Making Time to Develop Your Craft
Someone asked me this great question on Facebook the other day:
I am about 3 years married with a 9 year-old, a 16 month-old, and a 3 month-old, and I work full time during the day (besides being active in church). Sometimes I feel like the babies (so close… in age) are too young for me to pull away for hours at a time without helping out the wife. At the same time, I have such a burning desire to develop my craft.
I would love to dedicate a nice chunk of time to the craft. How do you do it?
Here is my response to him:
That’s a really good question. One I struggle with all the time. It’s good that you’re asking it. Your family comes first. So many people destroy their families in pursuit of their dreams. I’m not sure about your specific situation, but this is how I do it.
My son is only 15 months old and we’re still trying to figure this out. Thankfully my situation allows me to work in the mornings and write in the afternoon. Of course I have to get up at 4:30am to get enough work hours in before writing in the afternoon. I’m usually done by 5pm and able to spend the evening with my family. I help Becca with dinner and our son. After he goes to bed, we watch a little TV and then Becca goes to bed and I work a little more.
I’ve cut way back on my xbox and tv watching in order to pull off this schedule. I guess it’s all a matter of how bad you want it and what you’re willing to give up. Just make sure it’s not your family.
Hope this helps.
Any other creative ideas for making the time to create? Feel free to ask any other questions in the comments. We’d love to make reader questions a regular thing.
