Selling A House

We’ve had our house on the market for 5 months. There’s alot of damage to our home that insurance won’t cover, so we are just trying to get out from under it. The price has been dropped a couple of times, but a week ago it was dropped enough to get some interest. Three to four showings a day!

Oh. My. Goodness.

It is so difficult to keep the house in order with a family, especially with me working full time. Yet, I have to wonder why in the world don’t I keep it straight like this ALL the time! Yes, I nag the family alot more. Yes, I am grouchy when things are out of place. But, oh, it feels like the slobs have left the premises, and it is ever so nice to walk into a straight and uncluttered home.

All it takes is a little more effort on my part. Discipline. Forging through, even though I really don’t want to. Making things happen, even though I would rather expend my energies elsewhere.

It makes me wonder what would happen if I transfered this same type of energy to my writing. I keep thinking of the interview I did with K.M Weiland and how she writes for 2 hours a day, from 4-6p.m. It is not an all day affair. Just 2 hours. What would happen if I set an hour aside and made that The Writing Hour. Just think of the possibilities.

For you writers out there, what is the average amount of time each day you spend on your WIP?

Sherrinda Ketchersid

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22 responses to “Selling A House”

  1. Tabitha Bird Avatar
    Tabitha Bird

    All the best for selling your house.

    I spend two hours ever day writing while my son sleeps. Then I spend whatever time I can in the evening. I average about four hours a day. But there are those days when life/children interrupt and I am happy with that too 🙂

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  2. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    I've just been thinking about that too. If I'd spend at least one hour writing, I could get SO much done.
    I love a clean house. I'm late when I go places because I get really anal before I leave the house and end up trying to clean everything. Bad, bad habit. But you're right, walking into a clean house is awesome.

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  3. Jody Hedlund Avatar
    Jody Hedlund

    Hi Sherrinda,

    I hope you'll get some bites on your house! That would be a huge blessing!

    And I'm blogging about the time factor this week too, because it's something I'm really struggling with lately. I do try to set aside time in the afternoon, from about 2:30-4:30, but even then, my writing time is not ideal! My kids invariably need one thing after another during that time! But I still stick to it, and get done what I can, even if it's not the perfect situation!

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  4. Tamika: Avatar
    Tamika:

    Now that I am doing NaNo I write for about 2-3 hours in the evening and my entire l hour lunch break. I keep asking myself why I was never more committed before.

    Praying for you on the sell of your house.

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  5. Katie Ganshert Avatar
    Katie Ganshert

    Sending happy thoughts to your house and its potential buyers!!

    I spend every morning on my WIP. Just an hour. From 5:00 to 6:00 a.m. I'd love to have more time, but this is my reality. I squeek out about an average of 1000 words. I figure slow and steady does the trick….at least I hope it will!

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  6. Heather Sunseri Avatar
    Heather Sunseri

    Selling a house is so difficult. I'm wishing you all the best with that, Sherrinda!

    I have gotten in a pretty good habit of getting up and writing for an hour in the morning – from 5-6. Then I try to squeeze some time in during the afternoon hours, but this is when the kids are home from school, so it's difficult.

    Lately, I've realized I put way too much of my spare time into blogging, so I am cutting that back in order to focus on current rewrites. Hopefully, I can find some discipline to give writing more time. It's so difficult when you wear so many hats.

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  7. Cherie Hill Avatar
    Cherie Hill

    I'll be praying for the sale of your home…I DEFINITELY know what you're going through…we had our home on the market from June-Sept and it was CRAZY! (job transfer) We had 75 showings in 80 days…AND…only a few nibbles. LOTS of “tire kickers” out there. Needless to say, it's tough with two children…and a cat. BUT…I did find that my faith was being tested through the process…and through it all I decided to use the time while I was cleaning to talk with God more and stay focused on Him. My faith grew through it all…and God was faithful in His timing. (I kept asking Him why He couldn't bring us buyers sooner…haha…but His reply is always the same…”I know what is best…trust Me.”)
    So hand in there sister…I'll be praying for you!
    With joy,
    Cherie

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  8. Kristen Torres-Toro Avatar
    Kristen Torres-Toro

    Hmm… that's a great idea! Two hours isn't a lot. It seems really manageable! The problem I have right now is that my life is about to change in a major way. I'll have to look for those hours then.

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  9. Eileen Astels Watson Avatar
    Eileen Astels Watson

    Oh, a neat tidy hcuse to come home to daily would be wonderful indeed!!! Cherish it while you can!

    With Nano on, I need to write for about 4 hrs Mon to Fri. But last week I paled with that when my lappy died.

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  10. Jennifer Shirk Avatar
    Jennifer Shirk

    I spend on average about 2 to 3 hours on writing. 4 max if I'm on a roll. 🙂

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  11. Ava Walker Jenkins Avatar
    Ava Walker Jenkins

    I have been in your shoes and it was so hard to get everyone on board for the constant clean up. I remember wondering the same thing-“Why can't it look like this all the time? But that wasn't realistic because real humans live here. Wishing you much success on selling the house.

