Actually, I don’t advocate being rude. Ever.
Except for sometimes.
But here’s the simple truth: Writers need time to write. Doesn’t have to be a lot of time, because some folks can truly accomplish a lot without much, but time is essential. Time, and a little room to breathe (even if that room is a closet, or a chair in the corner surrounded by dogs and people).
Not everyone understands this. Some people deliberately misunderstand this. You know who they are. They think that writing isn’t really work, and that’s it’s not important. Blah, blah, blah. It doesn’t get any better if you’re published and writing full time. You work at home, right? So your schedule must always be free.
Writing demands time management. Some might call that selfishness, but most folks leave the house every day from 9 to 5, and that’s not selfish. That’s survival. That’s earning a living. That’s called putting in your time.
I don’t have tips for time management. I’m not organized. I wish I was. But that works out okay for me. Everyone has their own body rhythm and way of doing things. Today I got out of bed at 7:30 AM, took the poodle out, rubbed some kitty heads, ate breakfast, made tea, watched a bit of the news, and now I’m writing this blog entry. It’s 8:40 AM. By 9 AM I’ll be working on the book. I’m going to finish a chapter by 10 AM, then take a break to work on some comic book stuff. By 11 AM, I’ll go back to the book and finish another chapter. By 1 PM, I’ll return to the comics. Then take a break for an early dinner. Then I go back to work. I’ll go to bed tonight around 10 or 11 PM (probably later, actually). Tomorrow I’ll work in the morning, but Daisy is getting groomed and that’s a perfect time for me to go grocery shopping because I haven’t been to the store in almost two weeks, and dude, I need to eat. I’ll come home in the afternoon, relax a little, and then work on the novel. And so on, and so on.
That’s how I get things done.
(Actually, that’s a lie – well, no it’s not an exact lie – but I don’t follow any schedule to the minute. If 10 AM rolls around and I’m ready to write another chapter of the novel, I’ll just write it. If I’m not ready to let go of the novel until this evening, then I won’t let go. But before I go to bed, rest assured I’ll get the comic book work done, too. The times I write down are more for motivation, than anything else. Also, to help me keep track of time, because it’s amazing how quickly the days go.)
Here are some time management links that are interesting to read:
Time Is Not on Your Side:Time Management Tips for Writers