I’ve Got Time to Write. Now What?
Time was working against me finishing my book. Now it’s just me.
I’m out of excuses. I’ve spent months and months bitching to my life coach (she and I do a service swap and I highly recommend her: https://www.lathamfrenchconsulting.com/) about how I don’t have time. Just not enough time exists for me to do all the things I want to do (#1: write a book) on top of all the things I have to do. Some of this absence of time is real—caused by, say, my questionable choice to drive my son 20 to 30 minutes outside our neighborhood to school for the past ten years. And some of this absence of time is perhaps more perceived: I procrastinate. If I find time to write but can’t come up with the next sentence, well… there’s internet porn, which for me means browsing Redfin, scouring vintage furniture sites, and falling down celebrity rabbit holes.
Starting last week, I got 10+ hours back every single week. Ten freaking hours! My son now walks to and from high school, which means I get back around 2 hours every day that I had previously spent in the car. Since I currently work from home, this means that although I live in Los Angeles, days go by in which I don’t drive. It’s glorious.
This seismic shift away from parenting responsibilities means I’ve officially entered a brand new chapter of my life. No, I’m not an empty-nester, but I’m a 50-something mom of a high-schooler, and I am reclaiming my time. As thrilling as it feels, I’m also scared. There is—right at this current moment in my life—nothing between me and getting my writing done but myself. I was just gifted 10 extra hours a week. Will I make the most of that time?
Already, I’m seeing hints of my own lack of discipline. Because my son’s morning schedule shifted to later, I’m sleeping in longer. Because my husband works such long hours, I’m staying up later to watch TV with him, so we at least have some time together during the week. During the days, I’m spending more time on student feedback, answering emails, writing my newsletter… I’m doing a lot of things that aren’t actually writing my book. Having more time does not guarantee the work gets done.
I have no new writing advice for you in this blog. I have my mantras that I’ve shared before: Write in the mornings. Don’t wait for long stretches of uninterrupted time; write even if only for 15 minutes. Write freely and badly as long as you write. But now I wonder, will I myself follow my own advice? Let me know: What is your #1 greatest hurdle to overcome in your writing practice? What kind of writing time or writing space do you dream about having? What are you doing to claim that for yourself? How are you pushing your writing forward even without it? I’d love to hear from you, and thanks for letting me share my journey as well.