Carrying on carrying on


My family have recently been ill with a bug. My youngest (a boy) tends to keep on going until he drops but from time to time bursts into tears for no apparent reason. My daughter, who is a couple of years older, takes up residence on the couch and hugs the remote control to her like a teddy bear. My husband just generally humphs around the house, sniffing and coughing, and occasionally disappearing to bed.


In the meantime, I carry on. I make their meals. I do my own share of household tasks plus my husband's. I enquire after their health - would they like a drink, are they warm enough? I do the shopping. I attempt to get on with my writing. I let them control the TV viewing. I fetch blankets, give cuddles and check their temperatures. I'm no martyr or saint. It's necessary for me to get on with things so they can get well and life can return to normal. Get through this day to get to the next. Keep on your feet and the distractions can't catch you.

It's the same with writing. We all know how easy it is to be distracted by the internet or TV or the thought that we haven't talked to that friend in ages and it would be remiss of us to leave it any longer. Distractions come in many shapes and guises but they only impede our writing progress as much as we will let them. The best way to write is to get on with it. Write, write some more, carry on through the distractions and before you know it, you've written a page, a chapter, a whole novel. Nobody is going to do your writing for you. You just have to put your head down and do it.

Comments

  1. I couldn't agree more. Distractions are everywhere, but you have to focus on writing and just do it. Sorry your family is sick. I hope they all feel better soon, and maybe you can get a little break from running the house.

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  2. Thanks Kelly. They all recovered and went back to school/work. I have a peaceful house again.

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  3. You are soooo right. Hope your family gets well soon and you stay flu-free.

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  4. Sometimes I find if I don't take the phone off the hook the world barges in and occupies me full time! Even when you're home people tend to think you're not doing anything and they can invite you out or stop in for hours at a time. I havn't quite figured out how to be stricter about this without causing offence, but it is a problem.

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  5. Finding balance is such a challenge - it's wonderful to have friends and family and such, but they never seem to work out their schedule with the muse ahead of time.

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  6. I had the same problem a couple of years ago with friends popping over at any ol' time. What I finally did was to gently explain that, like them who worked in offices, I couldn't just pop into where they worked and say "Let's go for coffee or shopping", and like them, I have work time and I have leisure time. It helps if you have regular work hours (mine are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm) since I'm a full time freelance writer and now I'm working on two break-out novels. Most understood when I put it that way, and the ones that didn't (and there were a couple) simply fell by the wayside when they didn't respect that. One has recently called to finally say she now understands, and she makes it a point now to call only after those hours, and I made it point to accept the invite to go for an evening coffee with her to make up. But I stuck to my guns... I'm afraid you may hurt feelings, but that is their choice, not yours, and you need to be firm but gentle. However, sickness in the family is a different thing. LOL Family comes first...to a certain degree. Glad everyone is OK, and happy writing.

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  7. I am glad everyone recovered, and happy to see you were able to construct a thoughtful post in the midst of it all. :)

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  8. Excellent post Fi. Something I'm very good at writing about, but when it comes to my very own writing then I get distracted by everything!

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  9. Always good to be reminded of how easily distracting life is, thank you!

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  10. Great reminder! That is the only way to get 'er done! I came over from SheWrites, amazed at how many blogs you have. Followed you on NetworkedBlogs and am popping off to look at your other blogs now :)

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