I will confess that for years I complained that I didn’t have time to write. I had a problem but it wasn’t time, or desire or even really commitment either. It was fear and discomfort. Those first few minutes of a writing session were often daunting and uncomfortable so I avoided them. It was a failure to push past the struggle phase so common in the early minutes of a writing session before the work begins to flow. When I built a habit of sitting down to write every morning first for 30 minutes, then 45, then 60 without giving up I went from complaining about no time to write to writing the equivalent of a book length body of work every year. The thing I learned was when you keep write past the voices in your head that tell you that you can’t do this, they disappear and the whole process gets easier.
I whole-heartedly agree!! Its commitment to the craft…the art..hands down! At different points early in my writing I, too, said I needed more time but through the years of growing I now know without a doubt if I am not writing the way ”I” want..I am not putting in the commitment to doing so. Nice reminder, thanks!
With all due respect—you know I admire your writing—this post is one sided.
Of course, commitment is key. That’s why we are here on Substack. But sometimes, commitment ain’t enough, as *life* intervenes.
I have not written a post in two weeks and I feel awful about it. I barely even had time to respond to your meaningful thread on why we don’t have time to write, sorry! Why?
It’s an incredibly busy time of the year with my 8th grader’s quiz championship tournaments March-May with intense coaching, team travel around the country, back to back rounds of tournaments all day, and taking care of life and household matters. My husband travels on and off, and by 9 pm, by the time I am done with multiple drop offs and pick ups, cooking, cleaning, coaching, winding up my work (my day job is consulting senior writer at the World Bank), I am dead meat. I also have mild chronic issues wherein it’s important I get rest when things get too intense. And sigh, I am also a perfectionist who has trouble putting something quick out there, I confess. My Substack, Imperfectly Perfect, is as much a reminder to myself as to the world, to let go and always stay optimistic!
I still write—we can’t stop ourselves, can we? Ideas on the iPhone, starts to posts, even ideas for new Substack lo and behold (!), maybe a Note, and responses to Notes to feel less guilty. I also try to read more and am steeped in ancient history and the Sumerians these days.
I n the meanwhile, I see posts flying in per minute into my Inbox like no one’s business and I feel further guilty that I am not trying hard enough (anyone else?).
The French philosopher, Jean Paul Sartre, talked about “mauvaise foi” or bad faith in his Existentialism is a Humanism, which struck me as a teen, eons back. We alone are responsible for our actions. So if I don’t write as often as I’d like to, it’s my problem to fix. I get that. But sometimes, commitment and passion are not enough.
But I am hopeful June gets me back on solid ground.🤞🏼
And, I realize, maybe I should convert this response into a post and feel less guilty?:) Thoughts?
I hope have offended no one in the spirit of honesty🤞🏼
I hear you on the certain pockets of time getting so full with the life of it all. Single Mom here and the kid's activities, work, scheduling, and health stuff they get so hectic. Also, dating too (for me). This post from Alex made me smile and nod because there is, for me, some time that I can give to writing. It's there. The writing may be good, short, meh, but it can be done. That's my reaction.
I think that you could convert your response into a post and just now - you were thoughtful, sharing your perspective, and writing. I think the biggest thing too, as people, parents, and mothers - we don't need to put more guilt on the pile. You rock out and conquer all the things that you need to handle and then carve out a little space for yourself to write - it doesn't have to be perfect, but you can do it. (Also, I'm saying all of this to you and myself at the same time). Happy writing :)
Respect to you as single mom, Angela. I am single mom pockets of the month, and it’s so tedious with my zealous son! I admire those who do it solo. All the best with dating—that can be a merry respite:)Thank you for the words—nothing like a soul sister to uplift. Yes, we don’t need any more guilt, no, and yes, there is time to write. It sometimes gets buried under life, but after all, we wrote all of this, thanks to Alex!:) Take care and thanks for the nudge and love. Back to you too.
