Writer’s Guilt
Walking the fine line of having a life and writing.
I should be sewing dice bags. I have an order for them, but I know that if I sat down at my sewing machine without writing this week’s post, I would be distracted by the fact that I should be writing.
That’s the weird thing about being a writer: you feel guilty no matter what you choose. It makes it hard to get anything accomplished.
Part of what gets factored into writer’s guilt is the fact that what you’re doing isn’t important. Or that’s what the little doubtful voice in your head keeps telling you. It’s doubly true when you have paid work waiting in the wings (or a husband to feed or laundry that really needs to be finished).
The voice isn’t always the same each time. Sometimes it’s my high school guidance councilor telling me that I will never be a writer. Sometimes it’s my own voice berating me for things I’ve left undone.
How do you combat writer’s guilt? I have no idea most days, because there is always something else that needs your attention.
That sounds fatalistic and like I should throw in the towel, right?
So why don’t I?
The short answer is: I’m a raging bitch when I’m not writing. The guilt of not writing eats at me until I snap and binge write until I’m empty. Which isn’t healthy for my mind or my relationships.
Instead I compromise with the voices in my head. Today, I write this post and then I sew dice bags. Other nights, it might be setting a timer and I can only write while wash is going. I never write while I’m supposed to be cooking, that ends in disaster or ordering pizza.
What coping mechanisms do you use to combat the guilt of doing the thing you love instead of doing the things you need to?
Weekly Goals
Sew 10 dice bag: Failure, which is sad because I have an order due that I need to rush to get done.
Go to class: Failure, but my teacher is back so this will start changing soon.
Go to the gym twice: Success.
Read a book: Success. I read Girl, Wash your Face by Rachel Hollis.
Write 7K words: Failure. I didn’t leave myself time to write around everything else I had planned during the week.
