Give the Pen to a Busy Person

I’ll tell you a little bit about what’s going in my life right now. First and foremost, I am about a month and a half away from delivering my second daughter. Seriously–when I walk into a room, my belly is first and foremost. Secondly, my husband and I are beginning to make preparations for an out-of-state move (something I’ve never done before) that could be happening as soon as a month or two after the baby is born. Throw in tax season, both our jobs, keeping up with my online writing communities, and raising a toddler that is–as I always say–too smart for my own good, and it’s pretty crazy around here.

Yet somehow, I’m managing to keep up with the writing schedule I’ve set myself: working on my characterization skills, writing and posting a chapter of Holding My Breath every couple of weeks, and maintaining my blog here. But because that wasn’t enough, I also took on two group blogging commitments for an extra three blogs per month. I must be a glutton for sleep-deprivation.

But the truth is–and maybe you’ve noticed this about yourself too–I get so much more done when I’m busy.

Writing More When I’m Busy

Have you ever heard the saying, “If you want to get something done, give it to a busy person?” I’m that busy person. It seems like the more balls I have up in the air, the more I can take on. But if I stop for a second, they all come tumbling down. If I even slow down a little bit, I start to lose my grace.

I find this especially true for my writing. Oh sure, I always dream of locking myself away in a cabin in the middle of the forest with rain pouring down as I stare out the window and write the most amazing story ever written. But honestly, if I do manage to get a chunk of free time, it’s like my brain goes into Flan mode and I can’t think straight long enough to get a word down. Like today–I spent all day running errands with my 20-month-old (you’re impressed, right?) and then as soon as I got her down for her nap, I sat in front of my computer and began writing. This will be my second completed blog in the last two hours. Yesterday I laid around the house and wrote nothing.

It’s hard to make time for writing but I think when I’m busiest is when I’m most capable of getting my writing done. I try to take advantage of the fact that my brain is already well-awake, I’m on my toes, and my productivity endorphins are pulsing through my veins. There are times when an easy-going day gives the right side of my brain time to feel things out and let the story stretch, but on most days, I need to buckle down and getting the words on the page. And if my theory is correct, it looks like the next year will be the most productive of my life!

When do you feel most productive? Are you a “busy person?” Do you get Flan brain if you have too much time “write,” like I do?

New Places to Find Me

I hope you’ll come check me out at my new blogging homes! I am now writing at Hugs & Chocolate, a writing community for “inspiration, information and motivation” where I post every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. I’ll also be posting a monthly blog on productivity at Routines for Writers on the 1st Tuesday of each month. I’ll update with the links for all of my new posts on Facebook and Twitter, so I hope you’ll find me there!