Writing Worry 37: Taking a break means giving up
Between working full-time and a toddler, I've been fortunate enough to squeeze in 30-60 minutes of writing most nights. That time has been split between editing my thriller Safe Word, preparing my contemporary erotic Spar for publication in October, reviewing a manuscript for another author and getting pieces ready for my writing groups. It's been a busy time and progress has been slow but consistent.
In a few months, we will be welcoming another little being into our house. Lil Mr. Peanut expected arrival in November has motivated me to get as much writing done as I can. I know what those first few months after birth are like. The first time around the only time I found to write was editing while pumping at 2AM. This time around, I'll be lucky to get a few minutes of writing time every week.
As my daughter grows, I know there will come a time when she will be able to stay up passed 7PM. Because I work full-time, I value the time I have at home with my family. Given the choice between spending time with them and spending time in front of a computer screen, I'd rather the former even though the later would be better for developing my writing skills.
Heading into a pause in writing, I feel a sense of morning. I often worry that walking away from a story dooms it to the trunk. Although Spar was resurrected from the trunk after several years. I fear that Safe Word will never be ready for submission. In addition to some fact checking errors that will require revising whole scenes and a character, my new writing group has pointed out some deficiencies that are globally present throughout the work. I know there's a lot of work to be done.
Worst of all, I fear that taking a break means I am giving up on my dream of being an author who publishes regularly. I've taken breaks before in college or when my life got too complicated or when I was at a loss as to what to write. Through it all the one thing that keeps me coming back to writing is the need to tell stories. That doesn't go away. But the form that need expresses itself by changes.
So the clock ticks down on this last season of writing before parenthood requires my full attention. If posts on this blog get more sporadic, that is why. In the coming months, I'll also be gearing up for Spar's release October 14. I love this gay romantic erotica set in a martial arts dojo. It was the inspiration for Josh's character from Wolf Creek. I just handed in the cover art request and hope to share an amazing cover soon.