Thanks for your words and we all need to hear - you can do it. We need to hear it over and over. Btw, merry respite made me chuckle :) Yes, it can be and it can be work too 🤗 but I'm good. All the best. Cheers.
I aspire to write as a senior age person. I am almost eight zero ! It takes time to organize the commitment. But I am going on. This month may prove some results. Thanks for the encouragement …
Indeed. And if time really is tight, how about speaking into a microphone and getting it transcribed? Loads of services and software have basic transcription baked in these days.
Dictation helps to get your conversational voice down, it's quicker than typing, and you don't have a dreaded blank page to stare at when you begin. There's definitely time to speak a few words out loud...That's enough time to write!
yes exactly, though I feel this is an entirely new skill - I'd find speaking my writing awkward, but it's something I will look into. Have you done it?
Yep, I do it loads now. But, like you, I used to find it awkward...Even though I'm fine with speaking to audiences at conferences and the like, and even though I've got no problem with podcasting.
Took me years to find ease with dictating stuff. But once I found a flow, it was like a massive upgrade.
Don't dip in and out over all those years. Just try again and again on a regular basis until you find what works. As with practically everything, regular practice makes the magic happen.
To me, it's exactly like 'making time' to exercise daily. You just do it. It's easier for me to make time for daily exercise, which seems illogical because it involves physical activity. Writing simply requires sitting, and being alone with one's thoughts -- the challenge is transferring those thoughts to screen via keyboard. The only answer: keep at it.
I will confess that for years I complained that I didn’t have time to write. I had a problem but it wasn’t time, or desire or even really commitment either. It was fear and discomfort. Those first few minutes of a writing session were often daunting and uncomfortable so I avoided them. It was a failure to push past the struggle phase so common in the early minutes of a writing session before the work begins to flow. When I built a habit of sitting down to write every morning first for 30 minutes, then 45, then 60 without giving up I went from complaining about no time to write to writing the equivalent of a book length body of work every year. The thing I learned was when you keep write past the voices in your head that tell you that you can’t do this, they disappear and the whole process gets easier.
I whole-heartedly agree!! Its commitment to the craft…the art..hands down! At different points early in my writing I, too, said I needed more time but through the years of growing I now know without a doubt if I am not writing the way ”I” want..I am not putting in the commitment to doing so. Nice reminder, thanks!
sure thing!
As soon as I saw the length of this reply I thought that’s exactly where you could begin 😊
Hi Alex,
With all due respect—you know I admire your writing—this post is one sided.
Of course, commitment is key. That’s why we are here on Substack. But sometimes, commitment ain’t enough, as *life* intervenes.
I have not written a post in two weeks and I feel awful about it. I barely even had time to respond to your meaningful thread on why we don’t have time to write, sorry! Why?
It’s an incredibly busy time of the year with my 8th grader’s quiz championship tournaments March-May with intense coaching, team travel around the country, back to back rounds of tournaments all day, and taking care of life and household matters. My husband travels on and off, and by 9 pm, by the time I am done with multiple drop offs and pick ups, cooking, cleaning, coaching, winding up my work (my day job is consulting senior writer at the World Bank), I am dead meat. I also have mild chronic issues wherein it’s important I get rest when things get too intense. And sigh, I am also a perfectionist who has trouble putting something quick out there, I confess. My Substack, Imperfectly Perfect, is as much a reminder to myself as to the world, to let go and always stay optimistic!
I still write—we can’t stop ourselves, can we? Ideas on the iPhone, starts to posts, even ideas for new Substack lo and behold (!), maybe a Note, and responses to Notes to feel less guilty. I also try to read more and am steeped in ancient history and the Sumerians these days.
I n the meanwhile, I see posts flying in per minute into my Inbox like no one’s business and I feel further guilty that I am not trying hard enough (anyone else?).
