#A-Z Challenge: G is for Guilt

For the A-Z challenge, I am posting writing and editing tips to help you improve and enhance your writing.

G is for Guilt

If you spend any amount of time writing, whether for pleasure or for work, then the chances are that you probably feel guilty.

• Guilty about writing when the house is a tip
• Guilty for doing some research when the dog is pleading for a walk
• Guilty for stopping to look at Facebook when you have a deadline looming
• Guilty for popping out to the Costa drive-thru when you fancy a soya latte
• Guilty for doing something you enjoy, that makes you happy, when there are a hundred and one other things to do that will make you miserable instead (ironing, washing, cooking, paying bills)
• Guilty for not earning enough to justify what you’re doing
• Guilty that some days when I’m writing it actually looks a lot like this:

Well, it’s time to stop. I have various hats – I’m a freelance editor and writer and I also write novels. All these things mean I work from home (lucky me!) and that sometimes leaves me feeling fraught with guilt. I feel bad if I stop to look at the news, or send a few tweets. But, as my lovely husband keeps reminding me, if I worked in an office, with other people, I wouldn’t be at my desk for the whole seven or eight hours, head down, talking to no one.

I’ve also been made to feel guilty if I don’t answer the phone, or don’t drop everything because someone ‘urgently’ needs me to do something. I get the distinct feeling sometimes that some people think, because I’m working from home, I don’t have a real job, it can’t be that important and I can just drop whatever I’m doing if I want to. But I AM AT WORK!!! And, if you are writing, so are you – whether you earn enough to pay the mortgage or just enough to buy a muffin to go with that soya latte.

Do you feel guilty about spending time writing? Share your stories by leaving a comment below.

Advertisement