I am a lazy author

[Goodalphamale]

Hey, Heath here aka Goodalphamale, I started writing as a timepass. I had never thought about writing stories, but somehow, I wrote. I got a full-time job and a healthy family which means I spend some more time with my family.

But now I’m fully ignoring my projects that are begging for sequels. What can I do to make things right?

I really wanna complete my stories and work on some new ones.

 

[StillStunned]

Never write what you don't want to write, unless you're getting paid for it. This is a hobby: you're supposed to enjoy it.

And who knows? One day inspiration might strike and you can finish those other projects. Until then, if they're marked as Series here on Lit, add a comment that you won't be continuing any time soon and set the series to "Completed".

 

[TheRedChamber]

Oh, that's easy. Spend less time with your family.

No, wait! That doesn't sound right...

 

[gunhilltrain]

Hey, Heath here aka Goodalphamale, I started writing as a timepass. I had never thought about writing stories, but somehow, I wrote. I got a full-time job and a healthy family which means I spend some more time with my family.

But now I’m fully ignoring my projects that are begging for sequels. What can I do to make things right?

I really wanna complete my stories and work on some new ones.

I suppose since I've done a lot of these things on three different sites for the last six years, I may have some insight into this. (I'm also retired, which gives me some extra time.) Even so, I've found it takes a lot longer to write, edit, and proof a story (or essay) than I once imagined. Even if it's only about 6,000 words, it's going to take a couple of months at least. And that's assuming you have the amount of time that I have to put into it. Also, it's difficult to actively work on more than one project at a time. Make some notes on future ideas and get back to them later.

So have some patience and don't be too hard on yourself. Work on them whenever you can; you've got a lot going on in your life.

 

[MisterAlice]

To paraphrase Hemingway, writing is easy. You just sit down in front of your keyboard and open a vein,

 

[MrHereWriting]

Never write what you don't want to write, unless you're getting paid for it. This is a hobby: you're supposed to enjoy it.

And who knows? One day inspiration might strike and you can finish those other projects. Until then, if they're marked as Series here on Lit, add a comment that you won't be continuing any time soon and set the series to "Completed".

Did you read his post? He wants to continue writing, but he can't find the time. He's not trying to force himself to write, he trying to figure out how he can balance his writing with his work and family.

The only answer to this problem is: You write when you can, either by happenstance or design, there's no other way.

 

[ThatNewGuy]

It's not clear to me what the problem is.

Is the problem that you have time to write but are "lazy" and "fully ignoring your projects"? If so, try setting a very modest daily writing goal (x number of words or y amount of time). It's easier to force yourself to get started with a small, achievable goal. Once you get started, you may decide to keep going!

Is the problem that you don't have time because of work and family obligations? If so, try these suggestions:

1. Adjust your expectations for how long a writing session has to be. Instead of an hour, be content with carving out ten minutes here and there. Progress is progress.

2. "Write" in your head while you're walking the dog, doing the dishes, or brushing your teeth. Play out a scene or a conversation between characters in your mind's eye. Later, when you have time to sit down to put pen to paper, the words will flow more quickly and easily.

Finding time to write can be a huge challenge. Best of luck.

 

[MisterAlice]

If you really want to do something, you make time for it. If that means you have to get up at 4 before everyone else or stay up late a few nights a week to write then you do it.

 

[StillStunned]

Did you read his post? He wants to continue writing, but he can't find the time. He's not trying to force himself to write, he trying to figure out how he can balance his writing with his work and family.

The only answer to this problem is: You write when you can, either by happenstance or design, there's no other way.

My bad. My brain was full of workfog, and I misread.

 

[Kasumi_Lee]

I had never thought about writing stories, but somehow, I wrote. I got a full-time job and a healthy family which means I spend some more time with my family.

You're not lazy, you have a life, and a very happy one it seems. I'm in a very similar boat to you, so I set aside an hour or two every day to sit at my laptop and just type. Sometimes, nothing comes, and sometimes, I can churn out whole chapters. The important thing is not to find the time, but to make the time.

And on either side of my alloted time, my kids keep me busy with their antics and hubby keeps me busy in other ways.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

If you can't write them, then are they really begging for sequels? Are you lazy, or just rearranging the importance of things? Or just don't have the inspiration, or have writers block?

 

[Britva415]

I really wanna complete my stories and work on some new ones.

How bad do you want it?

 

[TheLobster]

Oh, that's easy. Spend less time with your family.

No, wait! That doesn't sound right...

It definitely sounds like bad advice.

Instead, I’d say that @Goodalphamale should simply quit his job.

 

[SimonDoom]

Sounds like you're a busy person, not a lazy writer. Not a bad thing to be. And if your job and family are taking up time you could spend writing smut stories for free, you've got your priorities straight.

