I've found my productive-writing-to-screwing-around ratio to be one to seven. So, for every eight-hour day of writing, there is only one good productive hour of work being done. The other seven hours are preparing for writing: pacing around the house, collapsing cardboard boxes for recycling, reading the DVD extras pamphlet from the BBC Pride & Prejudice, getting snacks lined up for writing, and YouTubing toddlers who learned the Single Ladies dance. I know. Isn't that horrible? So, basically, writing this piece took me the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Enjoy it accordingly.
Mindy Kaling reflects on her writing process, revealing that she spends a significant amount of time not actually producing work. For every productive hour of her writing, there are seven hours spent on distractions and preparations, such as cleaning, organizing, and watching videos. This illustrates the common struggle many face in balancing creativity with the various tasks that often take precedence over actual writing.
Kaling humorously acknowledges this imbalance, noting that the entire writing experience for her piece spanned from Thanksgiving to Christmas. She invites readers to appreciate the effort that went into her writing, even if much of it was consumed by seemingly unproductive activities. Her candidness about this reality resonates with many who understand the challenges of maintaining focus and productivity in creative endeavors.
