Most writers don’t struggle with relationships. Not that I see anyway. Even introverts have people in their lives — if only the ones living in their head.
Writing is a solitary job that requires a community to help get it done. The most moving part of each novel for me is writing the acknowledgments.
I weep.
I laugh.
I sigh.
I worry I’ve forgotten someone.
Did I remember the girl at the coffee house who gave me barista information? Wasn’t there someone I called to get information on college athletes?
I want to thank everyone who said a kind word to me while writing the book because I couldn’t have done it without them.
A writer’s life is an odd life. We crave alone time. We crave people time. Every once in awhile we have to crawl out of our imaginary world to the real one in order to gain perspective and rebalance our emotional scales.
I think I was made for a writer’s life. I’m an intro-extrovert. I love being alone. I can sit in the quiet for hours. But I love being around people. I love a good conversation. I love being out and about.
I love sounds and music, laughter and voices.
I love solitude. Quiet. The sound of the rain on the rooftop.
Outside of Jesus and family, the most critical relationship to an author is routine. A schedule. Even for the seat-of-the-pants authors, a routine is important. The busier you are, the more critical routine and schedule becomes.
Most authors write when they are inspired. After a few years, the same inspired chapters are the only thing they have for their efforts. One, two, maybe even ten chapters.
Life gets in the way. Excuses are easy to find. So a novel must be scheduled as an important part of everyday life.
Do you wait for a whim to feed your kids? Clean the house? Take a shower? No, you follow a plan, even a loose plan, to get through the day.
If you’re serious about writing, you must include your story as part of your day. Even if all you have is 15 minutes. It all counts.
There is power in a focused life. Power in forming some kind of routine and schedule, then doing your best to stick to it. Even 50 percent success is better than nothing–and 50 percent is better than most people achieve.
A writer’s relationship with a set routine is the best relationship she’ll ever develop.
Work on it. You’ll be glad you did.
~*~
Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, bestselling author. A graduate of Ohio State, she spent 17 years in the corporate software world before leaving to write full-time. She is the past president of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and now serves as an advisor. She’s married and lives in central Florida.
