Writing Guilt
When my writing is going well, the piece I’m working on is always at the back of my mind. It’s almost like it takes on a life of its own, tugging at me to come back to my desk and keep going.
And I want to.
That’s where the guilt comes in. It sometimes feels self-indulgent to spend so much time working on my writing when it’s not my main source of income or helping me to raise my children. Here are some ways I work on keeping the guilt in check:
1. Get up early and write before everyone else wakes up.
2. Remind myself frequently that I’d be grumpy if I didn’t write – I need the mental peace it brings.
3. Pile on the praise to family members who are supportive of my writing time.
4. Suggest the children watch a Harry Potter movie (for the 28th time).
5. Remember I’m a role model for my children – and my future readers. Isn’t working towards a dream something I want to model?
– Andrea
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I experience writing guilt at times. I like your list of how you work at keeping guilt in check. Thanks for sharing.
Uh … you’re not suggesting there’s something wrong with watching a Harry Potter movie 28 times, are you? How do you write with one of them on your TV anyway? Every my kids pop one in the DVD player, I’m sucked right into it.
Most of my writing time is after my kids go to sleep. But I think it is important to model to our kids that we work towards what we want in life. Now, any suggestions on overcoming guilt about not hanging out with my husband? Right now, I write in the most used room of the house so everyone knows they can interrupt me. It’s annoying and it slows me down, and I snap if they abuse the privilege, but I’ve gotten really good at blocking the sound of my husband reading me Twitter news feeds.
Kate, if my office wasn’t upstairs away from the TV I’d be watching too! I’m working on getting my husband away from his iPod – he spends his time reading news, car articles, and the NY Times online.
Andrea, I really, really needed to read this post! Can I just say you’ve seem to have read my thoughts? I keep thinking, is this worth all the time I put into this? Should I be spending my time elsewhere?
But there is something powerful about working towards a dream! You are right. And I would be grumpy if I wasn’t writing, too. Thank you!