A couple of years ago I made a commitment to treat my writing as something more than a hobby. I set aside time every day to write (every other day when things were hectic) and I worked hard at producing short stories and writing/editing/polishing novels.
But the truth is, I have a life outside of writing. A life that is more important because it is... my life, not just my work.
It's a common thing to find creative folks who lay hold of the claim "At the core of my being I'm a writer/artist/musician". There was a point where I felt that way too. But in truth, I'm much more than that. I'm not just a writer or only a mother and wife. I write. I draw. I cook. I keep my son safe and healthy and happy. I support my husband in every way I am capable of. Because I'm not just a writer.
All this is to say, in recent months I've had to reevaluate the way I divide my time. Much as I would like to spend "full-time job hours" writing, that simply isn't a reality at this point. So, for the past two and a half months I've been writing only on Sundays. It's been a bit of a shock. It's also been liberating.
No longer am I trying to cram words onto paper inbetween folding laundry and vacuuming. No longer to I have to worry that when I sit down to write "just this one paragraph" I'll vanish into the creative world for four hours only to emerge and discover that dinner hasn't made itself.
Sunday is a day I can concentrate on writing. Without interruption. Without complication.
Sunday is a day of focus.
Sunday is a day of words spilling out of my head and onto the page.
Sunday is a day to write.
And it is a wonderful thing.
