Comments on: Diagnosis: guilt http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt For writers, readers, and independent thinkers--book and story reviews by writers and readers, writers' motivational articles, war stories from the publishing trenches, literary trends, religious controversies, free chocolate, and more. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:13:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Katie http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8091 Katie Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:11:20 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8091 Thanks, Robin. :) If you're still swamped when the husb posts in online, I'll drop the link off for you. Thanks, Robin. :) If you’re still swamped when the husb posts in online, I’ll drop the link off for you.

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8073 robin Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:21:42 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8073 Katie!!!! Yours is one of those blogs, so I had no idea. CONGRATULATIONS!!! That's fantastic!!!!!!!!!! Katie!!!! Yours is one of those blogs, so I had no idea. CONGRATULATIONS!!! That’s fantastic!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: Katie http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8068 Katie Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:40:14 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8068 Protect, protect! And no guilt. Am I one of those other bloggers? Then I'll tell you my news here -- our 48-Hour Film won Best In LA! :-) And I read Harry Potter. And that's all you're missing, except that I sewed undies for my Diet Coke. Happy writing! Protect, protect! And no guilt.

Am I one of those other bloggers? Then I’ll tell you my news here — our 48-Hour Film won Best In LA! :-) And I read Harry Potter. And that’s all you’re missing, except that I sewed undies for my Diet Coke.

Happy writing!

]]> By: Patrick, The Space Lord. http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8061 Patrick, The Space Lord. Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:37:00 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8061 I definitely trumpet the seperate room for internet computer and writing computer. That made a huge difference for me when I was able to swing it. Unfortunately, I can't maintain that at the moment. This might be one reason why i'm not that productive lately. I'd agree that blogging time is flexible, but writing time isn't. I wouldn't schedule ALL writing time, just a significant chunk. Who wants to stop inspiration? I definitely trumpet the seperate room for internet computer and writing computer. That made a huge difference for me when I was able to swing it. Unfortunately, I can’t maintain that at the moment. This might be one reason why i’m not that productive lately.

I’d agree that blogging time is flexible, but writing time isn’t. I wouldn’t schedule ALL writing time, just a significant chunk. Who wants to stop inspiration?

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8060 robin Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:21:50 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8060 Patrick, thanks for all the great suggestions (and you're right about blogs when you're not there, of course). I don't have set office hours because I'm basically in here parts of all day and all evening. Between the blog and my writing, I find I work best if I keep my time flexible. But I'm sure a lot of people would benefit from doing it your way--and it really would make it easy to say no to any intrusions during that set period of time. Patrick, thanks for all the great suggestions (and you’re right about blogs when you’re not there, of course).

I don’t have set office hours because I’m basically in here parts of all day and all evening. Between the blog and my writing, I find I work best if I keep my time flexible. But I’m sure a lot of people would benefit from doing it your way–and it really would make it easy to say no to any intrusions during that set period of time.

]]> By: Patrick, The Space Lord. http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8059 Patrick, The Space Lord. Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:12:23 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8059 Well, I certainly don't feel guilty about not posting on blogs or forums. I just assume they aren't as exciting when I'm not there. Here's my question to writers. Don't you set office hours? Do you keep regular scheduled writing times? I would and have when I did my Fulltime writer experiment. Sorry, I work from 8am-noon. Can't help ya. Deadline approaching might be working until 3 or 4 this week. Use a non-internet computer and seperate office to avoid distractions? Things like these that make sure YOU treat it like a job. Well, I certainly don’t feel guilty about not posting on blogs or forums. I just assume they aren’t as exciting when I’m not there.

Here’s my question to writers. Don’t you set office hours? Do you keep regular scheduled writing times? I would and have when I did my Fulltime writer experiment.

Sorry, I work from 8am-noon. Can’t help ya. Deadline approaching might be working until 3 or 4 this week.

Use a non-internet computer and seperate office to avoid distractions?

Things like these that make sure YOU treat it like a job.

