The Poetry Fix News
| VOL. II, ISSUE 15 |
So how do you do it all?
I must get this question a minimum of five times a week. Folks want to know how in the world I squeeze in all the activities I am involved in, in the course of a week. Sometimes I catch a hint of “I really don’t believe you but…” There is nothing mystical to it really. In fact the answer is sort of unsexy now that I think about it. It’s all about scheduling. See – I told you it wasn’t sexy. I have a regular day job like most folks I know and I am definitely not sitting on some sort of trust fund – unless my mother is holding out on me. Now that I think about it, she did just remodel the house. I’ll have to check into that. But I digress.
I guess when it comes to my creative life I do make time. I love that part of my life and can’t imagine not being able to attend to it fully. Like other artists – I would quit my job TODAY if it wasn’t for those persistent little things that keep showing up at my house every month – bills. So in order to do what I have to and do what I love - my life as “super poet” believe it or not is full of structure. I generally know what my priorities are for the week and work around them. I know I'm at work in the day, I volunteer on Saturdays from 1-7, I have a sister circle I attend on Wednesday, I have committee meetings on Mondays, I go to church on Sunday and then go to a writing circle in the afternoon. I know it sounds like a lot but since I know they are scheduled I can figure out how to fit other things in that come up. Obviously, I forfeit some of these things when emergencies come up.
There are only 24 hours in a day but think about how many of them we squander. We watch tv, or spend time with people who irritate us, or we do nothing. All these things has its place (well not the irritating people) but it doesn't have to consume all of our time. So I watch less tv (which is a HUGE deal for me) and translate that time into writing or spending time with people who inspire me or daydream (very necessary activity) about the kind of writer/poet/person I want to be.
Now I know this all sounds quite Zen and perfectly ordered – don’t despair it is NOT. There are times when I have a shitty day and would rather use my computer as a shot put than work on anything writing related. In fact as I write this entry for the poetry fix – it’s one of those days. It has been a long work week, it’s gorgeous outside and I am distracted by the minor irritations of life. But I assure myself it’s not the end of the world and I push on. One thing I haven’t fully mastered is the submission of my work. I have this goal sheet next to my computer. It says I am supposed to submit my work to at least three fellowships or call for submissions per month. Do you think I have met that goal – once – since I tacked it up last November? Somehow I just haven’t figure out how to schedule that in. The most I have done in anyone month is ONE. Clearly, I am not trying hard enough or I’m too picky about sending out my work. Like I got room to be picky. So that’s my life as an emerging writer. It’s not always exactly how I want it but it’s the only one I have.
Michelle
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