I have a confession to make.
I work 40 hours a week as the Director of Communications and Public Relations for a national higher education non-profit organization. I also provide freelance graphic design and social media management for a few other small organizations, sit on a few committees at church, and am on the theatre boosters board for my daughter’s high school. On the fringes of time that are left, I write contemporary Christian romance.
The confession? Writing is currently my lowest priority.
Ouch. For the creator in me, it stings a bit to admit that. (It also doesn’t bode well for my 2024 deadlines. Ha!)
As much as I love my career and appreciate my other commitments, if it were up to me, I would write full-time. I’d enjoy the luxury of spending as much time as I want with the characters in my head. I’d frequent the places I often imagine when I close my eyes at night and churn those stories out to you one after the other.
Something tells me, you can relate. We all reprioritize life’s bits and pieces as necessary – sometimes hesitantly. And gaze longingly at those things we’ve set aside while we’re busy with the things that fight most ardently for our attention.
At least we’re in good company, friend. Early on, mankind has acknowledged the ebb and flow of what life throws at us. In Ecclesiastes, an aged King Solomon wrote:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).
There is a time to write, and a time to wait.
I’ve got a notebook full of story ideas. One, in particular, is itching to be written. I trust that God knows what he’s doing with the timing of my life and urgings of my heart. It’ll get written – maybe even sooner than later.
I’m grateful for this space and you, dear reader, for giving me the opportunity to articulate these thoughts. Community provides comfort!
Let’s chat. Is there something you have recently set aside? Where are you feeling the push and pull?
Teresa Tysinger is an author of Southern contemporary romance inspired by grace. She writes on the fringes of being a wife, mom, and full-time communications professional. Teresa is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the Association for Women in Communications, and the Religion Communicators Council. She’s an introverted Enneagram 4 (if you know, you know) and loves coffee, traveling, and almost every genre of music. Born in Hawaii, raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, she now resides in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog.
I had actually planned on writing my first novel by the end of the year. It didn’t happen. I was still living with my parents, when my dad (he’s 73) had several workplace injuries. I think that he expected to die with his boots on, but that didn’t happen. I was at the halfway point with the basic plot summary of my novel, when this happened. I finally had to drop it, because my dad’s anxiety was getting to me. Since then I have finished the plot, but haven’t started the first draft. A lot of the anxiety was caused by dad wanting to go back to work as soon as possible, and slowly realizing that that wouldn’t happen. He might also have dementia, which doesn’t help his state of mind. He finally had to quit his work, and we had to move. My mom and I decided on a new location based on the best opportunities for us to be able to take care of dad. He still wants to go back to work, which is no longer a possibility. My extended family has really been there for us in the last 3 months, but there’s a lot that we have to do for ourselves. Before the move, we had lived in the same house for 14 years, gone to the same church for 12 years, and I’d operated a small business for almost 5 years. We do have housing, and we probably have a church. But I do need to find a job. And mom and I have to come up with a routine that allows at least one of us to be the full time caregiver for dad. Even though my writing isn’t on the priority list anymore, I’m still coming up ideas.
(For the record, this isn’t a pity party. I’ve known for several years that it would come to something like this. And pretty much the entire family (including me) knew that I’d be the primary caregiver for my parents. I’ve accepted my role completely.)
I can SOOOO relate to this! I often think of this same verse, telling myself, “it’s just a season,” and when this one passes, I’ll have more time to devote to writing. Hang in there, friend!
I had planned to finish reading some of the backlog of books and start reviewing again, alas the surgery had hiccups and recovery is “not what we would have anticipated” so let’s give your eyes another few weeks to heal and see where things are at then. I had anticipated my landlord restore reasonable access to shower over seven months ago, alas I am becoming despondent and beginning to wonder if they even know what safe housing is. Life seems to be like a row of dominos and until the first one falls everything else just can’t flow. Someone kindly reminded me I gave over my life to God to be of service where I could be, but aarghhh this isn’t what I meant and really God I was just a kid then!
