We are right in the middle of our busy spring season here at work. I’m so busy, sometimes I’m almost in tears because of the exhaustion and frustration. Here at the office I’m the accounting manager, internet sales manager, phone answerer, problem solver, and so much more. I have to file all kinds of reports, answer the phone when I really just want to say “why can’t you just use the internet???”, balance checkbooks, schedule deliveries….so much stuff! I’ll probably have to give up my Wednesday ROW80 check ins for the next month. I can’t visit all the blogs I want to. Grrrrrr. It hasn’t helped that I’ve been sick and missed some work hours. And a big disappointment is that I was writing my Christian romance during lunch, and now I can’t even take a whole hour. So I’ve been neglecting my Maggie story. You know why? Because I didn’t have time to sit down and write at LEAST 500 words. Today, it suddenly dawned on me. Why do I have to write 500 words? At home I’m editing my gnome story, trying to get a three novellas collection formatted for print, trying to get the Libby Fox series compiled into one ebook (Kait’s suggestion), so why can’t I just work on it there? (Hear the sarcasm here?) I can’t, so I have to do it at work. But there’s nothing that says I have to write 500 words in one sitting. In the past, I’ve written over a thousand words per day on this story. That’s just not possible right now. So why can’t I just write a little bit at lunch, even if it’s just 100-200 words? I don’t know why I got it into my head that if I didn’t write a certain amount, it wasn’t worth it. Every word is important. And writing 100 words is better than writing 0 words, right? So I’m going to start trying to sneak in a few words at lunch, even if I only have 15 minutes. It’s OKAY to write just a few words when that’s all you have time for!
I want to thank Fallon Brown for giving me the Versatile Blogger award. That’s the second time I’ve had this award, and it makes me happy. It means that people have actually been interested in what I have to say. 🙂 I feel like I’m letting Fallon down just a little because I don’t really have time right now to say things about myself or list other bloggers for the award. But it’s just not easy right now. Hopefully, in a few weeks, I can work on doing that. 🙂
Okay, I’ve used the few minutes I had left in my lunch hour to post this instead of actually writing on my story, but this was what was in my head. I thought maybe other writers might have felt this way and I wanted to tell them it’s okay. 🙂
lauralynnelliott.com 
This is just a giant reminder of how good it is to not have to deal with all that crap any more. This recession/no job situation actually turned out to be a good thing for us. Never thought I would be able to say that!
Anyway, that’s a great attitude to have. I’ve often said what’s the point when I’ve only had a short period of spare time. So silly! Every little helps, and sometimes, in the thick of things, I end up wishing I had an extra ten or fifteen minutes. So, yeah, it’s a good idea to use your time wisely, but don’t forget to give yourself a break every now and then, too. 🙂
Hi Claire. There are times when I wish I would lose my job. LOL. Not really, though, because I really like my job, and my book income wouldn’t make up for it. On the other hand, if I had more time, I could write a lot more books. 🙂
I need to get out of this all or nothing thinking. A little bit is better than none.
Sadly, we didn’t have much of a choice. Even with half the country emigrating. 😀
If it’s any consolation, you might not write that much more. It’s so easy to get distracted when you have the entire day ahead of you. And for some reason people don’t see writing books as work and expect you to be available at any minute. Which is also kind of distracting. 😉
A little is definitely better than none. And you’re already doing a LOT if this post is anything to go by!
Don’t feel bad about the award. I got mine about 2 weeks ago and just now finished the post for sending it on.
And you are so right about getting any words down is better than none(and that sentence was really awkward to me, so I hope that makes sense). I’ve been struggling with focusing on the words this week and have to keep reminding myself that at least it’s moving forward even if not quite as fast as I would like.
I totally got that sentence. LOL
I need to just change my way of thinking. If you write a little, it’s definitely moving forward. Sometimes it’s slow, sometimes it’s fast.
Lauralynn I hear you! It is tax season and that means I have ZERO time to do just about anything.. I have a ton of blogs I subscribe to and never get a chance to read them all (or at least a good percentage) and I get so upset!
All you can do is your best! And your best is going to have to be good enough, Sunshine. 😀
Arrggghh. Taxes! I’m in the middle of getting that ready for the accountant, too. I’m just glad I finally let someone else do my taxes!
I’m like you, I have a lot of blogs on my Google Reader, and I just don’t have time to check. It’s all I can do to read the ones that get emailed to me. I feel so bad, because I love the blogging community.
You’re right…all we can ever do is our best. 🙂
I am totally like this, like, times 50 (thousand). I recognize this as the same kind of thinking as– well, the diet’s blown because of those nachos, let’s have double dessert! And yet I continue…
I feel like I have to set huge blocks of time aside to do any little thing, and therefore go whole days without doing anything. No idea where that comes from.
That’s an all or nothing perfectionist attitude. I’ve been able to ease up on this in other areas of my life. Writing and eating are the two I have to work on. We have to just realize a little is better than none. I know, it’s hard.
I feel your pain! When you work in a seasonal industry, this time of year it’s madness. When I am lucky enough to come home without a migraine, I am often too exhausted or too busy with family responsibilities to write. I usually eat at my desk because I don’t have time take a lunch break, so writing at work is out. That’s why I’m not participating in ROW80 anymore. You have made such awesome achievements with your writing in the last couple years–it should be okay for you take a break during spring without beating yourself up. Sometimes, that recharges the writing mind and the soul 🙂
I know you’re going through the same thing I am right now. The businesses we both work for are so seasonal. And this is THE season!
‘Tis the season’! (That sounds a lot more cheery during the holidays. LOL.)
Hi Lauralynn, hope things calm down a bit for you on the workfront. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Write when you can & when there’s less pressure. Congrats on the Versatile Blogger award!
Thanks, Emma! I’m hoping things will be a little better in a couple of weeks. It’s much easier to write when everything else isn’t crazy.