The World Will Stop You

A couple weeks ago, my friend Tamara and I went to lunch.  As usual, we talked about the trials and tribulations of writing.  Our topic of conversation focused on how the world stands in your way--not passively, but actively.

The world could care less if you succeed or fail.  It will continue doing what it's doing for as long as it does it.  The only person that can change things is you.  Often, that's not easy.  We have to make choices in our lives, sacrifices to get what we want, and the world tries to stand in our way.

Both Tamara and I work 40 hours at a job that isn't writing.  We both have spouses and children.  Their are pets in our household.  We have other family close.  In essence, there are about a billion things that can draw our attention away from writing during the day, and it usually does.

Work
Laundry
Dinner
Getting kids ready for bed
Feeding the dog/cat
Grocery shopping
Spending quality time with the family
Illness

This is a very short list of the things that can get in the way.  Both Tamara and I really enjoy our writing and have had limited success with our work.  One day, we dream of having nothing else to do but write.  But how do you get there?  When the other pressures and responsibilities weigh down on you, how to find the time to do a "hobby"?  How do you justify it?  Do you have to?  Even when I make time on the weekends, my boys still need something from me.  The dog has to go outside.  I need to eat.  These distractions are active and persistent.  They refuse to be ignored.

When I want to write, I have to set boundaries.  I have to make a schedule.  I have other responsibilities, yes, but they can be put aside for a moment.  It's a good lesson in patience for the boys to a wait a few minutes while I finish a paragraph.  Same with the dog.  He has fine bladder control.  When the world actively works against you, shove it to the side.  The only way to achieve your goals and get things finished is to let some things slide.  Don't worry, they'll always be there waiting for you.

Distraction by Tess Oliver

Tess Oliver is a teacher and writer who lives in California with her husband, kids, a small pack of pampered dogs, and the recent addition of three ridiculously cute pygmy goats. She loves horses, chocolate and Jane Austen books. She has a BS of Nutrition Science, and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction. She is also an author published by Barron's Educational Publisher.

Website
Blog
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter

As false accusations of witchcraft consume Salem Village, eighteen-year-old Poppy Seabrooke, a true witch, is content to stay away from the hysteria and more importantly from the relentless advances of Angus Wolfe, a powerful warlock masquerading as Salem’s pastor.

When Poppy uses her magic to help a young boy, she is arrested. Angus is the only person who can help her, but, in return, she must promise her hand in marriage. In desperation, Poppy’s grandmother sends her two hundred years into the future to hide. Poppy finds herself years from home in the middle of a strange place called Montana where rooms light up without candles or sorcery, steam puffing dragons roar across fields on tracks, and cows sprout horns as long as tree trunks. And while Poppy hides from the man who turns her heart cold as ice, she discovers the man who can set it on fire.

Cade Tanner has always lived fast and hard, and he prefers it that way. The last thing he needs is a girl to distract him from running the cattle ranch his father left him. But Poppy, the sweetly innocent beauty with the soft smile and dark eyes, who seemingly fell from the sky, is tough to ignore. But Cade soon finds that falling for Poppy comes with a dangerous price.

Q) What inspired you to write this story?

Romance is always my inspiration for any story. I love dreaming up the setting and the characters. With Distraction, I knew I wanted an element of magic, a historical setting, and a hard-edged cowboy. I jogged a few different scenarios around in my head for awhile and came up with a seventeenth century witch and a nineteenth century cowboy.

Q) How long did it take you to write?

I teach during the school year, so my writing time is limited. I spent about three months writing Distraction. Winter break really helped me move it along.

Q) What is your favorite thing about writing?

I love coming up with the ideas, the plot and the characters. I also always look forward to writing the romance scenes.

Q) What is your least favorite thing about writing?

Revisions, editing, and having to sit so long in one place.

Q) If you could be any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?

That’s easy -- Jane Austen. I would love to experience what things were like in Regency England, and I would love to be brilliant like Jane, even if only for a day.

Q) What is the oldest thing in your fridge and how old is it?

I bought a spicy hummus several months ago. It was one of those things that sounded good at first, but by the time I got it home to the fridge the allure had vanished. I know I should toss it, but I feel guilty about throwing away an unopened container so I just keep pushing it around in there. I wonder what the shelf life is for hummus.

Q) What can readers expect from you in the future?

I’m close to releasing my first novel that fits into the new adult genre. It is a contemporary and I’m excited about stretching into this new genre. I’m also busy gathering the research for book three of the Years from Home series.