When I first started writing, I was distracted by practically everything\u2014dirty dishes in the sink, dust on the coffee table, barking dogs, kittens wanting to play, phone calls, lunch invitations\u2026 It\u2019s a wonder I got any writing done. And remember, these were the days before computers. I handwrote my articles and books and then typed them out on a manual typewriter. <\/p>\n
Producing an article then could take days. Receiving an acceptance or rejection letter could take weeks. Receiving a check took months. Now, I can write an article and be paid for it within hours. <\/p>\n
Back then, instead of an iPad, I carried a steno pad everywhere I went. (For those of you who were born into the technology age, a steno pad is a tablet comprised of paper.) I could write anywhere and I did. I wrote while traveling, in front of the TV, while waiting in the doctor\u2019s or dentist\u2019s office and at my daughters\u2019 sports events, for example. <\/p>\n
Eventually, I was able to commit to writing certain hours during the day whether there were dogs barking and dishes in the sink or not. I developed a habit. I began letting the answering machine pick up. I returned phone calls after my \u201cwork\u201d hours. I was consistent, thus I trained my friends and family to respect my writing time and, in the process, I began to take myself more seriously.<\/p>\n
Today, I spend most of my time writing, promoting my books and working with other authors. I put in 8 to 10-hour days and I often work every day of the week.<\/p>\n
How much time do you devote to your writing projects? Are you accomplishing as much as you want? Have you made a strong commitment to your writing work or are you still a bit wishy washy about it? <\/p>\n
There are generally two things that get in the way of a stern writing commitment. Both of them fall back on you! If you don\u2019t take your writing seriously and yourself seriously as a writer, you won\u2019t get much writing work done.<\/p>\n
And if you live a life full of obligations and activities, you won\u2019t get much writing work done unless you make some changes.<\/p>\n
Have you added writing to your busy schedule? How did you make room for it? What did you change\/give up? <\/p>\n
Have you found a way to honor your commitment to writing? What caused you to make this decision? <\/p>\n
Leave your comments here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When I first started writing, I was distracted by practically everything\u2014dirty dishes in the sink, dust on the coffee table, barking dogs, kittens wanting to play, phone calls, lunch invitations\u2026 It\u2019s a wonder I got any writing done. And remember, these were the days before computers. I handwrote my articles and books and then typed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t