I applaud your choice to prioritise your daughter via her theatre group, your non profit work etc. I feel your time to write will come and who knows what events or people will have enriched or provided ideas for it when you do set out on full time writing. I really feel you will blow everyone away and I learned back when I was that kid, that if I followed that feeling I was always and I seriously mean always successful. Thanks for the post I really needed to hear it today. :)
You definitely are a busy lady. You will get back to writing in God’s time. We just have to be patient and wait on Him.
That’s definitely a lot and I totally understand the priority being caring for your father! Blessings!
You hang in there, too!
I hope your healing continues as hoped! Thanks for the support.
Thank you!
I was a facilitator at church for our Ladies’ Bible Study the last few years. Last year, I kept doing it though I’d felt God was saying it was time to stop. Then, at the end of last year, a few things happened that made me see I definitely needed to stop! So, I kept praying, and yes, God was saying it was time to at least step back and take a break. So, I have. I’m not sure what’s going to happen yet, though I think it’s because of a surgery that I need, that’s going to be way more involved than I originally thought!
I was trying to catch up on books I got to review but then my grandfather passed away the day after Christmas so then I got busy with having family here and having family get together and a funeral he was 96 we are sad but also happy that he is no longer in pain after he fell and broke his hip and is reunited with his wife who had died in 2020. He lived in our apartment for his last 9 months of his life.
I totally understand that, and glad you listened to God’s prompting.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Good afternoon, I love, love this Bible Verse, it is my favorite. And yes, there is a time for everything when God lets us know it is the time. We just have to be patient. Have a great day and a great rest of the week.
Wow you do have a lot on your plate. I am finding I am not reading cos I am doing other things. I am to tired and will get back to it in my time. The more I have to do something the less I want to. That is what happened with reading.
Right now I am helping convert a blog which I had hoped to do by end of Dec. now it will probably be a couple more months. With heat I can only do a few a day. (The others keep saying take my time I just set unrealistic timelines). I am also secretary of a group and we have a fundraiser in Feb but we have had Dec off and I have struggled to get back into things this week. Had to get a notice to local paper, create flyers (then redo them with a change in info) But they have been put around the town now. then emailing other groups in the region and changing details for the other groups etc. I know it will get done but it means other things are set aside. (Off to finish up the minutes from last meeting and set the agenda for the one next week and contact president to arrange to get together this week before the heat. she has been coming the day before but its going to be so hot and this isn’t the best house in the heat)
Same to you!!
You do an amazing amount, I can see why it’s hard to write as well as all that! I find between kids and work (and I only work part time!) and church here i volunteer withbthe children’s activities never seem to have time for anything, I really want to make more time for friends and family who live further away.
Teresa–I can relate! We just stick with it and do what we can when we can. We know it’s in our hearts to write stories–and we figure it out. Thx for posting. :)
You’re busy too!!
I think our priorities always reveal themselves to us as they need to!
Absolutely! Thank you.
Thanks!
There are many things in the house we have set aside. We need to go through my Mom’s things to decide what we are going to keep. I thought that we would get started with it this month. We were involved in a hit and run accident in December. My husband was not hurt, but I have a whiplash that has caused continual headaches and dizziness. It is hard to get much of anything accomplished. I am praying that it settles down soon. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
not as busy as you. I have health issues with head pain which means I tire easy. I don’t sleep well at night (and have one cat that likes me up too early) Add heat and I just get so over tired. It akes a few days to recover when I go away or have a few busy days.
I know you love your writing and it will happen. if it takes longer its better than burning out. in time some of the other commitments will ease or you may have a time out of writing. I know one author who felt God saying take a year of writing to rejuvenate and she did just that. She was able to do some of the other things she had to do and when the time was right she started writing again
Thank you for that very much needed reminder. I feel as if I was tripping and falling more than walking, much less writing through 2023. I truly hope we all find hope and healing in 2024.
“Better than burning out” YES!! Thank you!
I’m so sorry to hear about your accident. Sending prayers.
Amen! (Hugs!)