Monday, November 4, 2019

Finding The Time to Write



By Maureen Bonatch

I love to write. I’m a better person when I make the time for fiction writing—I must differentiate this from freelance writing, or academic writing or other writing tasks that don’t tap into the well of creativity I associate with writing fiction.

Over the years I’ve had many people come up to me and ask about my writing and then share how they, too, planned to write a book if they could ever find the time. I always tell them, you have to make the time. There is no well of time just waiting for you to fill it with a story. 

We all get the same 24-hours a day that is quickly filled with tasks, obligations or any variety of things that suck the time out of your day more effectively than a vampire.

National Novel Writing Month


I always tell these wanna-be fiction writers about NaNoWrimonth in November. National Novel Writing month is my favorite. When November rolls around it gives me an extra reason to make time for fiction writing. 

The enthusiasm of everyone participating in NaNoWri makes me feel like my fiction writing is a priority, despite all the other things vying for my time.

No Time to Write


This year was the first time in the past 10 years that I hesitated when I went to sign up for NaNoWri. This year has been a whirlwind and my fiction writing has definitely suffered. I’ve had very little time to devote to writing. 

I asked my daughter (who has done NaNoWri with me the past several years- and won) if she planned on doing NaNoWri. I almost expected her to say she didn’t have time. 

It would’ve made me a little sad, since she’s such a good writer, but her excuse would’ve been legit. In her first semester of college with a heavy class load, I thought she might hesitate. But she didn’t. So neither will I. 

Books don’t write themselves.

There’s Something About NaNoWri


I love to talk about NaNoWri month. Here are a few past posts about NaNoWri. There are many more…but I have to get back to writing my NaNoWri novel.


Who’s Doing NaNoWri this year?  

Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her websiteFacebookTwitter

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4 comments:

Diane Burton said...

I always admire those who do NaNo. I never felt I could commit to it. This year, I'm "unofficially" doing it. I need to write 35k to finish my WIP. I'm joining a local group once a week to write at a bookstore. And I'm really trying to write each day. You're so right about there only being 24 hrs in a day. How we use those 24 hours is up to us. Good luck with NaNo, Maureen.

Maureen said...

Thanks Diane! It's going to be more of a struggle this year for me. Good luck to getting those words in!

Elizabeth Mueller said...

I have mixed feelings about NaNo--the first time I tried it, it was fun. I connected with many writers (but there was no time for real socializing) and I pushed myself to see how much I can write in a month. The only thing I don't like about it is the pressure of pressure. LOL
I know that I can write 50K under one week and don't need NaNo for that.

What do you like about it?

Karen Baldwin said...

I also did NaNo several years ago. I did get a good story out of it, but only 10,000 words. I stopped there because I was distracted by the voice of my W.I.P. manuscript that kept nagging at me to get back to writing
it. Kudos to those that finish NaNo.