The whole of last week was busy. And the week before. And the week before that. September, as I’ve already said, has been relentless. I rather like it this way – being busy is healthy for the mind I think. But it’s come to the stage where my busy-ness is affecting my writing goals.

One of the biggest moans that budding authors have is that they just don’t have enough time to work on that novel of theirs. It’s all very well for Flossie Jones and Brian Bloggs to have their books published – they don’t have such a busy life, do they? Do they?

Actually, they do. Authors are busy people. Most of them have families to bring up, other jobs to do or interests outside of writing. None of them is immune to an evening in front of the TV.  And so what makes them different? What makes it so that Flossie and Brian finish and publish their books when us mere mortals are left floundering on page 1?

It’s all to easy to say we want to write/play the piano/get a degree/insert personal dream here. We think wanting it is enough. There are plenty of things I want: my own choir, my own Girl Guide Company, to read all the books by the side of my bed, to…visit the haunts of Lord Byron.  But the truth is that I’m not about to get these done any time soon because I am not committed enough  to them. That’s no bad thing. To everything there is a season, as it goes, and in the future perhaps I will be ace guide leader extraordinaire.

Right now, just as I ditch teaching an evening class this term with more than a hint of trepidation and regret at doing so, I know that one must simply make time and space in which to pursue one’s dreams. When it comes to something as big as writing a book, you have to really want it. Liking the idea of having written a book is not the same as giving up something -even just games of minesweeper –  in order to do so.

The sacrifices I am making are not easy ones. The class I was to teach was…well I love doing it. I love my students and their passion. The money came in handy too. But I have to let it go. I have also had to say no to taking on more piano clients and that’s hard too. There are so many temptations which lead me away from my priority…taking Peter every step of the way to publication. He and his story need more time than I’ve been giving. Right now I have to change that.

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