Sunday, December 31, 2006

Finding Balance

I need to get in shape. Sitting on my butt in front of my computer does not give me the endurance to ride Baby Horse (Veritas).
I cantered him over a few jumps and I was on my lips after only 20 minutes.
Dehydrated.
Panting.
I need to strike a balance between writing and real life.
Ignoring one to the exclusion of the other is not good, but I love to immerse myself in my stories.
What's a writer to do?
What do you do?

6:30 am and 74 degrees.
I do so enjoy hearing from my blogging friends.
Being analytical about how I write and hearing your creative processes.
This last day of 2006.
New Years Resolutions.
My resolutions include how to restore balance into my life.
You all are a part of that balance.

1. Lose 20 pounds.
(OK I admit it. This is always on my list. Maybe it's unimportant. Maybe it's not. All I know is our society dictates what we should look like...Ah well I am prisoner to its conventions.)

2. Don't worry - Be happy. What will be will be. Enjoy the process of writing and publishing. This is my debut year. 2007.
It will never be this way again. Savor each day. (This one's due to you Holly!)

3. Slow down. Look. Breathe. Don't be hasty. Allow rather than force. (This one's due to you, Paul!)

4. Ride my horses an extra day a week. Alone. Not chatting. Just working. Lengthening. Shortening. Gymnastics. Increase my endurance back to when the horse show was my obsession du jour. (This ones due to you Brendan and you,too, Veritas & Airborne)

5. Add to my works in progress everyday. A line. A few words. Pages. Whatever it takes but add. Do not stagnate. Do not become complacent. Do not be so focused on being published that the joy of writing is lost.

6. Limit my online time. Read my favorite blogs and add to mine, comment when warranted, answer my emails. Limit myself to 30 minutes in the morning or evening. (My agent and publisher are exempt from this rule. There are times I must spend more time with them.) I love all my blogging buddies but I have to resist the dark side! I can spend hours reading and responding to blogs. In the new year it is time to put a limit on this decadence and move on.

7. Appreciate what I have and what has happened to me. Let love be the defining force in my life.
(This one is for my husband Gordon.)

Seven things. I think I can manage seven things.
What are your resolutions?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

It may help to write down a Master Schedule. We're on holiday break still, but will be starting up again on Tuesday. Not only am I a stay-at-home mom, I also school our children at home. I wake up to write about 4:30 a.m., but I have to shower by 6 because the children come rolling out at 6:30. This all has to happen on time in order to start the day off. From there, the entire morning must stay on schedule. Afternoons are loser, evenings are routine. Computer time has to be regulated in order to make the most of it.
1) email
2) Critique Circle
3) Read blogs (predetermined ones only!)
4) Write my blog entry
5) email
6) Write on whatever needs to be worked on.
7) email.
8) Off!

I have three scheduled computer sessions per day. I keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas for the next session, so I'm not tempted to write when I have a poopy diaper to change! Write down your schedule and post it!

Anonymous said...

I had not thought about my writing goals in terms of balance before, but how appropriate!
Striving for a better balance between home life, school, work and writing is going to be a primary goal of mine in the new year.

Happy New Year Pat!

LadyB

Anonymous said...

I write everyday, usually right after my kids have gone to school. after yoga and before I go to work. I'm constantly thinking about the scene I'm working on.
There's just nothing else that'll help me get this second draft finished. This year I've rejoined a workshop and it's a 9-month deal. There are 8 of us with first roughs and we've all got a commitment to get our manuscripts finished while helping one another. The friendships I'm making are a lot of fun, and the give and take is something I missed for a couple of years.

Occassionally, like the past ten days, I've taken a break due to family commitments and the season.

Online stuff is the biggest time waster of verbal agility! So like you, I've learned to only check my mail and a few blogs that I like. (Like this one!). But even with my own blog, I tend to limit the postings to 4 per month.

Well, and there is the occassional peak at someone gorgeous now and then. Oh, yes, and also something good.

But horses, writing.. yes it's all related. It all has to do with balance.
Happy new year!

Anonymous said...

What do I do? I skip the exercise for writing, every damn time. I only have about an hour a day at home on a work day which isn't dedicated to stuffing my face or prepping for work. So blowing off healthy exercise vs. butt-sitting and writing? No fight at all!