“Circumstances are beyond human control, but our conduct is in our own power.”
― Benjamin Disraeli
I often hear the complaints of aspiring writers who tell me “my day just got off track and I couldn’t get it back”.
The truth of the matter is that there is no secret to success more important than sticking to the task at hand. We are not in control of what goes on around us, but only of our reaction to those events.
The truly prolific authors not only have a plan when they sit down to write, but they also have a plan for dealing with the unexpected “crises” which arise in day-to-day life.
For most successful authors, they honor the commitment to writing every day. If they’ve committed to writing in pages or in hours applied to editing, they keep the promises they make to themselves.
I see you getting your shorts in a wad, and whining “Things Happen”. My child got sick, my dog got run over (god forbid) or my husband -mother-father-children-best friend needed me. And I have had all of those things happen to me, too.
What I didn’t do was abandon the commitment I made to myself. After all, I’m just as important as everyone else in my life, if not more so. Let me ask you how I could be expected to take care of anyone else if I didn’t take care of myself first?
Plain answer, I can’t, and neither can you.
Keeping the commitments we make to ourselves signals those around us that we do keep commitments and promises we make can be counted on, even during difficult times. We step up when we can, and step back when we have to.
Our children learn the importance of setting priorities and will often step up to help us keep those promises we made to ourselves, knowing they can count on us to follow through when we promise them something.
Regardless of the commitment you make to your writing career, keep the commitment. Be it words or hours, you can get it accomplished if you are truly committed.
Remember, everyone deals with circumstances beyond their control and we are not in charge of what happens around us, only our reaction to those events.