were organized, and, you know, had a few other qualities that one would need to rule fandom, but that's neither here nor there.

Schedule things. Allot an hour for LJ reading and an hour for vidding, etc. This cuts down on the endless link clicking that you do even when you have tons of fandom stuff to do just because it's habit.

Reply to things on time. That way they don't hang over your head adding to the general "oh no, I didn't do this, this, and this on time."

Accept that you can't do it all, and that the people who do seem like they're doing it all could have been working on the ten stories for the past ten years, and are only posting them now. They are also not on every single list you are on, and they are, in fact, not doing it all.

Get a job where you can slack off and do fandom things. *g*

I'm not saying any of this has actually worked for me, but I keep telling myself this, and I feel better about it. Well except for the slacking off at work thing.

[prillalar]

Accept that you can't do it all, and that the people who do seem like they're doing it all could have been working on the ten stories for the past ten years, and are only posting them now. They are also not on every single list you are on, and they are, in fact, not doing it all.

This is what I keep trying to believe and never can. *g* I have a fixed idea that everyone else is posting story after story and vid after vid and that after two weeks without something new, everyone will forget I ever existed.

Clearly, I need to relax and watch more television.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

This was so much easier when I didn't have a boyfriend. (:

For me, the critical thing is to schedule the things I want to do for myself. If I don't write "VID" on my calendar for an upcoming Sunday afternoon, that Sunday will be spent mucking about answering email, buying groceries, reading, and other fun/necessary things that don't put me and my creative work at the top of my priority list. And that's just wrong.

So I figure out when I can take a block of time for myself and I write it down. And I refuse all offers for that period of time. And I tell my lover "I need to spend some time vidding on Sunday afternoon." And then I stick to it.

One thing I learned from my meditation practice is that no matter how busy you are, the time exists. It's all about priorities. If you make your own creative work a priority, you'll find that you do get it done, although you may have to make sacrifices elsewhere. I think it's worth it.

[prillalar]

Oh, I'm good for blocks of time at the weekend, as my days off aren't the same as the TBUG. But I feel like I should be working on stuff *every day* and I'm not.

It's funny -- Thursdays are my only free weeknight, so I try to do some writing then. But I also feel like I'm on the computer too much, so yesterday I forced myself to sit down and watch the Simpsons when I got home. Maybe if I did that more, the time I spent on the computer would be more productive.

Anyhow, must run clean up before gaming.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Finding time is often - or usually - the single hardest thing about writing. This includes, finding time when I'm not exhausted and stealing sleep-time because I'm so desperate to write that I have to.

I try both cutting down on activities (usually doesn't work) and worrying less about producing, which usually just means producting less, which I find frustrating.

So I use time when I have the opportunity to think, like when I'm walking to work, to muse over stories and let my subconscious roam over ideas. Then I write because I *must* write - in snatches at work, at lunchtime, at bus stops, on buses, wherever.

[prillalar]

Then I write because I *must* write - in snatches at work, at lunchtime, at bus stops, on buses, wherever.

Maybe this is something I should cultivate. I'm not usually much good writing in longhand, but maybe I should try it for a while and see how it goes. I could have one story that I only work on in longhand. Hmm...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't much like writing in longhand; it's clumsy, awkward, I don't think as clearly, my hand gets tired, and I can't read my writing afterwards. But I can do it just about anywhere and it's better than not doing it.

On the other hand - be careful with your notebooks. I have a notebook full of stories that I misplaced and now can't find for the life of me - it has to be around somewhere! I'd like to be working on those stories. It isn't that I don't have other things to work on, but it's frustrating.

I'm working on clearing my schedule for hours at a time but it sure isn't working out this weekend.

[zortified.livejournal.com]

I have so many hobbies and crafty and fannish (fanny...) things I like to do, the only way I really manage is to obsess on one at a time. When I'm knitting, I don't worry about writing or quilting or reading. It does mean I spend several months at a time not producing fannish stuff, so folks might forget about me. But -- honestly? They don't, really. If you're good enough at what you do, then there will always be a group of fans who remember you no matter how long its been.

Case in point - I remember you as being a good writer based on a story I loved that was a ST VOY/TOS xover. Years and years back.

So, deep breath, tell yourself "they love me anyway" then just do what you feel like doing.

[prillalar]

Good advice. I think I just need to calm down a bit and realise that I am producing stuff and much as I'd like it, I'll never be Isaac Asimov.

Case in point - I remember you as being a good writer based on a story I loved that was a ST VOY/TOS xover. Years and years back.

Now this is ironic. :) I've never written a VOY/TOS story. I've done DS9/TXF, VOY/TXF (sort of), and straight (well, it was slash, but you know what I mean) TNG.

And in conclusion: I *love* your icon. Just love it. I must seek out some Gonzo pics for myself.

[zortified.livejournal.com]

See, I said to myself - you should go back to her site and double check which story it was. But oh no. ;-) (I was thinking of Killasandra's (sp) Ghost in the Machine, a Paris/Kirk fic.)

You I remember from SW fic. :-)