tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post8972907380823249516..comments2024-03-28T08:48:51.749-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: Writing Time: A Guilty Pleasure or a Necessity?Jody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-86258201236048252652014-10-04T02:12:49.461-04:002014-10-04T02:12:49.461-04:00There are many renovations you can have an experie...There are many renovations you can have an experienced perform on your home when you are considering promoting it. <a href="http://www.quickmove.com/quick-sale-house.html" rel="nofollow">Quick Sale House</a><br />Zackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09875668972227675257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-63683651492306975632014-10-01T03:07:47.797-04:002014-10-01T03:07:47.797-04:00Just sent an email. Hope to get the opportunity! I...Just sent an email. Hope to get the opportunity! I consider myself a book reviewer but I find it a pleasure to help writers promote their books. Which I've been doing frequently lately... 'Tis fun. :) I also have a feeling Rebellious Heart will be very good. <a href="https://www.rebelmouse.com/venusfactorreviewslogin/" rel="nofollow">venus factor weight loss</a>Zackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09875668972227675257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-13460625723812041772013-10-09T05:40:41.937-04:002013-10-09T05:40:41.937-04:00Congratulation for the great post. Those who come ...Congratulation for the great post. Those who come to read your article will find lots of helpful and informative tips.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.onlinemarket360.com/products/Toshiba-%252d-Satellite-Laptop-%7B47%7D-Intel%C2%AE-Pentium%C2%AE-Processor-%7B47%7D-15.6%22-Display-%7B47%7D-4GB-Memory-%7B47%7D-500GB-Hard-Drive-%252d-Matrix-Silver.html/" title="Toshiba - Satellite Laptop / Intel® Pentium® Processor / 15.6" rel="nofollow">Toshiba - Satellite Laptop / Intel® Pentium® Processor / 15.6" Display / 4GB Memory / 500GB Hard Drive - Matrix Silver</a><br><br /><a href="http://www.onlinemarket360.com/products/Toshiba-%252d-17.3%22-Satellite-Laptop-%252d-4GB-Memory-%252d-500GB-Hard-Drive-%252d-Satin-Black.html/" title="Toshiba - 17.3" rel="nofollow">Toshiba - 17.3" Satellite Laptop - 4GB Memory - 500GB Hard Drive - Satin Black</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11880962866862076494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-31372159778522068392013-05-23T14:29:29.148-04:002013-05-23T14:29:29.148-04:00You are absolutely right, Jody. Writing for public...You are absolutely right, Jody. Writing for publication alone isn't enough. I do love writing and I don't think I could stop, even if I wanted to. Writing is an outlet for me as well. Thank-you for taking the time to remind me to keep that in perspective! :-) Christine Calderwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07283647903645505171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-38840071724266078092013-05-23T10:20:56.405-04:002013-05-23T10:20:56.405-04:00Yes, you can't go into that conversation with ...Yes, you can't go into that conversation with a me, me, me attitude. Sometimes the writing comes third or fourth or not at all.Sally Bradleyhttp://www.sallybradley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-79738505353233634972013-05-22T21:25:03.590-04:002013-05-22T21:25:03.590-04:00Hi Christine,
I think you should keep at it if ult...Hi Christine,<br />I think you should keep at it if ultimately writing stories brings you inner joy and peace. If you're doing it for the purpose of publication alone, then I think you'll likely end up being more frustrated than anything. For me, writing is an outlet, an escape, a way to fill me up when life drains me down. Of course, it's also nice to be published too. But I love writing, because then I get to write the stories I want to read! So even if no one else reads them, they brought me pleasure. If that makes sense! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-44565476267140055452013-05-22T21:19:15.049-04:002013-05-22T21:19:15.049-04:00Hi Carol,
Thank you for your words of wisdom! I d...Hi Carol, <br />Thank you for your words of wisdom! I don't think we should feel guilty for taking time off of writing either (as opposed to feeling guilty FOR writing). Sometimes we truly do need that break, and perhaps there are writers who need more time off in the summer. And if so, we need to give ourselves that permission (as you said). Every job deserves vacation days, and writers are not exempt from that! Even though I don't feel like I need those occasional breaks away from my writing, it usually benefits me AND my family. <br /><br />Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-70959574028035181172013-05-22T21:13:58.583-04:002013-05-22T21:13:58.583-04:00Hi Grace,
Yes, definitely enjoy that feeling!! It...Hi Grace, <br />Yes, definitely enjoy that feeling!! It's wonderful to be able to do something you LOVE every day! Especially when it can be your full time job and you don't have other responsibilities pulling at you! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-9818025477152973152013-05-22T13:59:36.345-04:002013-05-22T13:59:36.345-04:00Hello Jody,
What you're saying is absolutely ...Hello Jody, <br />What you're saying is absolutely true! It's terribly hard to write without feeling guilty, especially when you're not published yet and writing is much more of a hobby than a job. And of course, there's always the thought in the back of my mind, what if I don't get published and this all turns out to be a waste of time? There are so many other things I could be doing... and there's my story. Do I keep at it, even after all the rejection I have received so far? Do I invest more time and more effort when there are no guarantees? I'm glad you have set aside time to write and thank-you for sharing your strategies! Your determination is a good encouragement to all of us! <br />Christine Calderwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07283647903645505171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-53864600425531001922013-05-22T13:25:39.021-04:002013-05-22T13:25:39.021-04:00This is so timely, Jody! I just checked-in with my...This is so timely, Jody! I just checked-in with my weekly #wipmadness writing group and admitted to a week of no serious writing thanks to all the Victoria Day holiday happenings in my life. And I said I was okay with it... that I'd given myself guilt-free permission for the week off and I would be back on schedule tomorrow.