I have to admit I’m a sloppy writer. I don’t have set hours in my office with seat in chair. Oh, there’s lots of reasons why that is, but I don’t want to bore you … oh heck, why not? Here’s my list :

• Gotta be in the mood to write, just like any other creative endeavor. 
• I can’t put my seat in the chair, what if I don’t have any words? 
• I have a chronic illness and sometimes I just don’t feel good enough to write. 
• Too much noise in the house. 
• Too much quiet in the house. 

Are you getting the impression I’m brimming with excuses not to write? Why is that? 

When you’re writing and you get in the zone, it’s like a roller coaster. All you do is hang on and go with the story, seeing where it takes you. It’s exciting, it’s thrilling and exhausting all at the same time. Just like riding the roller coaster. But it can be darn hard work getting there. It’s like climbing to the top, and then balancing until it’s time to swoop down, going through the loop d’ loops and the upside downs and the side to sides – and all the time writing down each sensation. 

“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” – Robert Frost

And after all that, I’m exhausted. And hungry. I’ll be honest – again – sometimes I just don’t feel like climbing to the top of the roller coaster. No matter how much fun it is coming down, I just don’t have it in me.

So, what to do? I’m an author. I’m an editor. If I don’t get my seat in the chair, my job doesn’t get done. But – I argue with myself – I can work anytime I want to. I don’t have to work 9-5.

True. The other side of myself wants to do a good job, wants to write best-selling novels and be known as a professional.

The other side of myself (I have many sides) wants to wear jammies all day, eat ice cream and tell everyone else to wait. Wait until I’m in the mood. Yeah, that’s not going to happen.

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” – Anton Chekhov

Here’s the big question: Do you want to succeed? If so, read on. If not, get back in your jammies and get more ice cream.

This is what I’ve gleaned from many, many courses, mentors, and advice from successful authors and editors. I hope to make it my own experience in the near future.

• If this is my job, then I have to be professional about it. I have to treat it like a job. What if I had to go to an office M-F, 9-5? What if I had a boss watching me, checking on me, breathing down my neck? (Oh I’d hate that)
• If this is my job, there must be some kind of organization to what I’m doing. Make a schedule for regular blog posts. Block out time to write – every day. I hear the more I do it, the easier it is … ?
• If this is my job, I have to make a commitment to it. Many jobs require you to sign contracts. I do some work for a publisher and I have to sign a contract for each book I work on. I should sign a contract with myself.

Professionalism, organization and commitment … sounds like a job to me. But isn’t this my dream job? Yes, it is. I love to write and I love working as a developmental editor. I absolutely love it.

If you’re here looking for an editor for your book, don’t be scared. I’ve never missed a deadline and many times finish early. When I talk about my ‘sloppy habits’ I’m referring to working on my own book! Since no one is expecting anything from me, it’s easy to slip into the ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’ mode. But, your project is safe in my hands.

Author: editor