When things are hectic and writing takes a back seat, should a writer feel guilty about not writing? I’ve often read blogs of famous writers and some not so well-known writers who state that you must find time to write every day to be a successful writer. Do they have lives outside of writing? I wonder…
There are so many times that I think of great story ideas and jot down my thoughts – saving them for sometime in the future when I will create that “next great picture book.” Sometimes days and weeks will pass by before I look up those story ideas and start to flesh out a story. I start to feel guilty about putting my writing on hold until I remember that I began this process many years ago – actually in 5th grade. I used to write stories with my best friend Pam. She would write 12 pages and I would try to out do her by writing a story with 13 pages. Usually they were fantasy stories about a princess being rescued by a handsome prince.
So, for me, writing has been a process – much like the aging of fine wine – that takes time. Those story ideas will still be there tomorrow…
Lou and David Sears 