    I am really surprised by the dedication listed in the responses. These ladies are serious! I am not there yet but I am working on it!

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  12. Karin Avatar
    Karin

    I used to try for a daily goal, but I don't have a daily routine and I ended up continually frustrated!

    Since I have a sporadic schedule, I have weekly goals. I will write 10 hours/week on my WIP (it can be in one sitting if I want!).

    This has made it a lot easier for me. I still get that time writing, but without the guilt.

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  13. Donna M. Kohlstrom Avatar
    Donna M. Kohlstrom

    I spend at least an hour. If you consider the time I spend on emails, blog posts and commenting on other posts, then it would be about 3 more hours!! I need to manage my writing time better, but there are so many great blogs and bloggie friends, that I get carried away with “chatting” with them when I should be writing on WIP!

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  14. Susan J. Reinhardt Avatar
    Susan J. Reinhardt

    I've been putting in 4 hours per day (Monday – Sat.) for the last six weeks. It's amazing how much you can accomplish. Even if you wrote an hour a day, your production would see a significant jump.

    Now, if I could transfer that concept to my house… LOL!

    Blessings,
    Susan 🙂

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  15. sherrinda Avatar
    sherrinda

    Tabitha, oh I wish I could turn back time and had the courage to write while my little ones took naps! I sat and cross-stiched! lol

    Jessica, sounds like we are in the same boat! (I do love a clean house though!

    Jody, your plan sounds like a good one! And it sounds like you have learned to write amid the chaos of children! 🙂

    Tamika, you go, girl! Isn't it amazing how much more you can do when you put their mind to it?

    Katie, I get up at 5 too, but not to write. For me, morning is the best time to connect with God. It won't happen if I don't do it early. 😦 I think it would probably be an excellent time to get the words down!

    Heather, blogging does take loads of time. It is difficult to prioritize and juggle, isn't it? I haven't found a good balance.

    Cherie, 75 showings in 80 days? Oh my goodness! That is a long time…and alot of people walking through your house! I've been trying to be patient, but I have so many questions for God right now! lol 🙂 Glad it all worked out for you!

    Kristen, life changing is definitely a challenge! When I went to work full time, I had a lot of adjustments and I have learned I have to let things go. I wish I could stay home! 🙂

    Wow, Eileen, I'm impressed with the time you are putting in on NaNo! I hope to be able to participate next year when things are a little more settled! I'm sorry to hear about your lappy. ;(

    Jennifer, that is GREAT you are able to focus and dedicate that much time to writing. I know some of us are jealous! lol

    Ava, I agree, the dedication among these writer friends is so impressive! I hope one day to join their ranks!

    Karin, it's great you are able to work your goals around your crazy schedule. I love how different everyone is in how they find time to write and meet goals!

    Donna, I am with you! So much of my time is spent reading up on blogs! I'm afraid I'm going to miss something! lol

    Oh Susan, I would trade you! I'd love to spend the time writing instead of cleaning. I'm not even able to keep up with the cleaning! I am hoping to be more disciplined in all areas of my life. The problem is I can't focus on so many different areas! lol

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  16. Erica Vetsch Avatar
    Erica Vetsch

    Oh, I hope you get some results from all the house showing.

    I usually write at least two hours a day. I'd prefer to write in the morning, but school takes precedence there. So I write in the afternoons.

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  17. K.M. Weiland Avatar
    K.M. Weiland

    Hope you get your house sold soon! And I hope you reap multiple blessings from your “Writing Hour.” 🙂

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  18. sherrinda Avatar
    sherrinda

    Erica, do you mean YOU go to school in the mornings? How awesome would that be!?!

    KM, I am hoping for big things from my Writing Hour! You are the inspiration there, of course! 🙂

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  19. Jill Kemerer Avatar
    Jill Kemerer

    Good luck on the house! I hope you get a buyer stat!

    I spend 3-4 hours a day on writing, revising, and planning out my books. That time does not include promotion, reading blogs, e-mails,etc…

    I do take breaks in between projects, though.

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  20. Terri Tiffany Avatar
    Terri Tiffany

    I pray your house sells! It is a lot of workk to keep it up and ready even in the best of time.
    I try to spend at least an hour or more but that isn't enough I know.

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  21. Roni @ FictionGroupie Avatar
    Roni @ FictionGroupie

    Ugh, selling a house is so stressful. I've done it three times in the past 8 years and I dread it every time.

    As for writing, my toddler sets my schedule, lol. Most days I get a solid two hour block during naptime to write.

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  22. Sarah_DDH Avatar
    Sarah_DDH

    Hi Sherrinda, we have noticed your passion in writing and would like to provide you an opportunity to publish your works. For more information, please visit our website http://www.ddh-epub.com/ or contact me directly via service1@ddh-epub.com. Thank you.

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