Congrats on being nominated for a Pushcart, Banchiwosen. You must be over the moon!
About ten years ago, I recall chatting with my brother about the difficulty of finding time to write my first book-length novel. I was working full-time-plus with two teenagers in the house. He said: "Just find time. Do it while you're doing everything else."
But how? I already woke up at 5:30 am? Then I realized he was right. I had no other choice. I could start now or put it off forever. I found time.
I finished that first novel but never sent it out for publishing. It's not ready. It needs to stew. It proved to me, however, that I could write a book-length manuscript while juggling hot coals. I made time because it mattered to me.
And now, my second novel is the first to be published (Holand Press, coming in spring 2025). "If the Sea Must Be Your Home" is a historical fiction novel about a seafaring family in the 1800s, drawing on original letters, ship's logs and journals which bring their true voices to life. While I'm booking author events, I'm working on my next novel and continuing to write poetry, my first and everlasting addiction.
The cycle continues, if you make space for it. Thanks for the reminder.
And yes, I have always loved writing since I was a little girl dictating poetry to my mom. I write whenever I can, snatching moments in the morning, midday, evening, and 2 am when I can't sleep. I don't have a regular, disciplined routine, but I have perseverance, and that's what matters.
Huge congratulations on your Pushcart nomination, Banchiwosen! Along with Smokelong Quarterly, I am wishing you much success! I am addicted to notebooks. I have one in every room, in every purse, for those moments, often when out walking, when a sentence or phrase pops into my head.
Beautifully said. I've "made time" for many years now, and it has stayed foundational to my days, adjusting slightly to schedules, but not really that much: it began as 4-6 in the mornings when I had to get to work by 7:30. I'm still an early-early riser, and my creativity is most eager in those pre-dawn and day's-beginning hours. I'll always have a pad with me to scribble on during the day as an idea pops in or noticing happens. And I can spend any hour of the day submitting, submitting, submitting. But the writing time does feel sacred, like prayer-time, almost. There are days when I may not be able to join it—mostly a loved one's hospitalization that requires full-time attendance—but that doesn't make it disappear. It's there, a commitment of joy and meaning, always. I hope in this current turmoil and fear, it will stay.
Thank you for expressing what I feel sure so many of us feel. I want to write but so often feel it is being selfish yet in my heart of hearts and I know it does me good as well as making me into a better, wiser, more understanding human being. And how that is needed now in this virtual world where technology is making aliens of us all. Heartfelt writing brings back our humaneness, our honesty, our vulnerability. Laying the words down on the page also allows me to evaluate, to see my feelings and thoughts at a distance. The words of others too comfort and guide me as I read a book. Illness and age (87) have curtailed so many of my activities. Reading allows me still to explore this wonderful world. I am forever grateful for the talent and time great writers have taken to enrich me.
This very poignant piece resounds in its vivid intentionality! It reflects what all of us who write, because we must, feel when wrenching time and space to do it. And that last paragraph--that last long sentence--distills the entirety of the sentiment in stubborn beauty. Thank you!
Thank you for this reminder! I have a full time job, as does my wife and the only "we time" we get is a few hours in the evening after work. I get an hour or 2 early in the morning before I sign of for work (I work from home, so that helps!) but that time is usually spent drinking coffee and getting used to the idea of being conscious. In addition to my full time job I'm a musician, so I need to find time in there to write new songs and/or learn new music. I like your idea of jotting down notes, even if they're incomplete sentences or just phrases. I've had the same thing happen to me; I have this great idea for a new story but it's just a germ of an idea. If I get distracted I lose the idea and can't seem to dig it out of my memory. The only ideas I seem to recall with relative ease are the really silly, inane or just plain weird ideas that, if written or turned into a story, may serve as evidence against me in any mental health or sanity hearing. Thank you again for reminding us that, no matter how busy we may be with "life stuff", we should be able to squeeze in a little time for writing and incorporate our writing as part of our "life stuff".
Thanks for your comment, Daniel. And the idea of jotting down notes, it seems so trivial, so silly, but if you add on those notes you take every day or every few days, they will become a creative work you never expect from a bunch of half-sentences or half-phrases.
Congrats on being nominated for a Pushcart, Banchiwosen. You must be over the moon!
About ten years ago, I recall chatting with my brother about the difficulty of finding time to write my first book-length novel. I was working full-time-plus with two teenagers in the house. He said: "Just find time. Do it while you're doing everything else."
But how? I already woke up at 5:30 am? Then I realized he was right. I had no other choice. I could start now or put it off forever. I found time.
I finished that first novel but never sent it out for publishing. It's not ready. It needs to stew. It proved to me, however, that I could write a book-length manuscript while juggling hot coals. I made time because it mattered to me.
And now, my second novel is the first to be published (Holand Press, coming in spring 2025). "If the Sea Must Be Your Home" is a historical fiction novel about a seafaring family in the 1800s, drawing on original letters, ship's logs and journals which bring their true voices to life. While I'm booking author events, I'm working on my next novel and continuing to write poetry, my first and everlasting addiction.
The cycle continues, if you make space for it. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for your lovely words, Cynthia. And a second novel to be published, that is a tremendous achievement.
Congratulations!!
Thank you!
Thanks, Velka!
I'd be crying too. Yes, congrats!
And yes, I have always loved writing since I was a little girl dictating poetry to my mom. I write whenever I can, snatching moments in the morning, midday, evening, and 2 am when I can't sleep. I don't have a regular, disciplined routine, but I have perseverance, and that's what matters.
Huge congratulations on your Pushcart nomination, Banchiwosen! Along with Smokelong Quarterly, I am wishing you much success! I am addicted to notebooks. I have one in every room, in every purse, for those moments, often when out walking, when a sentence or phrase pops into my head.
Thanks for your kind words, Donna. And I do have notes too, in every color I can think of. I carry them all the time.
Beautifully said. I've "made time" for many years now, and it has stayed foundational to my days, adjusting slightly to schedules, but not really that much: it began as 4-6 in the mornings when I had to get to work by 7:30. I'm still an early-early riser, and my creativity is most eager in those pre-dawn and day's-beginning hours. I'll always have a pad with me to scribble on during the day as an idea pops in or noticing happens. And I can spend any hour of the day submitting, submitting, submitting. But the writing time does feel sacred, like prayer-time, almost. There are days when I may not be able to join it—mostly a loved one's hospitalization that requires full-time attendance—but that doesn't make it disappear. It's there, a commitment of joy and meaning, always. I hope in this current turmoil and fear, it will stay.
I love your words, Carol, especially the word sacred. There's something so beautiful about seeing the practice of writing as sacred. Thanks for this.
Thank you for expressing what I feel sure so many of us feel. I want to write but so often feel it is being selfish yet in my heart of hearts and I know it does me good as well as making me into a better, wiser, more understanding human being. And how that is needed now in this virtual world where technology is making aliens of us all. Heartfelt writing brings back our humaneness, our honesty, our vulnerability. Laying the words down on the page also allows me to evaluate, to see my feelings and thoughts at a distance. The words of others too comfort and guide me as I read a book. Illness and age (87) have curtailed so many of my activities. Reading allows me still to explore this wonderful world. I am forever grateful for the talent and time great writers have taken to enrich me.
Thank you, Doreen, for your words.
Ray Carver used to write in his car to avoid the distractions at home.
Thanks for this info. I didn't know that about Ray Carver.
This very poignant piece resounds in its vivid intentionality! It reflects what all of us who write, because we must, feel when wrenching time and space to do it. And that last paragraph--that last long sentence--distills the entirety of the sentiment in stubborn beauty. Thank you!
And thank you for your words., Ron.
Your words resonated with me. Thanks for sharing your story
Thank you for this reminder! I have a full time job, as does my wife and the only "we time" we get is a few hours in the evening after work. I get an hour or 2 early in the morning before I sign of for work (I work from home, so that helps!) but that time is usually spent drinking coffee and getting used to the idea of being conscious. In addition to my full time job I'm a musician, so I need to find time in there to write new songs and/or learn new music. I like your idea of jotting down notes, even if they're incomplete sentences or just phrases. I've had the same thing happen to me; I have this great idea for a new story but it's just a germ of an idea. If I get distracted I lose the idea and can't seem to dig it out of my memory. The only ideas I seem to recall with relative ease are the really silly, inane or just plain weird ideas that, if written or turned into a story, may serve as evidence against me in any mental health or sanity hearing. Thank you again for reminding us that, no matter how busy we may be with "life stuff", we should be able to squeeze in a little time for writing and incorporate our writing as part of our "life stuff".
Thanks for your comment, Daniel. And the idea of jotting down notes, it seems so trivial, so silly, but if you add on those notes you take every day or every few days, they will become a creative work you never expect from a bunch of half-sentences or half-phrases.
I love this very much - thank you
I'm glad that my piece resonated with you, Heather.