Finding time for creative writing
It’s my birthday today, I feel old, and have been thinking about unfulfilled dreams: as a child I wanted to become a writer.
I’ve not written any fiction since my school days and I’m curious to find out if that old dream still has any power. But I’m doubtful if I can find the time to try my hand at writing fiction again.
Earlier this year, I bought a rundown house with my partner and now all my spare time is spent renovating it into our future family home. This is the main reason that updates to this blog have been… sporadic.
Renovating our house means I have no time to spend on any of my creative projects, including writing. The only time I do have available is my hour long commute to work. I need to make more of this “dead” time and what better way to use the time than by writing? It can’t be that hard, surely?
I shall try to use my commute to practice short stories. Trains aren’t exactly a constructive environment, especially as writing on a mobile touchscreen is a mostly horrible experience, but I need to make the most of the time that’s available to me or I’ll simply go crazy due to creative inaction.
I’ve no idea how this will work out or even if it’s practical, so please wish me luck. And if you have any tips on how to write well while mobile, I am all ears!
Update 16/8/2013
After three days of trying to make my mobile tech work for me, I’ve concluded that trying to write on the train simply isn’t going to work for many reasons:
- The mobile signal isn’t good enough to use any cloud services.
- Touchscreens for writing anything long form are a ghastly experience and often counter productive, even with smart screen keyboards such as Swype.
- Achieving uninterrupted creative focus in the cramped space of a train carriage is nigh on impossible – I’m the kind of person who needs total silence for writing.
No, it’s clear to me that commuting time is consuming time and I’m far better off reading stories than trying to write them.
I shall have to find writing time elsewhere.