My break from The Empty House took longer than I expected. Then there were interruptions, things that were more important, minor illnesses, and ever diminishing energy. This is not intended as an excuse, it’s just an explanation. Writing science fiction, fantasy, and mostly in between is what I do, as if it were a kind of calling. I find that, being able to do less, is not only frustrating, but depressing.

This is about writing. Other writers have difficulties like this, some more severe than mine. My longest pauses were the three years I took off when my daughter was born. But I came back to it. There was a three year hiatus when I felt that my career was over for a variety of reasons. But I came back to it. There were the almost thee years my wife was seconded to London, and we went with her, all household and parenting responsibilities fell to me. But I came back to it.

And here I am again.

Some of the chapter/stories are extremely complicated — descriptions which I don’t do well; sequence of events as they are experienced, not as I think of them; continuity checks between the current chapter and the previous in that plotline some twenty chapters ago; deciding what a character sees first, rather than what I thought of first, by getting into my character’s head. It can take three or four passes, which means, given my reduced endurance, three or four days. Some chapters can go from rough to ‘third draft’ in one pass. There are some of those.

I gave a speech once on what it took to be a writer. (Or creator in any format, really, whether words or music or paint or mathematics.) It included six things:

Talent, which isn’t really necessary, by my understanding. Talent is what comes easy, and you don’t have to think about it. For me, characterization and dialogue is easy, and takes very little revision, mostly to make sure it is in a readable form.

Acquired skill is far more important. You can learn how to use the language well; how to describe a thing or place so that the reader can almost see it, without going into too much detail; how to put plot elements together, how to leave out what isn’t necessary, how to find where to begin telling a story, how to know what the ending is about. 

Time to write has to be made, it can’t be found. If you spend all your time looking for the time to write you get very little written. At least that’s my experience. Making time means, getting up early, going to bed late, giving up some activity such as an amateur sport or going to church. And setting aside that time every day. (If your child becomes sick, then that takes priority.)

Patience, to take as much time to get your writing right as it needs. Rushing through to the end means your writing isn’t as good as it could be. When it comes time to submit, the patience to wait for the response. (You can work on something else while waiting.) If your story or novel is accepted, the patience to work with the editors. If your story, long or short, comes out in print, the patience to wait until your publisher finally pays you. And that can take time.

Discipline, to actually do the work every day, at whatever time you have set aside. (If your child becomes sick, then that comes first.) The discipline to do as many drafts as it takes. The discipline to finish, and sometimes that take a lot more discipline than you might think. A special discipline to learn what you do well and where you can improve, to put aside the favorite and accept what is better.

You can get help with these five things,  from friends, understanding family, books sometimes though most of them don’t help much, from teacher if they understand what you are trying to do and there aren’t many of them. But that last thing any creative person needs is completely up to you, and no one can help you with it.

And that is Determination. The Decision to Actually Do It. Not someday, but now. You can’t be a creator of stories or images or technology unless you really want that. Dedication is another word for it. And no one can help you with it. If you aren’t determined, if you aren’t willing to dedicate some significant part of you life to it, then you just won’t create much, even for just yourself. 

So, despite needed breaks, despite other obligations, despite unwelcome interruptions, despite creeping (galloping) old age, I’ve come back to The Empty House. And I will finish it. Maybe by Christmas.