Prioritizing the Joy of Writing Over Everything Else
It seems everywhere you turn, there are expectations heaped upon you. Those from family, friends, colleagues, and community, and you also have high expectations heaped on yourself to be better, stronger, smarter, and more successful. Now, couple that with being an author. Whether you’re rocking your writing as a full-time endeavor or must squeeze time to write around other obligations, you’ve unwittingly added more to your never-ending list.
As an author, you have expectations you willingly take on even from people you don’t know. This happens each time you tune into the media, especially social media. Instagram alone requires the participant to “keep up with the Jones’,” your friends, celebrities, and everyone else who posts pictures of their “seemingly” perfect life. And don’t forget, being an author today is like running a business. This fast pace of never-ending expectations can quickly pull you away from the joy of writing.
Now what?
It may be time to put a pin in it all, take a deep breath, and consider why you decided to become an author in the first place. I’ve asked some of my author friends to offer their thoughts for inspiration.
When expectations come barreling in, how do they focus on their “why?” And how do they prioritize the joy of writing over everything else?
“Recently, I took several months off from writing. It became a grind, and I needed the time to promote my book, Black Yéʼii, because it came out Jan. 2. But the result of my time off from writing gave me a new spark, a drive, and renewed the fun I feel when I write. I had no idea the time off would do that, but I find I write often, write longer, and enjoy the process more.” ~ Joseph Lewis, best-selling and award-winning author of The Lives Trilogy.
“Writing is my lifeline- it has gotten me through the toughest times and has given me joy when little else has. The best way I’ve found to conquer the “chatter, criticism, competition, and cut downs” is to remind myself of all the rewards I have reaped and the goals I am pursuing and to push harder to reach them. When I compare myself to others, I challenge myself to achieve more while simultaneously reminding myself of the successes I’ve achieved that I never could have imagined when I started. Persistence is my mantra. What I love most about the writing journey is knowing that I am bringing something into the world that will move and inspire others.” ~ Deborah L. Staunton, Poet and Children’s Book Author.
“I’ve always related to what I thought was a Hemingway quote: Writing is easy. All you have to do is stand in front of a typewriter and bleed. Apparently, he never said it, but I bet he thought it. A lot. As I was writing Property of the Revolution, I stopped looking for joy as I wrote. If it came to me, it was after a good day’s work, when I’d realize I’d been in a flow-state for most of the day—hours passing, unaware of everything around me as I explored a world as real as the one I was returning to. Words stitched together had done that, and there is always joy in that discovery.” ~ Ana Hebra Flaster, Author of Property of the Revolution.
“What I love most about the writing journey is the process of creating something from nothing. Although my book is nonfiction, there was still a motivating spark or passion that provided me with a vision of what I wanted to accomplish. A good amount of research then allowed me to outline the book in broad strokes, eventually filling in the gaps to create an initial table of contents. That milestone provided Immense satisfaction and the motivation to soldier on with the difficult task of writing. To remain motivated over the long writing and publication time horizon, you may need to regularly remind yourself of why the project is important to you and of the utility and meaning it will provide to your eventual audience. Those reminders will be especially important during the humbling process of securing a publisher.” ~ Philippe Johnson, author of What Hangs in the Balance.
“Feeding your heart and soul is every bit as important as eating healthy food and exercising. Rank your time writing at the top of your priorities, and do not allow other matters to intrude. A happy life requires nourishing your mind, body, and spirit. Sacrificing something you love for mundane concerns will compromise your connection with the muses you depend on in the unseen world. I believe it’s important to cherish and celebrate every step. Whether it’s the excitement of that first draft, plodding through character and story development, or that final edit, each phase is important and meant to be not only enjoyed but savored.” ~ Marcha Fox, author of The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon Trilogy, Star Trails Tetralogy, retired NASA physicist, professional astrologer, and owner of Kalliope Rising Press.
“I write for love and money. Writing is my livelihood as a journalist and author, but also the source of great joy, as I write from my intellect to pay the bills, and from the heart to save my sanity. In my second book, Writing To Save Your Life, I wrote about the cathartic and healing properties of writing. I even trademarked the process, scribotherapy. Writing can also change how you look at the world and how you see yourself. Exploring your life through writing for the purpose of discovery and expansion can be life-changing. In other words, you can take back control of events you have not been in control of. Writing is an exercise of faith in the power of language and words to make a difference.” ~ Michele Weldon, Author, Journalist, Storyteller & Editor.
“The only way I can push aside the distractions is to get up early, drink two cups of strong coffee, and make writing the very next thing. When I am at my best, I finish my writing before I read or listen to any media, answer my phone, or look at email. Even the smallest distraction drags on me. For me, research is fun, and writing is hard. I don’t do any research until I have done the best writing I can do for that day.” ~ Robert B. O’Connor, author of Jeep Show: A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge.
If you’re ready to choose the joy of writing over unnecessary expectations—even for fifteen minutes a day—give yourself a pat on the back. Then, look at what you’re committing to versus what you really and truly need to do. Take time to identify the valid expectations you feel are important (and necessary). These probably include family, work, health, etc. Then, choose to disregard (or intermittently attend to) the others. This should give you plenty of time on your calendar to indulge in the joy of writing over everything else.
Remember, it’s all a choice, which is up to you. I hope you choose joy.
