Comments on: Writers Write

By: Robin Bayne

Robin Bayne — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:06:45 +0000

Wow, what a great post!!!

By: Brandy W

Brandy W — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:27:04 +0000

I loved your post Barbara. I am NOT a writer. I freely admit it, what I am is a READER. I want to read, like it, love it, and truly need it. If you don’t write it then I can’t read it and that is just too bad for both of us. I may have liked it and help make you onto that NYTBSL. It’s nice to hear an author lay it out there. BTW I really enjoyed Just Desserts.

By: Pati Nagle

Pati Nagle — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:40:36 +0000

Fantastic post, Barbara. It rings so true. I have shared it with other writers and they agree that it’s a great reminder – it’s worth it to carve out the time to write.

By: Yvonne Lindsay

Yvonne Lindsay — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:38:08 +0000

Most excellent post, Barbara. Thank you. I had a similar discussion with my youngest today, who aspires to great things in her chosen sport and was discusing a club change and how excited she is about trialling for a new club. At the same time she mentioned a good friend, also very talented in the same sport, who she saw smoking before a game. I told her that’s what makes the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t. To be the best at anything you have to be prepared to make sacrifices. Some people think it’s selfish to do so, I think it’s selfish of them to expect you not to.

I used to struggle with letting things go around me, e.g. vacuuming, ironing, regular hair appointments etc., but I’ve learned, in the two years I’ve been writing full time, that its okay to let those things go. Someone else can always vacuum or iron or cook a meal, and thank God for barettes and hair clips.

By: EC Sheedy

EC Sheedy — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:49:25 +0000

WOW! I’ve always known–deep down somewhere–that I’m a wimp about my writing time, and now I’m sure. Excuses, excuses . . .

But, hey, I’m buckling up my tool belt as we e-speak!

Great post, Barbara–one I really, really needed to read.

By: Barbara Bretton

Barbara Bretton — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:11:30 +0000

Thanks for the great comments, everyone. I’ll admit that I felt a little uncomfortable seeing those words out there but in the heat of the moment they seemed downright mild. The truth is I’ve been every bit as guilty as everyone else. (This week, for instance, but that’s another story.) I think what annoys me the most about the “If I only had the time” claim is that it implies time is the only thing that separates the wannabe from the working writer. Talent, clearly, is unimportant. And let’s not forget luck!

By: Magdalena Scott

Magdalena Scott — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:12:57 +0000

Masterfully said! This would make a great motivational poster, albeit a little long. Or what a wonderful “howler” (Harry Potter reference) to send to those who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

Hm…why am I reading blogs instead of working on the current ms?

By: Estella

Estella — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:54:52 +0000

Well said, Ms Bretton!

By: Lisa Hendrix

Lisa Hendrix — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:28:07 +0000

Wow, Barbara, you got on a roll.

I was talking about exactly this with a writer friend last week — people who call themselves writers but don’t actually write because they have “other things to do.” As a mom who hasn’t vacuumed in 3 months because I was trying to get a book done (it went out today!), the woman with the perfect house and 3 bunco clubs who “doesn’t have time to write” makes me freakin’ crazy.

By: Georg

Georg — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:09:14 +0000

And this is why I know I say I like writing and I like to write, but I don’t have the balls to call myself a writer- because I while I type several thousand words a day, none of them are for actual writing. Even if I wrote solidly for an hour a day- I could write a book a year. But I don’t, and that’s on my lazy head, and no other fault but mine.