The French philosopher, Jean Paul Sartre, talked about “mauvaise foi” or bad faith in his Existentialism is a Humanism, which struck me as a teen, eons back. We alone are responsible for our actions. So if I don’t write as often as I’d like to, it’s my problem to fix. I get that. But sometimes, commitment and passion are not enough.
But I am hopeful June gets me back on solid ground.🤞🏼
And, I realize, maybe I should convert this response into a post and feel less guilty?:) Thoughts?
I hope have offended no one in the spirit of honesty🤞🏼
I hear you on the certain pockets of time getting so full with the life of it all. Single Mom here and the kid's activities, work, scheduling, and health stuff they get so hectic. Also, dating too (for me). This post from Alex made me smile and nod because there is, for me, some time that I can give to writing. It's there. The writing may be good, short, meh, but it can be done. That's my reaction.
I think that you could convert your response into a post and just now - you were thoughtful, sharing your perspective, and writing. I think the biggest thing too, as people, parents, and mothers - we don't need to put more guilt on the pile. You rock out and conquer all the things that you need to handle and then carve out a little space for yourself to write - it doesn't have to be perfect, but you can do it. (Also, I'm saying all of this to you and myself at the same time). Happy writing :)
well said Angela - you got this
Respect to you as single mom, Angela. I am single mom pockets of the month, and it’s so tedious with my zealous son! I admire those who do it solo. All the best with dating—that can be a merry respite:)Thank you for the words—nothing like a soul sister to uplift. Yes, we don’t need any more guilt, no, and yes, there is time to write. It sometimes gets buried under life, but after all, we wrote all of this, thanks to Alex!:) Take care and thanks for the nudge and love. Back to you too.
Thanks for your words and we all need to hear - you can do it. We need to hear it over and over. Btw, merry respite made me chuckle :) Yes, it can be and it can be work too 🤗 but I'm good. All the best. Cheers.
No offence taken!
Brilliant. I always think that commitment beats motivation any day. Great post.
It sure does - you just need to find it, and keep re-finding it.
This was a beautiful read thanks for sharing your secret.
thanks!
'You must love the craft before you start. This is commitment.'
Well said, Alex. The main thing is our genuine passion and dedication to writing.
My pleasure man
I aspire to write as a senior age person. I am almost eight zero ! It takes time to organize the commitment. But I am going on. This month may prove some results. Thanks for the encouragement …
Well done Figen, we are rooting for you!
Indeed. And if time really is tight, how about speaking into a microphone and getting it transcribed? Loads of services and software have basic transcription baked in these days.
Dictation helps to get your conversational voice down, it's quicker than typing, and you don't have a dreaded blank page to stare at when you begin. There's definitely time to speak a few words out loud...That's enough time to write!
yes exactly, though I feel this is an entirely new skill - I'd find speaking my writing awkward, but it's something I will look into. Have you done it?
Yep, I do it loads now. But, like you, I used to find it awkward...Even though I'm fine with speaking to audiences at conferences and the like, and even though I've got no problem with podcasting.
Took me years to find ease with dictating stuff. But once I found a flow, it was like a massive upgrade.
Excellent Martin - do you have a tip or two that you wish you knew about the process sooner?
Don't dip in and out over all those years. Just try again and again on a regular basis until you find what works. As with practically everything, regular practice makes the magic happen.
you got it
I woke up at 1am out of the blue and felt the need to write in my journal. Now, 4:30am, I am about to finish writing my next newsletter.
Reading this just solidified my passion for writing. I CAN find the time.
My man! Just make sure you find some time for sleep too!
Thank you! And you’re right, I’ll make sure to get the Z’s I need haha
enjoy!
To me, it's exactly like 'making time' to exercise daily. You just do it. It's easier for me to make time for daily exercise, which seems illogical because it involves physical activity. Writing simply requires sitting, and being alone with one's thoughts -- the challenge is transferring those thoughts to screen via keyboard. The only answer: keep at it.
so true Gordon
Thanks for this post Alex. It came at the right time and was a good reminder. It's much appreciated.
My pleasure Angela