It’s my life…

Welcome to Wednesday randomness. This week’s post is one I’m not sure I want to be honest about, lol. It’s how Writing Affects my Life and Vice Versa. It’s not that it’s a bad answer…more that I have to admit how much of my life revolves around writing. Because anyone who’s ever had an idea that just won’t quit knows that it can be all-encompassing. And for me, once I get a story in my head—it’s hard to focus on other things, because that story just keeps on playing. A never-ending loop of sorts. Even when you try to push it out.

Writing has lots of positive affects on my life.

1—It helps pay the bills. Not quite as much as I want, yet, but I’m hopeful. Working hard in this area.

2—It brings me extreme pleasure. There’s just something indescribable about having an idea manifest inside your head, then seeing it materialize on the page. Satisfying doesn’t even begin to put it into words.

3—It keeps me sane. Seriously. If I didn’t have a venue for expressing all the stories that rattle around inside my head, I’d probably go crazy. Having characters talk to you… yeah, not so cool if you can’t do something with that.

4—Being able to set my own work schedule. With kids, I can’t begin to say how lucky I am I have this. I get to ensure I don’t miss their lives just trying to do something with mine.

Of course there are some negative aspects.

1—While working from home is great, it also has its drawbacks. Mainly—interruptions. When you don’t go somewhere to work, everyone around you seems to think you’re, in fact, not working. So it seems you have to put in twelve hours just to get six. Which gives the illusion that you’re ALWAYS WORKING. While this is sort of true. I do have my laptop open most of the time, it’s not really a fair assessment. Those interruptions mean that a good portion of that time isn’t spent working at all.

2—It seems that things always pile up. Deadlines have a way of popping up when you have a thousand other things due, too. And that means stress—which means late nights, little sleep. Times when you feel you have to chose between family/friends and getting something finished. And stress…it leads to writer’s block and just crappy times in general.

As for how my life affects my writing?

Wow…that’s hard. Obviously, stress in other parts of my life makes it hard to write. Being worried or upset—yeah, hard to write a scorching love scene if a simple commercial on TV brings you to tears. Being unhappy at all, about anything, is a writer’s block in the making.

However, there are positive aspects. Having done a ‘variety’ of jobs, I have a lot of real-world experience to draw on. And let’s face it…writing 101…write what you know. And when things are going well—I have a great run. My kids have a great day. It flows over into my ability to get words on the page. In enjoying the process more.

It sounds corny, but it all comes down to one thing—writing isn’t something I do…it’s part of who I am.

All in all, I wouldn’t change having writing be a part of my life for anything. After years of jumping from profession to profession, I’ve finally found something that makes me feel as if I belong. A career that seems to fit every aspect of me. I get to be a doctor, a federal officer—a shifter or vampire. I can live in the future, the past or in a galaxy far, far away. I get to expand my knowledge researching aspects I’d never have considered before. But most of all, it makes me happy. And even if everything else falls through—if I have to support myself, my family other ways—I’ll always write because it’s the best part of me.

Go check out the other ladies. They probably have much deeper realizations than I, lol.

Jessica Jarman  |  Bronwyn Green  |  Jessica De La Rosa

Gwendolyn Cease  |  Kellie St. James

8 Replies to “It’s my life…”

  1. I love the last paragraph!! It’s so true, we get to research stuff we never would have imagined and learn. I love to learn, probably why I love to write. Also, I get to be all those things you mentioned and more.

  2. Ah the joys of working from home. So many good things to that gig, but there are definitely down sides. But, it’s all a balance, yeah? One that has to be tweaked constantly. And I know I’d be hard pressed to give up doing what I love. 🙂

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