Houston Bay Area RWA | Member Articles | Procrastination, by Leslie Marshman

Member Articles | Procrastination

Procrastination (or Why I Don't Have Time to Write)

by Leslie Marshman

Houston Bay Area is dedicated to encouraging and supporting the romance writers, both published and aspiring, in its membership.

I really have a story.
It’s living in my head.
But getting it to paper
is harder done than said.

I have a full-time day job
that sucks the power from my brain.
Two too-long rush-hour commutes
that, to be nice, are just a pain.

And then there are the errands
and all the other household chores,
Like shopping, cooking, dusting,
doing laundry and the floors.

By then, a little R & R
is what I really need.
Computer games, some e-mail,
time to watch TV and read.

And then there is the “health” thing,
working out and eating right.
And on top of this I’m s’posed to
get eight hours of sleep a night.

I go to chapter meetings,
join the chats and read the loops,
take lots of online classes
and hang out with writing groups.

I glom on to great ideas
other writers recommend.
But the time I spend researching
Isn’t time I have to spend.

Just seven days on eBay
and my AlphaSmart was mine.
My digital recorder...
(Need to learn. Can’t find the time.)

Suggested writing software
to help prioritize.
But first I have to load it,
find my notes and organize.

I’ve got some great excuses
why I don’t have time to write.
The reasons vast and many,
some are wrong and some are right.

I really have a story.
And it’s one I want to write.
Perhaps I’ll start tomorrow,
‘cause I’m writing this tonight.

Leslie Marshman writes short contemporary and long poems. She is currently targeting Silhouette Desire. She is a member of Houston Bay Area RWA, West Houston RWA, Northwest Houston RWA and RWA Online.