Reminder to self: Your writing life is supposed to be
enjoyable, and sometimes even fun.
A few recent things brought on this reminder.
1) Last week I went on what was supposed to be a
mini-vacation, and ended up being more work than play.
2) I’ve noticed a decided lag in upkeep in my house. I used
to move things around and enjoy reorganizing. It’s starting to look like a
museum around here.
3) I haven’t entertained in ages. I used to entertain a lot,
and I find myself neglecting to invite people over.
4) Last night I had a critique from my writer’s group and
all night tossed and turned, worried that I’ll never be able to really the
manuscript right. Although this morning I felt more sanguine, I didn’t like
that feeling that I must get it right
immediately.
5) I have intended for weeks to go see the new Museum of
Modern Art in San Francisco and the Berkeley Art Museum. I realized that somehow
I never find the time.
6) I find myself feeling beleaguered, thinking of all the
things I have to do to write and promote books as some kind of treadmill.
Is that enough? What it points to is that I am burying
myself in my study every day, working. I have always preached the virtue of
spending some time away from writing each week to refresh myself. And I’m not
practicing what I preach. When I’m away from my desk, I constantly worry that I
should be doing something: working on the new book, editing the old book,
arranging a book tour, figuring out a promotion schedule, updating my website,
sending out a newsletter, reading a book I’ve neglected to read, taking care of
Sisters in Crime business, taking care of MWA business, writing a short story
or article, and on an on.
What this calls for is new resolve. I’m determined to look
at the world with fresh eyes—not the sunken eyes I see in the morning with dark
rings surrounding them. And to do that I have to go to the museum, entertain
friends, get new curtains in my kitchen, move paintings around, listen to some
music, try a new recipe, call a friend I haven’t talked to in a while, read a
book that has nothing to do with writing mysteries, take a day off. In short,
smell the flowers!
Here are some flowers for you, too:
1 comment:
I'm glad to see such great advice. I feel all those conflicts too. And pressure must be so much greater for you, given that you are famous and I am not. But I have a worker nature and do have to remind myself to enjoy the flowers — and clean house now and then. 😊
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