writing

What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?

this is a hard one. because really what i do is life. i do dishes, i do laundry, i change diapers, i get my kids dressed, i watch them play, i run errands, i go to moms' groups, i make dinner, i clean up, etc, etc, etc.

and all of these things that i do is why i write and usually what i write about. but they also all keep me from writing. some days i feel like all i've done is little task after little task, and really, who wants to read about that? so i don't write. some days i witness a million funny things that my kids do and hear tons of funny things that hiba says, but by the time i can sit down, my kids are the last thing i want to think about. some days i have deep thoughts that have nothing to do with my kids, but by the time i they're in bed and i have time to write, i've either forgotten or am too exhausted to write about anything meaningful.

obviously, i can't eliminate my daily life. i mean, i could re-arrange it so that i have more time for myself and i could use the kids' nap time and my evening time more for writing and less for checking my facebook or watching tv or napping. but most days i don't want to. i like being able to use that time to not think, to relax, and be entertained. but i also like writing, i like reflecting, i like having memories down on paper.

so i think the best i can do is keep trying. maybe i can make little notes to myself throughout the day so i don't forget what i want to write about. this project will obviously help, as i have to be intentional about finding time to write each day. maybe that will continue come january. i hope so.