<br /><br />I think we do ourselves (and God) a disservice if we believe we must be everything to everyone, always putting their needs before our own. If we accept that our writing is something God wants us to do, then we make time for it by cutting back a bit on, but not totally ignoring, other responsibilities. I think it helps eliminate (or at least minimize) the guilt to make a deliberate choice about writing times and non-writing times. So I'm a big fan of your first two points. Carol Garvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02182655399708415140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-64883512523196508362013-05-22T11:44:41.377-04:002013-05-22T11:44:41.377-04:00Jody, I guess I should count myself lucky that I d...Jody, I guess I should count myself lucky that I don't feel guilty about writing--at least right now. I just graduated and started freelance writing, so besides my day job, writing/networking IS my work. Fun work! I could get used to working for myself. However, I don't have the same considerations as you--family, home upkeep, etc. I don't even have the pressure of writing for a publisher, just open call deadlines. Guess I should enjoy this feeling while it lasts. ;)Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02981545140161976100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-48951107469345970052013-05-22T07:38:21.007-04:002013-05-22T07:38:21.007-04:00Hi Julia,
Oh you are definitely not alone! LOL! :...Hi Julia,<br /><br />Oh you are definitely not alone! LOL! :-) I have tried all kinds of things over the past years to make summers work. But for the sake of the brevity of this post I only listed one of the most recent. I've also paid my oldest to babysit my younger children (basically play and occupy them!). I've enlisted the help of my mom who took the kids to the library once a week for their reading program prizes and to get new books. I've also grabbed writing time while they're at swim lessons or other activities. We can make it work! It just takes some extra thought! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-77200370120067455422013-05-22T07:34:54.192-04:002013-05-22T07:34:54.192-04:00Hi Brandi,
Love your comment, Brandi! It's exa...Hi Brandi,<br />Love your comment, Brandi! It's exactly how I feel. Writing is a blessing and a source of comfort, solace, retreat-especially when life gets tough. It's wonderful to have the kind of job you can run to rather than feeling like you want to run away from it! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-2393392984576619372013-05-22T07:31:48.282-04:002013-05-22T07:31:48.282-04:00Hi there Amber! So nice to see you here! I remembe...Hi there Amber! So nice to see you here! I remember when my youngest were still taking naps and how I scheduled my writing time for then too. I lovingly refer to The Preacher's Bride as my "nap book." I wrote it over a year's time during naps and after the kids went to bed. Now that I'm on a much tighter schedule (and my kids don't take naps!), I've moved to scheduled blocks of time approximately 4 days a week and then I grab what I can on the other 2 days (and take Sundays off). It alleviates guilt to have the scheduled time. I feel less harried on those days than I do on the days that I'm grabbing time here and there. :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-73692575485989216652013-05-22T07:28:05.165-04:002013-05-22T07:28:05.165-04:00Hi Julie,
That sounds like a really awesome serie...Hi Julie,<br /><br />That sounds like a really awesome series! I'm sure our seasons definitely influence us. It will be interesting for me to see some day how my own views change when I reach my next season of empty nest (still many years away!). But I'm sure our perspectives mature and change. It's encouraging to hear that all of the women you hosted felt the key was holding on to their dreams. I think that's so true! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-23303848255011871722013-05-22T07:24:36.162-04:002013-05-22T07:24:36.162-04:00Hi Sally,
Thank you so much for sharing your expe...Hi Sally,<br /><br />Thank you so much for sharing your experience. That's wonderful that your husband and family are supporting your writing time. I love it! You've won half the battle right there! It is often hard for spouses to wholeheartedly embrace writing, especially in the pre-publication stage. But it's so important that they do, because like you said it is something that's important to us and makes us function better! <br /><br />And you're right, a family needs to be sensitive to each other's needs and seasons. The amount of writing time may ebb and flow accordingly. Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-82719148840101596042013-05-22T07:20:24.165-04:002013-05-22T07:20:24.165-04:00I hear you on living in the Midwest and not taking...I hear you on living in the Midwest and not taking beautiful weather for granted. After all, it's only green for about 5 months of the year (here in central Michigan). And those other 7 months have a lot of gray days! It's hard to stay inside when it's sunny! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-80703655489859899672013-05-21T17:09:32.317-04:002013-05-21T17:09:32.317-04:00It is a battle, Shelly. I feel it too, the tug fro...It is a battle, Shelly. I feel it too, the tug from those hundred other things. If it's not summer activities calling my name, there's cleaning and organizing the house, or vacation planning, or light bulbs that need changing! :-) There's always something. But when I sit down to write, I try to shut out the voices and make the most of the writing time I have. Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-30811259404232595132013-05-21T17:06:03.987-04:002013-05-21T17:06:03.987-04:00What a very cool story, Naomi! I'm sorry to he...What a very cool story, Naomi! I'm sorry to hear that your son got sick, but how awesome that you could use your writing money to help pay for his medical expenses! What a blessing!