This week in issue 30 of The Prosperous Writer, I blogged on the topic of being busy in our writing careers and what that might look and feel like.
What kind of lessons has being busy taught you? I look forward to reading your response to the e-zine prompt in your blog.
This blogging prompt is exclusively for subscribers of The Prosperous Writer blog. But if you want to get in on the next prompt round (I don’t archive issues), please feel free to join us by signing up to receive the e-zine next week.
Then hop in with next weeks’ prompt. You are welcome to join in any time!
If you are posting your blog’s link and it doesn’t show up immediately in the comments, that’s because I have to approve comments with links. I will regularly, don’t worry. I will also “whitelist” regulars and then they won’t have to wait for their comments to be approved.
And then I’ll round the posts up each week and share them in the e-zine.
Look forward to tweeting what what you have to say on Twitter to my almost 8500 followers!
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Christina, you hit the nail on the head this week! I think the most important thing is to see being busy as a help and not a hindrance.
http://alizalibman.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-is-dead-long-live-blog.html
Christine,
What a timely prompt for this week! I have spent the better part of this week setting up and arranging the delegation of important tasks to other experts so that I can focus on just writing – the whole reason why I started this adventure in the first place!
I was actually in the middle of formulating my blog post for Friday on that very subject when the Prosperous Writer arrived in my inbox! You can find the blog post Friday morning on The Blue Inkwell – http://www.theblueinkwell.com
Busy-ness makes me productive. Un-busy makes time disappear.
http://kellymccrady.blogspot.com
This writer is ALWAYS busy. I'm waiting for two publishers to accept or (Boo!) reject my current YA ms., SHELTER, set in a domestic violence shelter. Improving my platform is a 30-40 minute deal daily; writing my blog, SHELTER KIDS/http:bit.ly/ruralwriter takes about an hour once a week. Then there's researching a new topic, revising a MG novel set in 1915 VT for my agent's perusal, critique group, checking email, ordering or picking up books, reading (often by audio CD's), etc. I'd say writing and writing activities take up at least 4 hours a day, probably more. Then there's my house, husband and (grown) kids, the gym, the 4-year-old next door who is very special to me. Now add Bell Choir (8 months a year), editing a newsletter for LDA of CT, Bridge Club, and volunteering once a week at a domestic violence shelter, not to mention shopping, cooking, planning family events and …you get the picture. I'm ALWAYS busy, but I write most afternoons and still love it. That's what's important.
Hi Christina, thanks again for commenting on my website. And as recommended I'm here checking out Empowering writers.
All writers are busy with writing, building a platform and the external family, friends, partner etc. It's a juggling act. And sometimes one will need more attention and inevitably one ball will drop. Just got to pick it up again and carry on.
In the last week or so I've been learning to juggle online writing and participating on the internet. And it's hard. Today, I managed to write before jumping on to the internet whereas yesterday I wrote after everyone was asleep because the internet consumed me. The internet can be all consuming at times. I've learnt to write my blog posts a day or two before so that I can check more than once before posting. There's so much to read online as well, so many blogs, so much advice – it can all become a bit overwhelming. That's why I bought your book. It put everything in one place. And gave me something so that I could plan.
Being busy is knowing what you need to do and prioritizing. Once something is done, you move on to the next. And keeping track of what you have done helps show you your progress.
This is a great list, Pat. And sounds familiar to many of us, I'm sure. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
You're very welcome, Jessie. Thanks for coming by and participating. 🙂
Sorry for the double post!
For me anyway, there is a difference between busy and productive. I have to be VERY careful to be productive and not just busy.
It's very easy to get lost in busyness on the net, but keeping a list and then sticking to it really helps keep me focused.
I blogged about being busy on the right things on my blog, http://writewithtlc.tlcooper.com/.
I posted over at my blog: http://twofroghome.com/2010/08/busy-in-the-best-ways/
The funny thing is, Alana, I don't even consider social networking as part of business. I think of it as playing, so I'd better be doing it after all my work is done. 🙂
Thanks, T.L. 🙂
Thanks for the prompt, Christina. I blogged on busy at http://flowering.posterous.com/on-being-busy
I blogged about being busy, too. 🙂
http://sarahsbabysteps.blogspot.com/
Christina, Can I tell you I was too busy last week to blog on the topic BUSY? And so I am a practically a week behind, but I did it anyway! http://tinyurl.com/2vnfzmr
Thanks, everyone, for blogging along! 🙂
A recent book by Valorie Burton has been helping me with this topic! http://purplesongproject.blogspot.com/2010/08/b…
Thanks Christina for the prompt!
Christina,
I’m new to trying out your blog post ideas, and also a week behind as someone else was, but I blogged about how I’m too busy to write, and wanted to let you know. Thanks for all the great stuff on your ezine and blog to help writer wanna-be’s like me. http://libbysclothesline.blogspot.com/2010/08/busy-writing.html. I will try to post about permissions. Oh, don’t I hate it when writers use stuff word for word from the internet!
Libby Miner
Sometimes I think busy is overrated and sometimes a diversion. I find taking time for meditation one of the most creative and enriching elements. First I be. Second I do.
I have been making and checking things off lists since I was 8 years old! 🙂
I do get more done that way, and if time runs out before the list does, I add it to tomorrow's list!
Pat Aust