“I don’t have the time.”

The main excuse of the writer for not writing. An excuse I’ve used myself, although I have managed to write an IT self-help guide, comics and a couple of graphic novels, as well as having stories published in Twisted 50 Vol 2 and Twisted: Ghosts of Christmas over the last six or seven years.

The excuse took on a whole new meaning around two years ago when my first child was born. Time (and sleep) rose in stock as they became rarer. I had been able to eek out pages and edits of my next graphic novel chapter, but taking on a new writing project was an anathema – especially when those thirty or so minutes could be spent sleeping.

So, when the Twisted 50 Vol 3 call out came, I thought “I’ve love to, but I don’t have the time.” Over the next few weeks, I followed the progress updates from Chris and slowly wondered, “What if I had the time?”

Like most authors, I’ve got a collection of unpublished and half-complete stories. I dug out a story I’d written a few years ago. It met the brief, only it was 4,000 words long. I set about editing it down to 2,000 – many darlings were killed.

Eventually, ‘Nancy’ was in a half-decent state to submit. Feedback on ‘Nancy’ was kind with some constructive feedback, including suggestions I should re-write certain sections, add additional character motivations, update the ending, etc. All correct, but where would I find the time?

I decided to leave it be and not bother with a second draft. I had achieved editing down a story and getting something uploaded, as well as reading others and providing feedback. Baby steps and all that…

Then something happened. Autumn arrived, as it does every year, and as does my annual dose of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). One evening, I was on my own. Baby was asleep, my wife was deservedly having an evening out and I felt chronically low. I didn’t know what to do with myself, then I started to write. I wrote how I felt. I wrote how the darkness was affecting me and tried to put into words the palpable sensations in my body.

After re-reading it back a few nights later, I realised this was the opening to the second draft of Nancy. My protagonist had motivation; a reason for action (or rather inaction). The re-shaping of the story – quite significantly now, looking back – seemed of very little effort. Inspiration shaped from despair.

The first few sentences of the second draft of ‘Nancy’ are, more or less, word for word what I wrote that evening based on my state of mind. I managed to submit literally hours before the deadline, not just because I made the time, but because I realised this was important to me. The effort spent has reaped its rewards in that ‘Nancy’ has been selected for Vol 3 of Twisted 50.

Perhaps there’s often never a good time to write, but there may be a bad time instead. Either way, what’s important is for you to do what feels right.