Pam Bustin
creator, editor, story tender
The Deals We Make with ourselves…
Woke with THE FEARS this morning.
The fear I get when I don’t think I’m “working hard enough”.
Sigh.
Things are actually going quite well, but had a few days this week where I slipped off my newISH “1000 wds per day” rule.
We are doing more insulating on the shack and the kitchen ceiling which we thought would take 2 hours took 6 and then… well… It’s what it always is… just life innit?
But today is another day….
And another chance to begin again.
Seems like all week I’ve been tripping over pieces about DEALS we writers make with ourselves to keep ourselves at it.
Sipping tea and spiralling down my newest favourite bunny hole over on Susan Swan’s Blog – I read about how she originally made a deal with herself to sit for four hours at her desk and work – writing, researching, thinking about what she was writing. She went so far as to have a sheet where she signed herself in and out. EVENTUALLY the four hours became part of her every day routine.
I pick up a copy of O Magazine in the waiting room at the doctor’s office the other day and read a piece by Aimee Bender.
called Why the Best Way to Get Creative Is to Make Some Rules wherein she lays out how she has been faithful to her two-hours-a-day writing routine every morning, five or six days per week, for almost 17 years.
And the most fascinating part of this, for me, is that she STOPS at the 2 hour mark. Even if she is on a roll.
She holds the 2 hours sacred.
She holds herself to the rigid time structure as a way to FREE herself.
You have to read the article to really get it – but what I love is that she has found a way to make… “a declaration against the regular dread I used to feel all the time when I wasn’t writing.”
She found her way to overcome THE FEARS.
That is exactly what I’m aiming for.
Words or Hours… a Writer’s Contract with myself feels to be just what the Doctor ordered.
How was your week – writing wise?
Do you have a routine?
A schedule?
Or do you wing it?
Thanks for stopping by.
Here’s a smile before you go.
Remember Fraggle Rock?
Here’s Ben Folds Five and the Fraggles – rockin’ out with DO IT ANYWAY
Go easy -p
Related articles
- Writerly Non-Problems (alphabeticallyinclined.wordpress.com)
8 Comments on “The Deals We Make with ourselves…”
Leave a Reply
Places I read
some places i hang out
Pam Bustin 
Thanks, Pam, just what I needed today.
Hello you!
Thanks for stopping by and glad this could ease a lil dread – if it was dread that needing easing 😉
Happy scribbling -p
Hi Pam,
I recently read Stephen King’s “Memoir of the Craft.” In his book he talks about having a goal of 2,000 words per day. If it takes him all day he has to make his 2,000 word/day goal.
For some reason this seemed new to me. Two years ago I had a time limit for myself. I got up and spent 1.5 hours writing every morning and managed to write a memoir (still haven’t self-published it but I am almost there:)) After reading King’s memoir I really liked the idea of a word-goal per day.
Lately I have just been saying ‘write everyday’ with no goal but knowing that I have to write to keep me sane and a happy productive mother. Thank you for this post because I do feel that a more concrete routine and goal could benefit me more.
I am new to your blog so you may have stated this somewhere but I was wondering if you a place and time of day that works well for your writing life. Or do you write your 1,000 words throughout the day?
Thank you for the post and I really love your writing voice!
Hey Marlene, Thanks for stopping by.
Congrats on finishing the Memoir and good luck with the publishing.
I love King’s book. Great read, and fabulous insight and advice for us all. I plan to add a “resources for writers” page to the site and his book will be at the TOP of my list of recommends.
RE: WHEN I WRITE:
These days I tend to write in the mornings – first thing is best for me.
I’ve gone through many phases… began as “writing late into the night” gal. Moved through the “writing around the job-job” times.
These days, I am blessed with the freedom to dive in to my current novel right after my first coffee and my “morning scribble” – which is writing too, but a much looser thing than the focused hours or word count I aim for with the ongoing project.
I look forward to reading some more of your blog.
I found it, last night, when I was searching for things from HOME.
Ahh Saskatchewan.
go easy -p
Ahhh! A Saskatchewan Girl! Where are you from? The prairies have a way of sinking into your pores and clinging on doesn’t it.
I have found that the morning thing works best for me as well. Sometimes that even distracts me and it can take me a while to get back on track.
Love your blog too and I look forward to reading more. I look forward to that resource page:) and hearing more about your novel!
Born in Regina and raised in a host of small towns across the prairies 😉
Love where I am now, but… yeah… the big sky still calls my blood.
Pingback: Memoir Writing: Discover Your Life: How is it going? « Marlene Luneng
Pingback: Shake and Bake 73: Boons and Blessings Abound! | pambustin