By Michelle Griep, @MichelleGriep
No one corners the market on being busy. It’s a very few, rare people who don’t careen around life on two wheels. You’re busy. I’m busy. We are all overwhelmed. But before you go throwing yourself a pity party at how crazy your holiday schedule is and curl into the fetal position moaning that there’s no possible way you can find time to write, I have three sage words of advice for you:
Get over it.
Cruel words? Heartless advice? Perhaps, but though I write fiction, I am a realist at heart, and I’m here to take away whatever crutch it is that you’re white-knuckling a hold on, crutches like:
- I’m too busy to write today
- I’ll write for sure tomorrow
- I’ll write as soon as fill-in-the-blank is finished
- Holidays are too hectic to even think about writing
Here’s the deal folks, you can’t wait for a more peaceful time in your life, a better time, a time when unicorns romp and fluffy bunnies tickle your muse. Christmas or not, you are not guaranteed any more time in this life than that which you have right now. This minute. Shake off the paralysis of feeling overwhelmed and get busy writing. How?
- Snatch 5 or 10 minutes to simply jot down a feeling, an impression, something that’s gnawing at your heart.
- Don’t edit. Free write. Spelling errors and grammar be hanged.
- Daydream. Not all day, mind you, but for just a few minutes, stare out the window, letting your mind roam keeps the creative juices flowing.
- Learn to say no. You don’t have to attend every choir rehearsal or showing of A Christmas Story.
- Read. Yeah, I know I said this was about writing, but doggone it, a great writer is a great reader. You’re not wasting your time by sticking your nose in a book for a few minutes. You’re honing your craft by soaking in other writing.
There you have it. Five easy things to try. Give these things a whirl and you’ll soon find that jittery feeling of defeat will shrink down to a more manageable size.
London, 1853: Innkeeper’s daughter Mina Scott will do anything to escape the drudgery of her life, for there’s nothing more mundane than serving customers day after day. Every minute she can, she reads and dreams of someday becoming a real lady—and catch the eye of William Barlow, a frequent guest at the inn.
William is a gentleman’s son, a charming but penniless rogue. However, his bachelor uncle will soon name an heir—either him or his scheming cousin. In an effort to secure the inheritance, William gives his uncle the impression he’s married, which works until he’s invited to bring his wife for a visit.
William asks Mina to be his pretend bride, only until his uncle names an heir on Christmas Day. Mina is flattered and frustrated by the offer, for she wants a true relationship with William. Yet, she agrees. . .then wishes she hadn’t. So does William. Deceiving the old man breaks both their hearts. When the truth is finally discovered, more than just money is lost.
Can two hearts survive such deception?
Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the author of historical romances: The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, and A Heart Deceived, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.