Getting s*it done.

Sometimes I wonder how I get anything done. I’m pretty busy with my daughter, husband, house, job, reading and writing. That’s a lot to fit into one day, even when you don’t consider fitting in the back log of X-Files and Supernatural episodes I’m yet to watch.

Pulls out hair!

Despite all these worthy pursuits I still get my writing done. How? I think I’ve perfected the art of getting shit done. When I started writing these blog posts I had no idea how I was going to fit in an extra task into my already packed schedule. I almost didn’t start writing these little vignettes into my life because:

1. I have no time
2. I felt like no one wants to hear me speak or write – and that’s fine too
3. If no one wants to hear it why bother? But I did and if you are following thank you for suffering in silence.

I write whenever I have a spare moment. Literally every moment people! You know that line you are waiting in for your coffee? I’m the weirdo dictating into my phone. When your waiting at the checkout I’m the scribbler behind you jotting down character names on my shopping list. Yep that’s me. *Hi* .

At first I was only working on my full length books. I would write these on the train to and from work and in my lunch break. I also write after my daughter goes to bed. I’m talking about four hours a day of solid writing time. Plus the bits in between. That is phenomenal, I know. Some people make do with much less and probably write much better. So I started to limit the time I spent writing my full length books to only the train commute. At lunch I type up what I have handwritten and at night I work on short stories, this blog and piece together all the random bits I jot down during the day.

Not my actual kitchen – Mine’s worse

You know what? Sometimes the kitchen is a mess, clothes need washing and I can’t remember the last time I scrubbed the shower. And that’s okay. Sometimes, ‘good enough’ is just that. I am a bit of a perfectionist and I have had a lot of trouble letting that go. Those who know me are probably shaking their heads, thinking that I haven’t let anything go.

Seriously, if I hadn’t let some things be just good enough then I would be a quivering mess, rocking myself in the corner in the foetal position. I just have to let some things go, more than I used to. I’m not always okay with it and I feel like the worst Mother in the world sometimes but my daughter is happy, healthy, loved and safe and that’s really all that matters.

I struggle with procrastination like anyone (and I’m sure that tomorrow I’ll be writing a post about it.) Sometimes I stare out of the train window for half the journey not thinking about plot lines, or characters or dialogue. Just staring into space. Then I get half way home and start furiously writing, kicking myself that I haven’t done enough.

As much as I love staring into space (and I really, really do) I love writing more. I love getting the flow of words onto the page. I love getting to the end of a chapter and thinking “Wow! Where did that come from?” or going back and editing and loving what I am reading. That is why I pack everything into the day and that’s why I push myself to get things done.

I’m exhausted most of the time and if I dwell on that too long I’ll probably keel over. But I’m happy. I’m ecstatically happy despite the exhaustion and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’d love to hear how you pack your creative outlets into the day.

Come on over and friend me on Facebook at Lisa Lancaster. 

 

Gif from Giphy
Photo by John Athayde via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons