Posted by on Jun 6, 2012 in Writing Life | 13 comments

I’ve been getting some questions lately, and several of them are entire-post worthy. Today, I’m starting with a rather simple one for those of us who have already jumped into the writing world, but mind-boggling for writers who struggle to get started.

The question: How do you actually fit writing into such a fun, complicated, exciting, busy, sometimes stressful, already jam-packed life of parenting, taxes and oreo-eating?

Answer? I just do!

Most writers did not graduate high school or college and instantly become novelists. (Yes, there are some who do. I don’t know any.)

Writers I know have other jobs, are parents, and have avoided writing in one way or another because they are waiting for  the perfect time to simply start writing.

My advice?

Don’t wait! Get started. If you’re called to write, meant to write, dream to write there is no time like right now to get started.

Start small. Start with a simple notebook.

Brainstorm the ideas that are ping-ponging around inside your head. Write them down.

I know other writers will tell you to set a goal of 1000 words per day. It’s a great average to shoot for. But I’m going to tell you, DON’T LISTEN TO THOSE OTHER PEOPLE. You write when you can write. A few hours each Saturday. One hour each night after the kids go to bed. Thirty minutes each morning or every other morning.

I don’t care when you write or how much you accomplish each individual sitting. Anyone who thinks they have a burning desire to write should listen to that desire/calling and get started.

Waiting for the perfect time, doesn’t work. I’ve had so many friends tell me that they were waiting to have a baby—waiting for that next job promotion or the time to switch jobs. Waiting until they can afford the bigger house. Waiting until they lose ten more pounds. Waiting until the perfect time. Although there are people who should wait for one reason or another, most of the time? All those reasons to wait are just excuses. FEAR! There is no perfect time to reach for your dream.

There are a million-and-one reasons to never pick up that pen. To never open a new Word document and start typing. There are a million-and-one reasons to flee, run, sprint from the publishing industry. The odds are definitely stacked against us. But the odds are further stacked against you if you don’t get started.

What is the Powerball slogan? You can’t win if you don’t play?

Or Nike? Just Do It.

Should I go on? Probably not.

Because I know it’s easy for me to say this than for you to take the advice and get started, I want to know… What’s the most common reason people procrastinate starting their novel? What are you waiting for?

And if you are already writing? Did it take you long from the moment you decided to write to actually start writing? Did you ever get tripped up and take a break?

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  • JulieJarnagin

    I procrastinated for years, but I finally decided that if writing is really important to me, I needed to make it a priority!

  • Jessica R. Patch

    I am laughing at Julie’s comment as the fact she procrastinated does not surprise me! LOL 

    When I decided to write, I wrote. But then after I wrote my VERY first novel…I took a break because I knew it wasn’t what I should be writing. I can’t find that joker anywhere. The plot was stinking solid too. Ha!

    • http://heathersunseri.com Heather Sunseri

      I have my first novel! It’s awesome!!!!! Of course, no one will ever know just how awesome. I have this recurring nightmare that I’m a famous author and someone finds that first brilliant work and leaks it to the press. Kind of like standing up in front of a huge group of people only to discover you’re naked.

  • Jennifer Major

    For half of our 23 years together, hubs has been telling me to write. Asking me to write. Questioning why I haven’t written yet. So….

     Boxing Day evening, 2011. It was late, everyone had gone to bed. I sat down and began. Now I’m “finished”. Bahahaha. I am a tweaker. I’ll never be 100% finished. 

    I feel like jello because I’ve given up 6 months of gym time to write. But now, my heart feels great!

  • http://lindsayharrel.blogspot.com/ Lindsay Harrel

    I started itching to write when I started grad school and took a fiction class. I loved it. And I thought, “I want to try to write a novel.” But I knew myself…if I started writing while in school and working full time, I would ignore school, or I would get discouraged and give up on writing. So the week after I graduated, I started working on my novel. I’m just glad I finally did it. You’re right…there is always something else standing in your way!

  • http://twitter.com/slbolmer Stephanie L. Bolmer

    It took me a long time to realize what you have also realized–that it’s really just fear that is getting in my way. When I started getting up early everyday before the rest of my world is awake and finally writing my first novel, it felt so good! I admit that there have been times when I have gotten off track with my schedule since then, but knowing that I did that then reminds me that I can do it again now. Thanks for the reminder to seize the day!

    • http://heathersunseri.com Heather Sunseri

      Unfortunately, I get off track with my schedule about every other day. :)

  • http://www.katieganshert.com/blog Katie Ganshert

    Lately, I’ve been letting the excuse of promotion and waiting for a revision letter stop me from diving into my next project!

  • Jill Kemerer

    Can I please tell anyone waiting “until they have a baby” to NOT WAIT!! Babies will take up all your time!! (ha!)

    When I started writing, I was going to college full time, working full time, and teaching Sunday School at church. I had NO TIME. But I found pockets of time to write, and I fell in love. It was exactly what I needed to keep me sane.

    Now, I’m very protective of my writing hours. Sure, I have days where I procrastinate like a champ, but for the most part, I still get it done!

    (Jennifer M.–congrats on finishing your book!!)

    • Jennifer Major

      I second the NOT waiting until they have a baby!!! Oh my, I wonder how many years of sleep I lost…
      Thank you Jill. That was very nice.

      • http://heathersunseri.com Heather Sunseri

        Funny! That wasn’t quite what I meant. I was simply comparing how some people wait until they have everything in place before trying to have a baby with how some people put off writing that book until everything is perfect. But I can see how I didn’t explain that very well.

        Because you both are right, waiting until after a baby to write a book is probably not the best timing. :)

  • Jennifer Major

    I probably would have begun writing much sooner, but we had a surprise baby and he kind of threw off the plans that WE had made. Nothing says “wow, I’m 40!” like leaving the party to nurse your infant. Oh yeah. 
    My advice on trying anything new? DO it NOW! 

  • A. L. Sonnichsen

    Very good advice! Now that my kids are out of school I have to find new times to write. It’s challenging! Today I felt stress because I didn’t think I’d have time to work without interruption. I had to remind myself to get started (stop procrastinating!) and do as much as I could. If I didn’t get anything significant accomplished, oh well. At least I started. And I got more done than I thought I would, so there you go. :)