Tags
30 before 30, Jim Chaney, life, novel, parenting, protagonists, The Wordslinger, writing, writing a novel
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “Life gets in the way” before. I used to consider it a cop-out. A popular maxim among those looking for an excuse to explain away an unfinished project, missed opportunity, or forgotten task. The idea that everyday life could be blamed for a person’s procrastination or negligence didn’t sit well with me.
As a father of three however, I’ve changed my tune on the legitimacy of the expression. Six weeks ago today, my son Matthew was born. And just over six weeks ago today, was the last time I devoted any of what is left of my mental capabilities to my manuscript. Why? Well, I suppose life has gotten in the way just a bit.
This morning, while tidying up a few things here at The Wordslinger, I came upon the page I had created especially for updates on my novel. There was that cute little cartoon potato, slaving over his desk and cranking out page after page of narrative gold. Funny thing is, that little spud has been lying to you guys for quite some time. If you’ve been checking in on my progress, you probably already knew that; seeing as how the word count hasn’t changed for what seems like an eternity.
Was it possible that I had simply been searching for the next perfect word for over a month? Considering my penchant for over-analyzing this first draft, I suppose that scenario was plausible, though unlikely. No, the truth is, I have been neglecting my novel now for some time. What can I say, life gets in the way.
I’ve visited many blogs by aspiring authors such as myself, and the overwhelming mantra seems to be, “write every day, no matter what.” While I respect that diligent mindset, I also believe that life provides us moments that aren’t worth missing just for the chance to add a couple hundred more words to the tally. Sure, if I devoted an hour or so each day to my novel there is a good chance I’d complete it quicker than my current pace. But what would I miss in that hour?
Playing Candyland with Iz and the Jakester?
Rocking Matthew to sleep while he coos in my arms?
Hearing Izzy recap her first days of preschool?
These things are just too important to let slip by in order to introduce a new secondary character or add eight more lines of dialogue. Writing has become my passion, but my children are my life.
That being said, I refuse to go all Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing and put my manuscript in the corner. It has life to it, a story that deserves to be told before it’s swept away into the autumn breeze. This book will get written because I believe in it and because people like you, my loyal readers, believe in me.
So in the very near future I plan to increase that word count and continue on the path I started many months ago. Our cold but intriguing protagonist Ben, has much to tell and in my mind his story has only just begun. The paper beckons to be fed, and feed it I shall. I hope you will continue to hang in there with me because I truly believe it will be worth the wait. Thank you again for your continued support of me and my family. Now it’s time to get back to what The Wordslinger does best – sling some words!
The Wordslinger 
Pingback: “Why Do You Want To Write This Book?” « The Wordslinger
I don’t know many writers who do get to write every day. I put off completion of my first novel for the same reason – busy life. Now that kids are adults and life is fairly even keeled (sister’s cancer notwithstanding), the writing comes easy. Not that I suggest you wait until your kids are grown…. :). I finished that first novel and am 210 pages into the second with the third as a fully formed idea. You’ll do it. In your time. I have total faith in you.
It’s definitely true that some people use this common phrase as an excuse, but as you’ve clearly realized, sometimes it’s just the honest truth.
Currently I am working on the oil sands of Alberta. For two weeks straight I get up at 3:30 am, get dressed and have breakfast, then hop on a bus for a 45 minute drive to the work site. We work until 5:30 pm when we catch a bus for another 45 min drive back to camp. By the time I eat supper and get showered and settled into my room it’s about 7 pm. In other words, I have exactly one hour to myself if I want to get 8 hours of sleep (which I definitely need to survive the work day) and even with that hour sometimes my brain is so exhausted that the words won’t come out. On the alternate, when I go home for my two weeks off I have a toddler at home who becomes a little barnacle because she misses her mommy, not to mention all the stuff I have to get done while I’m home because I can’t do it while I’m out at work. It’s definitely a rough situation for a writer. I try my best to write every day, even if it’s just a blog post, but some days it’s just not feasible. Life does, in fact, get in the way. ._.
You will not regret one moment spent with your family. Your priorities are in the right place and eventually there will come a time when the writing comes to the front burner again for some period of time. The “pots” in our lives are always getting placed in different points on the stove according to the complexity of what’s cooking and the heat and attention needed. That being said, it sure was nice to read a few words again. Best to you and the family!
I’m the poster child for ‘write when you can’. Routine is distasteful to me, and it’s one of the things MOST likely to make me stop.
I have no problem with you spending time with your family. I’m just confused – how the heck can somebody write a belly button?!?
Hm? What’s that?
“Novel”, not “navel”?
Dang – somebody keeps shrinking the text-size on my PC! (My headlong rush towards the half-century mark having no bearing on the situation, of course…..) 😉
I’ve been through this so many times. I carried this incredible guilt for not writing when I felt I should be, but I was a single Mom with a full-time job for the first two years of my daughter’s life. What counts is that you know it’s there and you know you’ll get back to it, and that you realize you’re investing your time in what’s most important at this point in your life.
I haven’t been by for a while. Glad to hear you’re spending Q time with the family. In the end that’s what’s important.
All the best on the writing.
Great to hear from you MJ, I know I haven’t been by to see you either…I guess life got in the way, haha.
Beautiful! I couldn’t agree with you more. My husband and I are first time parents, and there are days that I long to write but far more important moments with our baby girl come up that are worth passing that writing opportunity.
It’s all about priorities right? I never question others’ priorities, but mine are my family.
Well said buddy! If there were more parents like you and Jenny, the world would be a much better place to live in.
Very kind of you to say Ms. Vic. We try our best.
I am striving to really work on my “real” writing. My blogs are thoughts and ideas. I do sometimes put up things that I might want to work towards publishing one day, but it’s bits and pieces. I recently started getting over my fear of writing, though. I have been very scared of putting my real writing out there. I suppose I don’t consider the blogs as “real.” But your blog is very encouraging to me. Thanks. 🙂 Good luck and congratulations on such a great family!
Thank you for the comment, and good luck to you with your writing!