Cure for Busy

"Page after Page" by Heather Sellers

Earlier this month I was moaning about being too busy and after I got to a certain point of feeling sorry for myself, I remembered a source to turn to - the wonderful writing book by Heather Sellers called "Page after Page."

This book was published in 2005 and I saw it by chance in the bookstore around that time and bought it. To my delight I found that Heather taught at Hope College, which is only a little over an hour away from the Box Factory for the Arts.

Through the Writers' Studio at the Box Factory, I have hired her to come teach classes twice.  She's fun, energetic and full of enthusiasm for writing.

Here's what she says about being busy:

Not being busy. That is the greatest, most fearless act we can commit. ... Being, and not distracting ourselves with the illusion of the power that is busy.

Every time you tell the world you are busy, you are saying to the universe: I need busy work because I am afraid. ... When you groove on the busy drug, you are qualifying yourself, perhaps, for a job you don't want.

Are you sick of saying you want a writing life, more time for writing when you keep not doing anything about it? ... You have to pick. And then support that choice with every fiber of your being - aka stop complaining.

I have read this little book several times since it joined my collection, and I'm grateful that I have it to bring me back down to Earth when I'm floating away.  If you are at all interested in carving out a writing life, I strongly recommend this book.