September 06, 2006

No Excuse For Success By Kimberly Button
printable version

Writers can be full of excuses on why they don't write - there's not enough time, I don't have the correct software, I'm not organized enough, etc. I'm proof positive that there is no valid excuse for not writing, regardless of your circumstances.

About the same time that I realized that I wanted to pursue a career as a writer, I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and a host of other chronic ailments that keep me bedridden for days. It seemed so unfair that when I decided what my life's purpose was, that I was now physically unable to pursue it. There are times in your life, though, when you must follow your dream, no matter what lies in your way, so I streamlined my life and vowed to find a way to continue writing.

In the beginning, I could only sit in front of the computer for 10-15 minutes before pain and fatigue would set in. It didn't matter, though, because 4 sets of 15 minutes still add up to an hour of writing. There are days when I can barely brush my teeth so I can't write, but on the days that I feel decent again I put pen to paper. I write rough drafts on paper when I can't get out of bed. I don't stress out about the time wasted when I can't write. I just feel thankful about the time that I can.

I will never be able to devote more than 45 minutes at a time to writing and I can only write two or three days a week. Yet I'm proud to say that I just published my first book and have sold over 100 magazine articles.

I have one of the best excuses in the world not to write. But that's just what it is - an excuse.

Kimberly Button is the author of The Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook, the only Walt Disney World Resort guidebook with fun activities customized to the queue lines of every theme park attraction to alleviate the boredom and stress of standing in hour-long lines. For more information and to read an excerpt, visit http://www.disneysurvivalguide.com. Button is also the Budget Travel Editor of BellaOnline. Her articles have been widely published in magazines such as Geico Priveleges, Blue Ridge Country, Hobby Farms, Florida RV Traveler, South Carolina Magazine and The Dollar Stretcher. Visit http://www.kimbutton.com for more information about Button's work.