Once I make a decision to do
something, I jump in with both feet. Instead of baking 100 cookies, I make
1,500. Crocheting - a simple scarf led to multiple afghans, baby sweaters,
hats, mittens, adult sweaters, and throw pillows. I became a frenzied cookie
baking/crocheting zealot. Whew!
Is it any wonder when I began
writing, I used the same methodology? I quit every hobby and focused totally on
learning the craft and submitting to publications. The rewards were satisfying,
but in every case mentioned, I burned out.
I never wanted to bake another
cookie.
The thought of picking up a crochet
hook or skein of yarn made me want to hide under the covers.
And I came to the razor edge of
chucking writing on that pile of enthusiastic projects.
It took me a long time to learn the
wisdom of "slow and steady wins the race." Don't get me wrong, when
I'm on a deadline, I'm as determined as ever to meet it. Yet, I also know that
my writing will suffer if I neglect other aspects of my life.
I make time to soak in the Word of
God, pray, and fellowship with my sisters and brothers in Christ.
Family and friends deserve my love
and attention.
Rest, relaxation, and fun allow me
to return to my writing with renewed energy and creativity.
Pacing ourselves builds endurance
for the journey. Whether you're blogging, writing articles/poems/short stories,
or penning your first novel, remember to live and notice the joys around you.
Writers and Readers: Have you ever
become so obsessed with a hobby or some other activity that it chewed through
the rest of your life like PacMan gone wild? How do you maintain a healthy
balance?
Photo Credit: Matteo Canessa
Photo Credit: Matteo Canessa
3 comments:
LOL - I pictured you in the kitchen making 1500 cookies! Now that would be something. :) I have a tendency to go all in like that too sometimes. Working on pacing myself and using balance and wisdom.
This is great advise Susan! I've watched others and wondered what is wrong with me--I should be more productive! I do divide my time between a lot of things, and sometimes feel like I am mastering none, so have the opposite problem! Now I work on keeping it to three 'projects' only, beyond the life stuff of work, faith, family and friends, (however, I really want to pick up guitar again, which would add four..sigh!) Yes, so and steady is always best, and time is your friend, as Andy Stanley says.
Susan: I did the same thing with flower arranging. Our living room was full of arrangements. If a friend was needed cheering up-I made a flower arrangement. When my stepmother was in the nursing home, I made a fresh flower arrangement out of two of those bouquets they sell at the grocery store.
When I decided to go back into writing, I would wake up at 6:00 AM and write in long hand for two hours a day. I filled 3-ring binders with pages and pages of essay-type pages. AS I have gotten older, I have had to slow down the pace. But I still write in a journal as well as on my computer.
You are not alone in your frenzy. We all have probably been there.
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