Calling myself out
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My kid is sick.
My husband is sick.
My house is a mess.
My power is out.
My Internet is out.
I’m angry.
I’m tired.
I’ve already written something else today.
I need more than the 15 min I have to get into the story.
I have to go pick up the kid from camp.
I have a headache.
I have errands to run.
These are the reasons I haven’t written as much as I wanted to this week. They’re all true.
And they’re all bull****.
About the Author: I am a writer and podcast producer. I write for Knights of the Dinner Table and other magazines, and my first novel, Playing For Keeps, was released in '08.
Shannon | Jul 9, 2009 | Reply
Thank you. I needed that.
Seriously.
Sheena | Jul 9, 2009 | Reply
Damn. I just got TOLD.
Time to get back to work.
Carrie | Jul 10, 2009 | Reply
Point taken. Pants on. Let’s do this.
Kevin | Jul 10, 2009 | Reply
I don’t know if they’re all bull. They sound like real obstacles that aren’t the everyday type.
Mark Bukovec | Jul 10, 2009 | Reply
Got the sick kid this week, too. Mur, give yourself a pass on this one.
Andrew | Jul 10, 2009 | Reply
I think you underestimate just how much you give your audience in terms of inspiration and advice. It’s right that ultimately excuses are just excuses, but being angry at yourself is just so much wasted energy. You do seem to focus on things you miss quite a lot, when the good things you do (as far as I know anyway) outweigh them one hundred fold. Sure give the writing a kick in the trousers, but don’t give yourself to much grief.
At least half of the writing I’ve done has been post listening to ISBW, and I know that plenty of people on here could say the same.
Chris | Jul 11, 2009 | Reply
If you consider yourself a pro, than anything that would slow you down at a day job is a good enough excuse to cut yourself some slack while writing. At my work, if I’m sick with internet and power down, with lunch hour bumping up, I’d say it’s time to decamp to the water cooler and relax for a bit. Give yourself the chance to pull things together today, and you’ll be on your game tomorrow.
S E E Quine | Jul 12, 2009 | Reply
MUR! I just listened to an ad from a Skepticality episode #21, from like probably more than three years ago, and your ad was on it.
Well, I’m a writer. I’m here. Good job.
Your podcast will be next on my list….
Tim | Jul 13, 2009 | Reply
I’m sitting here, not quite 2 hours after getting home from a weekend watching my son’s baseball team, and I’m tired. Then I watched this video. And remembered that my book won’t write itself.
Thanks.