Writers hear it all day, every day. It plagues their lives. Haunts them from the shadows. Laughs at them in the bathroom. Every time a free moment presents itself, that creepy voice gasps, “write everyday”.
But how the fuck can one do such a thing when in order to be a GOOD writer, one must first and foremost, LIVE. I love this horrendously shitty conundrum. For the longest time I said, “Screw it!” and broke the rules. I’d write whenever the hell I felt like it and somehow still produced a mountain of work. Because in truth, if you want to write and actually get published, you’ll put in the work.
Now for some of the writers that struggle with this, I think it’s an issue of over-complicating things. So often we overlook the little writing moments because it’s not focused storytelling. But your blog post…THAT’S WRITING! I don’t know about anyone else but I still enjoy writing a good handwritten letter (Love letters to my muse are the best). If you jot down story ideas, THAT’S WRITING!
I was lucky enough to get a Mon-Fri day job where I have to, you guessed it, WRITE. These are little things that help a writer stay on their game. It might not seem like much. Hell, a tweet can often ignite that creative spark and send the idea factory whirring away.
And not only do these little moments matter in the world of keeping at your craft, but the time presents itself more often than we’d like to admit. Lunch breaks, when you get to work 5 or 10 minutes early, right before bed, if you wake up early, in the shower, in the car (voice recorders are a thing people). Can’t sleep? Don’t just lay there staring at nothing ya bastard, get up and write, or make a cake or something. haha
Working to get an actual regular writing job also helps. It’s not as easy to get a position at a magazine or publishing company as some of us wish, but there are a lot of technical writing positions out there. I’m typing this blog from mine, and guess what? It’s my lunch break! heehee
No it’s not a great idea to eat, sleep, and, breathe writing. Don’t wanna get burnt out. Always make sure to take a weekend adventure. Get out. Be around other people. Yes those other living bipeds who are more apt to converse with you than your houseplant, or pets.
It always comes back to balance. Making excuses just doesn’t cut it, in ANY field. Do what needs to get done, and enjoy it a little along the way.
Jessica Marie Baumgartner 
Reblogged this on dashcrowley.
You’re the best!
You speak of guerilla writing. Most times that may be the only way to do it when you have a full-time job. It’s true though, just like the constant reader who is always reading, even cereal boxes and boring small print; the constant writer is always scribbling. May be nothing but could turn to something later. Ah, to write that great American Novel, eh?
Exactly! haha You just gotta try, somehow
My job is completely unrelated to writing, unfortunately, but I find I do take pleasure in sending out a well-crafted e-mail, whatever the subject might be. I’m not sure if they’re appreciated by anyone else, but for me, it’s a small, somewhat furtive way to keep my hand in the game.
I also started a journal recently, in which I can jot down random thoughts during my lunch break and when I get home from work. I forgot how important it is to write every day, whether it’s a Tweet or a corporate e-mail or a laundry list. And when you don’t do it, you feel incomplete. I know that even though many of us don’t work as writers, we’re definitely driven to write. And when we do, it rounds us out and makes us not only better at our craft, but better at life in general. I just feel more aware, and more grateful for the smaller things when I remain in the habit of writing every day.
Write on! However you fit it n works