No, I haven’t become a philosopher or scientist recently, I’ve just discovered more time. Now before someone gets me awarded the Nobel Prize (although I will take a Pulitzer, thankyouverymuch), I’ve just realized that I can’t use the excuse “I don’t have time to write.”
Since I started my little pet hobby of beading about a month ago (maybe less?), I’ve created over fifty pieces. Earrings. Bracelets. Watch bands. Zipper pulls. Cell phone straps. Necklaces. I do it when I get home from work. When my husband is sleeping. When the kids are standing next to me, driving me crazy. I do it the morning as I put my make-up on or at night when I’m taking the make-up off. On average, I create four pieces per day.
My “writing” desk has been overtaken lately….
What if I wrote four pages a day? That’s 120 a month. In three months I could have a complete book!!
Before I get myself too depressed, I have to admit to why beading and writing aren’t like comparing apples to apples.
1) Beading is visual. It just takes looking at colors and shapes to work the creative mind. Writing is internal brain — dialogue, characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution, etc.
2) Writing requires (for me) a computer. Sometimes getting a working computer is not always easy in my house. Kids are on it, it’s broken, I can’t get a good signal, etc. And I can’t write pen to paper…my hands just aren’t cut out for it anymore. For beading I just need a desk or table and the materials.
3) Beading doesn’t require too much concentration. Once I know what I want to do, I can put it all together while the kids are yapping at me or constantly interrupting me. I can’t write with them hanging around. The voices in my head desert me in a flash when I’m constantly interrupted.
4) Beading gives you a finished product almost instantly. Within minutes I can have a new pair of earrings in my hand. I may have a few new written pages, but it’ll take me a loooong time to have a completed book.
5) Selling the finished product is entirely different. I can sell a keyring or bracelet to my neighbor, sister, coworker, or at a show. I can choose my price. Selling a book??!!! Don’t get me started on THAT process. And based on the royalties from my book sales, I’ll probably make more money with my jewelry.
So it’s true that time can be found to do something you love to do. But there are also various factors to consider when looking at what’s gotten accomplished. For me, I’m just trusting that my Muse is working secretly as she “oohs” and “ahhs” over the pretty, shiny things I’m creating.