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-89703860080994930162013-05-21T16:28:57.412-04:002013-05-21T16:28:57.412-04:00It's always so nice to come here and find I...It's always so nice to come here and find I'm not alone in my struggles. I have finally realized that writing is what I'm called to do- that it fulfills my creative and intellectual needs, and that I'm happy when I get it in each day. But, as often happens when we strive for change, summer WILL present obstacles to my goal. I love your tips; I plan on getting up early to get in an hour on my WIP most days- that way, I'll have my fix and won't feel as much pressure later in the day. I also hope to enlist a college aged helper. I have a personally imposed deadline to shoot for that will help me focus- but hopefully not stress! Thanks as always for your insights! Julia Tomiakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17999070457191845503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-72410790731069613192013-05-21T14:18:16.943-04:002013-05-21T14:18:16.943-04:00Thank you for such an encouraging post, Jody. I...Thank you for such an encouraging post, Jody. I've often found myself justifying to other people why I loved to write, and experienced some level of guilt because I enjoyed my work (with or without pay) while knowing others may not have felt the same way about their jobs. You're right about it being a blessing to write. If God calls you to write, He will give you the determination, drive, and desire to do it. There's no shame in praising Him for the opportunities He gives. <br /><br />As for the necessity question, for me, it's essential that I write. It's a source of healing for me, a way to cope when life presents difficult circumstances. It's also allowed me to connect with a community of supportive and creative people.Brandi Boddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08017741568841209088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-34623054924024857022013-05-21T13:08:52.415-04:002013-05-21T13:08:52.415-04:00Jody! This is a very real part of my life everyday...Jody! This is a very real part of my life everyday! LOL I feel guilty a lot, but I have learned that when I pray for guidance, God will lead me to a path of writing "peace". I often employ many of the things you mentioned and it helps organize my time and follow that peaceful path, but if I every begin to feel uneasy or profoundly guilty, then I know I need to leave the writing for the time being and focus on my family, house, chores, etc. Then, when its my "scheduled" time (usually during nap time) I can feel at ease, knowing I have put my kids first and I can take the time I need to write, sans guilt. I always love the posts you write--so insightful and encouraging.<br />HUGS!!Amber Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12732638199138689844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-48189348246444797002013-05-21T10:39:51.132-04:002013-05-21T10:39:51.132-04:00I am in the midst of a four-part series on my blog...I am in the midst of a four-part series on my blog about writing through the different seasons in our lives. My first post was by a young gal in her early twenties, a second by a mom of three young kiddos, my current post was written by me, a woman staring down 50 and the empty nest. Next week we hear from a writer who started her career after she retired. What I loved about the series, was how where we're at in life influences our views and ability to write. I found the posts inspiring. You offer great ideas for helping people claim a slice of their dream in their lives. What I learned, through all the posts in my series, is that this is the key, no matter the stage of life we're in. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00741349796538313075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-86289283513207384312013-05-21T10:25:16.822-04:002013-05-21T10:25:16.822-04:00I have to say that I no longer feel any guilt abou...I have to say that I no longer feel any guilt about writing time. My husband has seen that I thrive when I get time to write; I'm happier, fulfilled, and I get more done at home. Not to say that I acted that way just to get my way. I commented about it to my husband after I'd realized this, and he agreed with me.<br /><br />And he sees that I'm taking that time seriously. I'll often give him updates on what I accomplished during my writing time, and he's seen the stack of manuscript pages growing on my desk. I share with my kids how many words I wrote that day, and it's kind of become a family thing. My kids are proud of me, and I think they feel a part of it since they've helped get a snack for their little brother while I finished up an hour of writing.<br /><br />I think the big thing is not to demand writing time. A family has to work as a whole, and there were a few years in our lives where I just didn't have writing time for various reasons. But now that time has passed, and it works well in our house for me to get some writing time Monday through Friday.<br /><br />If your spouse doesn't get it and seems to resent you wanting to get away, then you may need to back off for awhile. You may need to just make it work around the noise of the family. It may take some time for them to realize you're serious about it and not playing solitaire. :)Sally Bradleyhttp://www.sallybradley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-22974095179337054682013-05-21T09:05:47.783-04:002013-05-21T09:05:47.783-04:00Yes, summertime stirs up the guilt. Not only regar...Yes, summertime stirs up the guilt. Not only regarding the kids, but also b/c it's so sunny and cheery outside, I often feel I'm going against the grain of nature to stay holed up inside the house to write. Especially living in the Midwest, we dare not take beautiful weather for granted, so even though I try to do some writing outside, there is still the weird guilt that I should be doing something more outdoorsy than using pen & paper. :PBarbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634681223129304563noreply@blogger.com