Writing

Susan Hill made some interesting observations about writing angst on her blog the other day and I've been thinking about what she said. Effectively she was encouraging writers to enjoy what they do and to not put pressure on themselves to reach quotas etc (I won't repeat what she had to say, you can read it yourselves...)

She's right, of course. There's no argument to the contrary really...but it got me thinking about why I sometimes feel frustrated about the whole process and I thought I'd share my thoughts.

For me, the frustration comes in two distinct guises. The first is at my situation. I'm certain I share this with most writers who have had just a little success and many writers who have had no success (I'm talking financially here...not aesthectically...that's another thing altogether) at all. It's about making time to write. I'll always make the time (because I love it so much and because I have ambitions) but there is the day job to do (I'm a teacher) and the family committments, so there are times when I'm at work wishing I was at home sat at the computer working on my writing. The desire to write full-time is my driving force and so it goes on. Yes, I love the act of writing, so much that sometimes I hate being kept away from doing it!

The second frustration is at myself when the time is there to write and I find myself wasting it. I don't think I'll ever change there though. If I get 300 words done in a session I can't help thinking 'why didn't I manage a 1000?' Perhaps age will mellow me...not that I'm suggesting Susan is old...