I have to say I do amaze myself with my ability to come up with something new for Thursday’s Children every week! You see as Thursday approaches I rack my brain thinking ‘what on earth do I write about that relates to what inspires me as a writer?’ But somehow – so far – I’ve always had a flash of inspiration. I realise that this run of ideas may well soon dry up, but I’ll enjoy it while it lasts. 🙂
Today I thought I’d consider time and what it means for us as writers. Well actually it means everything as I’m sure you’d all agree. But there are different aspects to what it means, different aspects to time itself and how it affects our writing.
I don’t know about you but when I consider time, how we’re constantly moving forwards through it, it kind of does my head in. Like when you consider the fact that every present moment we’re in is continually becoming the past. So what is past, present and future? Is there any past or future, or are we just kind of in an eternal present? That may sound daft to you. You’d probably say to me of course there’s a past and a future. And this is true in that we have memories of the past and plans for the future.
But what do we actually experience at any given moment? The answer is the ‘now’. We are constantly in the present. Time is moving ever forwards – although actually my husband tells me that scientifically time doesn’t necessarily only go forwards, it can go backwards, it’s just that we only experience it moving forwards. OK I digress (that science part is true by the way, don’t ask me how, I don’t understand it I just know what I’ve been told!) but my point is this: that for us humans on planet Earth time moves inexorably forwards.
This means that for each and every one of us time is precious. We all would like more of it – I know I would anyway. I often wish there were more hours in the day and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Sometimes I find it hard to use the time I do have productively, to make the most of the hours in the day when I’m not asleep to do a bit of everything, to cover all bases so to speak.
I often find myself wishing I’d done more of one thing and less of another. For me particularly (and you may be surprised by this) it’s to do more writing. More actual proper working-on-my-WIP writing, not just updating my blog, although that’s important too.
Time is also important in the novels we write. What novel isn’t concerned in some way with the passing of time, or at least has a storyline affected by it? Indeed many stories have their entire plot entwined with time. Think of the many stories out there concerned with time travel for example. Numerous films, such as the Back to the Future trilogy, are concerned with time travel and its effects. From early on the concept of time travel has fascinated authors such as H.G. Wells who wrote The Time Machine which was first published in 1895.
I know of many modern authors whose writing is concerned with time travel. Think of The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, an interesting take on the whole time travel theme. Then there are those novels which flit about from past to present and back such as The Legacy by Katherine Webb. There are many more.
However we see time, whether it’s as something we don’t have enough of, that we struggle to always use constructively or as a tool in our writing, it informs all of our lives. I know it’s a cliche, but we only have one life and I guess it’s up to us to use the time we have to the best of our ability.
If you would like to take part in Thursday’s Children, simply blog about what inspires your writing. Then add your name to this linky. Thanks goes to Rhiann Wynn-Nolet and Kristina Perez for hosting.
Elaine Jeremiah 
Another excellent post – and I’m with you, it’s scary when you realise that every second you are living is now in the past. Am fascinated by your husband’s theory – perhaps you could expand on that for another post?? 🙂
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Thanks Jade. Certainly can, though I tend to find – as interesting as it can be – that I can never quite entirely take in scientific theories. My dad despairs of me – he was a physics teacher for many years until he retired a year ago, so really I have no excuse! But I will definitely talk to hubby again – he’s very much got a scientific mind. 🙂
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Great post. I’m often intrigued by how our experience of time can be so different depending on what we’re doing. Twenty minutes in the dentist’s chair feels like hours, twenty minutes to get the house ready for a real estate showing feels like seconds. Or when my kids were very young, an hour could feel like days, but the years passed in the blink of an eye.
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Thanks Rhiann. I know what you mean about time feeling different in different situations. It’s a little unsettling isn’t it?
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I love the scientific theories about time!! It’s mind blowing when you really delve deep and think about it, though my brain’s not wired to truly understand any of it. Great post!!
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I agree with you – it’s totally mind blowing. Glad we’re on the same page there. 🙂
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Great points. I haven’t taken the time to think much about time lately. 🙂 I enjoyed your post a lot!
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Thanks Alana. I find if I think too much about time it does my head in! But there’s certainly never enough of it in my experience. 🙂
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Random response–I’m now obsessed with the clock pictured at the top of this post. Is this something you own? It’s fabulous!
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Sadly no, just an image courtesy of Google. It is great though, isn’t it? Kind of reminds me a little of Alice in Wonderland.
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Time is definitely a precious commodity. As a writer and a mom, this gets driven home daily. There never seem to be enough hours in the day for everything I need to do!
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t have enough time. I don’t have kids either & I don’t know how you mums cope with looking after your children & everything else. I’m always impressed by the women on these bloghops who manage to juggle their lives as writers with their lives as mothers. 🙂
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Great post! I get cranky when I don’t have time to work on my WiP. My biggest problem with time is my tendency to not be fully present in the moment. Even in some conversations I’m thinking about what I’m going to say, rather than what the person I’m talking to is saying. My goal is to be fully present. That’s my best use of time.
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I know what you mean. I often find it hard to pay attention in conversations. I think I too should aim to fully present. Though it’s easier said than done isn’t it? 🙂
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I agree. Time is totally subjective. When I get deep into my WIP hours can go by without my noticing. I feel like I’ve literally been transported somewhere else and when I look up and realize I’m still in the coffee shop but now it’s dark outside, I realize I’ve done a good day’s work 😉
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Thanks for your comment Kristina. I would love to be more like you and completely immerse myself in my writing. But I have a short attention span and also lots of distractions like a demanding dog! Anyway my aim is to use my time more constructively. 🙂
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