 

[gunhilltrain]

It definitely sounds like bad advice.

Instead, I’d say that @Goodalphamale should simply quit his job.

Since the incoming administration may ban homeless people from camping and sleeping on the streets and in parks (although I thought that was a city and state issue), maybe he should think more before doing that.

 

[MillieDynamite]

1. Buy a lightning rod.
2. Stand outside naked in a thunderstorm, holding a lightning rod over your head, and wait for inspiration. If you're lucky, you'll get inspired to write before the lightning strikes.
or
1. Write at night after the kiddos are in bed and on weekends when you can make time.
2. Read stories in your primary genre for inspiration. (don't rewrite those stories, write your own)
3. Drink one shot of Jamison and write, write, write, promising when you've hit the 2,000-word mark, you'll get another shot (often works for me).
4. Promise yourself a good fuck when you've completed your story. Try to get the wife onboard so you aren't just fucking a pillow.

I'm sorry if none of these work for you. They work pretty well for me. But then again, I'm a lesbian, married to a lesbian, so maybe I'm wired differently from you.

 

[UnexpectedLuggage]

Never write what you don't want to write, unless you're getting paid for it. This is a hobby: you're supposed to enjoy it.

And who knows? One day inspiration might strike and you can finish those other projects. Until then, if they're marked as Series here on Lit, add a comment that you won't be continuing any time soon and set the series to "Completed".

This. And as someone who has done some commission writing (not erotica), don't write what you don't want to write. Your work will always suffer if your heart isn't in it.

 

[MillieDynamite]

If you get paid for writing (especially podcast scripts), try to get her host to do their own research and not be clueless about what they write. You'll make more per hour that way. Trust me, I know this for a fact! Cause, well, my guys are idiots.

 

[Goodalphamale]

Oh, that's easy. Spend less time with your family.

No, wait! That doesn't sound right...

Haha good one

 

[Goodalphamale]

Never write what you don't want to write, unless you're getting paid for it. This is a hobby: you're supposed to enjoy it.

And who knows? One day inspiration might strike and you can finish those other projects. Until then, if they're marked as Series here on Lit, add a comment that you won't be continuing any time soon and set the series to "Completed".

Thanks

 

[Goodalphamale]

If you can't write them, then are they really begging for sequels? Are you lazy, or just rearranging the importance of things? Or just don't have the inspiration, or have writers block?

All of the above I guess

 

[Goodalphamale]

How bad do you want it?

Really bad

Since the incoming administration may ban homeless people from camping and sleeping on the streets and in parks (although I thought that was a city and state issue), maybe he should think more before doing that.

Oh no

 

[Goodalphamale]

1. Buy a lightning rod.
2. Stand outside naked in a thunderstorm, holding a lightning rod over your head, and wait for inspiration. If you're lucky, you'll get inspired to write before the lightning strikes.
or
1. Write at night after the kiddos are in bed and on weekends when you can make time.
2. Read stories in your primary genre for inspiration. (don't rewrite those stories, write your own)
3. Drink one shot of Jamison and write, write, write, promising when you've hit the 2,000-word mark, you'll get another shot (often works for me).
4. Promise yourself a good fuck when you've completed your story. Try to get the wife onboard so you aren't just fucking a pillow.

I'm sorry if none of these work for you. They work pretty well for me. But then again, I'm a lesbian, married to a lesbian, so maybe I'm wired differently from you.

Good advice thank you

 

[SamBomb]

Hey, Heath here aka Goodalphamale, I started writing as a timepass. I had never thought about writing stories, but somehow, I wrote. I got a full-time job and a healthy family which means I spend some more time with my family.

But now I’m fully ignoring my projects that are begging for sequels. What can I do to make things right?

I really wanna complete my stories and work on some new ones.

I'm the same... just write when you feel inspired.

 

[gunhilltrain]

1. Buy a lightning rod.
2. Stand outside naked in a thunderstorm, holding a lightning rod over your head, and wait for inspiration. If you're lucky, you'll get inspired to write before the lightning strikes.
or
1. Write at night after the kiddos are in bed and on weekends when you can make time.
2. Read stories in your primary genre for inspiration. (don't rewrite those stories, write your own)
3. Drink one shot of Jamison and write, write, write, promising when you've hit the 2,000-word mark, you'll get another shot (often works for me).
4. Promise yourself a good fuck when you've completed your story. Try to get the wife onboard so you aren't just fucking a pillow.

I'm sorry if none of these work for you. They work pretty well for me. But then again, I'm a lesbian, married to a lesbian, so maybe I'm wired differently from you.

I agree with this except for the Jamison. Coffee, orange juice (mixed in with Croton Aqueduct water, which is pretty good), a diet Doctor Pepper . . .