Tayari's Blog: Up, Up and Away!

Posted by TayariJones on September 16, 2008 07:30 AM
Filed under The Writing Life

I just wanted to take a second before I dash to work to thank you all for your email and comment hugs when I was having such a hard time with my writing last week. I really recommend that you go and read the comments. There is some serious practical wisdom there.) I think I have found a way to balance my responsibilities.

I am taking it easy on the twittering, as Lauren has advised. When I told her about my Tweetdeck, an application that allows me to twitter with several dozen people at the time she said "DISMANTLE IT." And I had to admit that she sort of had a point. (Y'all, I was twittering so much that the LA Times noticed when I quit.) Also I am blocking off a couple of days in the week to just putter around and write. Other advice I am taking includes not beating up on myself for the times I don't write. (Like today-- not writing, all school work, and I am not freaking out.) And last but not least, a great tip from Laraine, who-- unlike me--, pays attention when the flight attendant says

Put the oxygen mask on yourself first before assisting others.
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There are 3 comments on "Up, Up and Away!". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.

Comment #1, by Jade Park [TypeKey Profile Page]

will miss ur frenetic tweets! (writing gets so solitary--you're not my only writer friend struggling with the tweets). but writing is more important and i support you. i LOVE the reminder "put the oxygen mask on yourself first before assisting others."

September 16, 2008 10:02 AM

Comment #2, by Saeed Jones [TypeKey Profile Page]

You know you're out of control when the LA Times calls you out. Good luck with the home stretch of your novel.

September 16, 2008 05:00 PM

Comment #3, by kgs [TypeKey Profile Page]

Have to thank you... after saying "I can't do mornings any more," I kept thinking about that thread and how many people talked about using morning time. Thursday morning I woke up at the unholy hour of 5 a.m. and spent 3 hours working solidly on a revision of an essay I feel has a real fighting chance and had just been critiqued in the workshop I run. When I stopped (because it was time to punch the time clock), I felt better, not just about my writing, but about my writing "self." If I can't do that *every* day, I can push myself to do it once or twice a week.

I also concur on Twitter et al. Am I on Twitter? Yes. My participation has declined quite a bit since getting a more demanding job. Twitter during a work day that has me bored out of my skull (something that doesn't happen any more)... that's tempting. Twitter versus my personal writing... no contest.

I love the "oxygen mask" comment... you did something else: you knew you had a problem and you reached out. Good for you!


September 20, 2008 03:50 PM

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