Pottery

"I wonder if your father would notice if I were to dig a hole in the back yard for a raku kiln?" I glanced at my son as we were driving home.  He looked a me with a puzzled expression
   "kill"? 
   "No, kiln.  The 'N' is silent." I smiled. "You don't know what raku means, either, do you?"
   "That depends...are there like five letters in that word that are silent, too?"

The Perfect Time to Write

MUSE

July column for The Greater Canton Writers’ Guild Newsletter

            Yesterday was a great day for writing, but before I could begin, I wanted to get the laundry started and put some things away. After that was done I could really devote some time to that story I had started in my head.  Then I thought perhaps I could work better if I straightened the house first and vacuumed. At that point I started thinking maybe if I started dinner early, I could sit down for the rest of the afternoon at the computer with a cup of tea.. The dogs needed out and then on my way back in I picked up the mail and had to sit down to write out a few bills, sort the rest of the mail, and do some shredding. Soon I found myself sorting and folding laundry.  After the dinner dishes were done I ended up doing some much needed ironing.  By 9 pm my favorite show was on and by ten that evening I wondered where the day went. Wow.

            Do you ever find yourself in situations like this? Perhaps you find yourself in other obligatory meetings, running too many errands, constantly over-scheduled and at the beck-and-call of family members and well-meaning acquaintances. I get it.  But I’ve got to tell you something I’ve learned (unfortunately) from experience: It is possible to lose yourself in obligations and relationships to people who 1: don’t get you and, 2: don’t care.  And once lost, it can take years to find yourself again and regain your voice.

            There is no perfect time to write. You either write in the midst of your life as it is happening, because it is happening or in spite of it happening around you, or you don’t write at all. You either make the time or you don’t.  It’s your call.

            But if you wait – it’s not going to happen and sometimes hard decisions need to be made. I urge you to seek out relationships with other writers – people who get you, people who encourage your writing. Maybe, if you find your life in a turmoil, with needy people surrounding you all clamoring for attention, you especially then, need to carve out some time just for yourself to write. You do this for your sanity.