by Sarah Varland, @SarahVarland
Life is more than writing. It’s true, and even as writers who are professionals getting paid or as those who aspire to be, not admitting to this truth wouldn’t be healthy for any of us. At the same time, Susie’s motivational email this week reminded us all that we have to write even when we don’t feel like it. (If you missed this email, go back and read it. It was exactly what I needed to hear and I know it will encourage you too.) So how do we balance making time to write consistently when so much of life demands our attention?
I know it’s a subject I’ve tackled in posts before, but it’s clearly something I struggle with and when I find another answer, I have to share. Here’s how I figured out this answer:
Somehow, I end up with my most consistent deadlines in the summer and fall, which is fine, but I also live in Alaska. After our nine months of winter, summer is this fleeting, wonderful thing that all of us try to grab for all it’s worth. To what degree? Let’s just say we were kayaking past 10 p.m. the other night and that’s not too unusual. Summer in Alaska also means we get a lot of visitors (yay!! I love this.) and last week my brother and his family were in town. I’d looked forward to their trip for months and had meant to have my book finished. Instead, they were set to leave on June 30th and my latest book deadline…? June 30.
Time for some serious multitasking.
I’ve always been of the school that I need hours set aside to write well and to a degree, this is true. I don’t think all good writing can be squeezed into small increments of time, at least not by most people. But during this last deadline week I:
Brought my computer to a baseball game and wrote while my son’s team was warming up. I did resist the urge to write during the game, except for about five minutes halfway in when I realized if I took about five minutes to finish up my writing I could relax for the rest of the night. It was surprising to me that in that practice time and extra five minutes I had the time to write 2000 words. How much time slips through my hands every day because I use that time to play on my phone instead??- Wrote in the car. This one is not recommended if you’re the one driving. (Haha, seriously, don’t.) But riding in a car can be a great time to get some words in. You’re sitting still, there’s nothing else to do, and it forces you into a focused sort of mentality because you’re all buckled in an ready to work.
- TOOK A DAY OFF. Yep, I know this doesn’t sound like advice on how to get writing done, but one of the days last week we went on a camping trip to Seward, Alaska, the real-life town that my Moose Haven series with Love Inspired Suspense is set in. I didn’t want to bring my computer and lose sight of how important this time with my family was, so I didn’t. My theory was that the short break would give me more energy to write later in the week, and you know what? It did. Carefully not to use this way of thinking as an excuse for not working, but truly, know your limits. If a day off will help you write extra the next few days, know when to take one.
As I said earlier, I know I’ve written about this before, and I’m certainly not the first one, but for me, this is the biggest struggle of the writing life. It’s knowing that I am called to write, that I love it, that the part-time-job aspect is a huge blessing for my family. But it’s also knowing that real life is important, that we only get one, and learning to balance the two is one of the hardest, but most rewarding things that I’ve ever done.
Sarah Varland lives near the mountains in Alaska with her husband John, their two boys, and their dogs. Her passion for books comes from her mom, her love for suspense comes from her dad who has spent a career in law enforcement. Her love for romance comes from the relationship she has with her husband and from watching too many chick flicks. When she’s not writing, she’s often found reading, baking, kayaking or hiking.