Kitty Felde – January 21, 2011
Time and energy seem to be my biggest obstacles to writing these days. I have a day job where I’m writing a lot. And running all over town. And shocking though it may be to admit, I just don’t have as much energy as I used to.
I consume vast amounts of tea and chocolate to fuel my writing periods, but it’s just not enough. There aren’t enough hours in the day for work, exercise (ballet and swimming), opening the door for the cat, and kissing my husband. Oh, and many days I’d much rather be pursuing my other creative outlet: sewing. I can spend an entire weekend at my sewing machine and plan entire trips to various cities just to shop their fabric stores. (My last trip to NYC was split between seeing theatre and seeing the Balenciaga exhibit and the costume exhibit at Lincoln Center.)
I’m trying to take the long view. I’ve written ten plays over two decades. I don’t have to do it all in 2011. I am entitled to just sit around and be a vegetable sometimes. I don’t have to write everyday.
But that’s the rub, isn’t it? On days when I don’t write, I’m not as nice a person to those around me. Growl.
Guess I’ll summon the energy to write a few lines.
Enjoyed all of your posts this week! Right now, I’m between the moment of finishing the first draft and hearing the whole thing read (full-length, Feb. 7). So I’m cramming in a lot of hobby stuff (Making coffee table photo books), seeing friends and going out to the movies. Because once I hear the play, I’ll start the rewrites… and like you, there won’t be enough hours in the day for everything. So that’s how I manage it, alternating writing periods with the other stuff. Fortunately (?) I don’t have kids to juggle — because they can’t wait for the break period!