Stop Whining. Just Write.

I don't want to hear whining about how it's so difficult. Oh, I don't tolerate any of that because most of the people who've ever written are under enormous duress, myself being one them.—Toni Morrison

I'm trying to stop whining.

Black and Blue by upfromsumdirt aka Ron Davis (sold)

Too many papers to grade. Got to cook. Need to wash the dishes. The dog needs water. I haven’t seen you for years. This means let’s talk for three hours during my writing time. My head hurts. I’m tired. I’m stressed out. My daughter needs me. I need my glasses adjusted. My son is in jail. Grocery shopping: I forgot the butter. My son’s girlfriend is crying. Too many bills. Bill collector called. Boy scouts. Girl scouts. True Blood. Dateline. Bill Moyer. Young and the Restless. Mad Men. Oh an Angel re-run! I’m tired. I don’t believe in writer’s block but I have it. There is a reading I need to go to. That lecture is tonight? Oh that movie comes out this weekend? It’s snowing. The rain is depressing. It’s too cold in here. It’s too hot in here. Someone made me mad! Messed up my flow. My mother called. Can’t enter my story again after interruption. I need a retreat. The sun is causing a glare on my computer. It’s too dark in here. I need some coffee. I need a muffin. It’s too hot. The refrigerator is humming again. Someone’s knocking on the door. Let me just check Twitter. It’s cold. Let me check FB. Let me check FB again. Friend calls …Did you hear what happened? The intention was to tell her I was writing but I had to listen to what she had to say. Another bad book got published so “Why bother!?” Had a bad writing day so “Why bother!?” The dog is barking. Email. The mail. The floor needs sweeping. I can’t write anyway so “Why bother?!” I overslept. I had a good writing day yesterday so I can’t top my best so “Why bother?!”

I’ve used each of these excuses at one time or another. My excuses present themselves in a myriad of ways. And usually my own self sabbatoge works.

A writer writes.
A writer writes.
A writer writes.

I have recently changed my writing schedule to write with my partner Ron Davis. Sometimes Ron writes too. Sometimes he makes art. We sometimes stay up until 3 or 4 a.m. arting or get up at 3:30 a.m. to put in our hours. If one of us flakes out, it doesn’t deter the other. We have re-dedicated ourselves to our artistic lives. And we are happier, more serene creative beings even in the midst of chaos.

And we are continuing to find ways to make it work. No more excuses.

When it's time to make art, it's time to make art. The other work (that pays the bills including our journal ) and the little personal storms that are ever-present in our lives (especially with our families) will be there when the sun rises. We are on our second week of our new schedule and though we work hard during the other times to clear our to-do lists, this art time is sacred and remains untouched by any outside forces. Our art time is a dedication, a meditation on what we love, like a prayer.