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8058 robin Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:40:40 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8058 Lady T, I hadn't heard about that petition to J.K. While I understand it--I mean, I'd have loved the series to go on forever, too--you're right about letting the poor woman rest for a while. She's done enough for all of us, thank you. If never writes another thing (but I hope she does!), she'll have already made a huge difference in the world of reading. Deborah, I could learn a lot from you. I like your attitude! And yeah, I understand how it would feel different if it's a non-working activity, but just like J.K. Rowing, you're entitled to your down time, too. (Easy for me to say when it's you, harder when it's me.) Vivian, thanks! Now I'm going off the blog and underground again . . . Lady T, I hadn’t heard about that petition to J.K. While I understand it–I mean, I’d have loved the series to go on forever, too–you’re right about letting the poor woman rest for a while. She’s done enough for all of us, thank you. If never writes another thing (but I hope she does!), she’ll have already made a huge difference in the world of reading.

Deborah, I could learn a lot from you. I like your attitude! And yeah, I understand how it would feel different if it’s a non-working activity, but just like J.K. Rowing, you’re entitled to your down time, too. (Easy for me to say when it’s you, harder when it’s me.)

Vivian, thanks! Now I’m going off the blog and underground again . . .

]]> By: Vivian http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8057 Vivian Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:31:11 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8057 I LOVE the quote from J.K. Rowlings. I'm all for hiding away from everyone until you finish your work. Happy writing! I LOVE the quote from J.K. Rowlings. I’m all for hiding away from everyone until you finish your work. Happy writing!

]]> By: Deborah http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8056 Deborah Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:44:05 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8056 I don't write books for a living, but my office is in my home and even after almost 20 years of working at home, I still have friends and neighbors who think because my car is in the driveway that I'm home doing nuthin'. And when I have a deadline I have to very firmly tell kids, dogs, friends, neighbors and anyone else who wants to interrupt me that No, I will not come out of the office, No, I will not answer the phone, No I will not take you for a walk, and No, I will not make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when you can do that perfectly well yourself, etc, etc. And I do at times feel really guilty about it. But then I remind myself, No work, No eat and that gets me through. I have a harder time saying No and managing the guilt if it's a non-working activity like reading, knitting, whatever. I'm still working on that. I don’t write books for a living, but my office is in my home and even after almost 20 years of working at home, I still have friends and neighbors who think because my car is in the driveway that I’m home doing nuthin’. And when I have a deadline I have to very firmly tell kids, dogs, friends, neighbors and anyone else who wants to interrupt me that No, I will not come out of the office, No, I will not answer the phone, No I will not take you for a walk, and No, I will not make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when you can do that perfectly well yourself, etc, etc. And I do at times feel really guilty about it. But then I remind myself, No work, No eat and that gets me through. I have a harder time saying No and managing the guilt if it’s a non-working activity like reading, knitting, whatever. I’m still working on that.

]]> By: Lady T http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8055 Lady T Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:42:31 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/writing/diagnosis-guilt#comment-8055 Robin,I totally get the whole"I'll be seen as mean" dilemma-it's been a guiding force in my life and one that I battle constantly. You just have to remind yourself"I am entitled to living my own life". A true good friend(online or in the real world)will understand that you need to get certain things done so that your world revolves around smoothly. It's just like those people who signed that petition to J.K. Rowling to beg her to keep on writing about Harry. Come on,now! The woman's devoted over a decade of her life to these books-doesn't she deserve a break to enjoy her family and recharge her creative batteries? Geesh! Robin,I totally get the whole”I’ll be seen as mean” dilemma-it’s been a guiding force in my life and one that I battle constantly. You just have to remind yourself”I am entitled to living my own life”. A true good friend(online or in the real world)will understand that you need to get certain things done so that your world revolves around smoothly.

It’s just like those people who signed that petition to J.K. Rowling to beg her to keep on writing about Harry. Come on,now! The woman’s devoted over a decade of her life to these books-doesn’t she deserve a break to enjoy her family and recharge her creative batteries? Geesh!

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