The time I have ... or don't have

I recuperated from my first experience of Critique Circle. I made quite a lot of changes to my first chapter of the draft of First Impressions Second Chances, which is the novel draft I submitted for critique.

The main reason I signed up for Critique Circle is an acquaintance I made during Camp NaNoWriMo April edition. This same person has suggested I also join Scribophile, which I have. At first sight Scribophile seems to be a more lively site, with more active forums and made all in all more active participators. My connection says she thinks the critique she is getting at Scribophile is more thorough. I believe her, but I have still to do more than just log on a couple of times a weak.

My problem is time. I don't have enough of it. And these critique sites, groups whatever takes a lot of time. I'm not stupid. I realize that you get back what you put in, if you're lucky. And in order to put in I have to spend a lot of time on these sites. Time I don't have to begin with. Time I should spend on my real life work, on my family, on my own writing.

There simply isn't enough time.

So the question I ask myself is whether it twill truly pay off  if I spend even more time on a second site, instead of doing all these other things I should be doing?

Yes, I can learn a lot from reading other writer's work and critiquing it. But I am already reading a lot, and undoubtedly I learn from that too. And I could learn a lot more if I set my mind to it. I also read writer's handbooks on issues I know I have problem with.

Yes, it is great to be part of big writing community, but again, will my own writing improve so much I can say it's worth the sacrifice I have to do concerning the  time I can put on my own writing? I doubt it. After all the best way to learn how to write is to - yes, you're right - write.

Yes, it's great to get other writer's input on my own writing. And this is the one part I really like and I can clearly see how I benefit from it. But again, is it not better to stay more focused on one site, than trying to be active on two?

I've decided to keep my focus on Critique Circle at least for a few more weeks, to find out if it is possible to create a few connections with other writers. If it doesn't work out I may try out Scribophile. But then I really must spend time writing.

After I have done my real life work, and after I have spent time with my family.