The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Silver Bells.
Silent Night.
The Holly & the Ivy.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve and Other Stories.
Christmas is a fun time of year. All the lights, the
sparkle, the music (old and new), the hustle and bustle of shopping. The time I
have for myself, that is to say time to even think about writing, gets squeezed
down to minutes a week. I understand it, but I don’t always like it much.
Time was, I tried to force everything into a day. The old
adage is “write something every day.” That really doesn’t work for me, but oh,
I did try. I thought I was the queen of multi-tasking. It didn’t work, except
if you call walking away from writing as Rayne Forrest a good thing. It wasn’t.
I gave up on the idea of extreme multi-tasking. I don’t have
to work, take care of my partner, parents, friends and write every day. Do I
compartmentalize my life? Yes, I do. Is that a good thing? Perhaps not, but it
keeps me sane.
With the Christmas season upon us, I know it’s time to
concentrate on family and friends. Some of those friends are other writers and
readers so I don’t abandon the Internet to be with family, but I do
deliberately divide out my time.
When I first deliberately didn’t write, it was mentally
difficult. I’d made plans with a friend to go Christmas shopping for the day.
It started to snow so we cut our day short. I suddenly had time to write. The
thing was, I was tired. I flopped in front of the television. And that’s when
the guilt started picking at me.
Long story short, I overcame the guilty feelings and
continued to relax. And you know what? The sky didn’t fall and I learned this
lesson - I don’t have to cram multiple activities into one short day. There
really is time for me to enjoy the holiday season and that’s what I plan to do.
I plan to be deliberate with seeing family and friends. I’ve
planned time for baking cookies, decorating, a little shopping, and yes, a little
writing - just not all at once. With any luck, by the time Epiphany rolls
around, my house and life will be all squared away for the New Year, all
without driving myself crazy.
- - - -
To all the participants of the Insecure Writer’s Support
Group - A very merry Christmas and holiday season! May your traditions bring
you comfort and joy.
Rayne
Writers tend to be an introverted and insecure sect. We need
positive reinforcement on a daily basis. The word "never" should not be a part of our vocabulary. 
