Fiction Writing - Balance life or Burnout!

Dear potential author,

Balancing life takes careful planning.  That's right planing.  I talked about it in my previous post.  If you don't somehow plan you will burnout!  I repeat you will burnout!

This happened to me awhile back.  Believe me it is not a pretty sight.  When you have to be the maid, cook, do the laundry, shopping, take care of the pets, take care of a sick parent,  keep your hubby happy, listen to everybody's problems never mind your own and don't get me started on keeping your writing and publishing schedule.  It can get hectic.  Solar flair hectic.

Now some will ask me, but why don't you get help.  I would love help, but until I have the money  to lighten my load.  I will have to do what I can.

Here are a couple of rules you could implement:  

1. Have house rules Have some kind of schedule 
2. Have a weekly menu 
3. Have a day off -This will keep you sane 
4. Have a date night with your partner/spouse 

Remember the rules I have here works for me.  We are all different.  Find what works for you and do that.  But for Pete's sake, don't wing it.  One last thing, be adaptable.  

Until we meet again,  

Just Write

Writing Fiction - Prioritizing for maximised productivity

Dear potential author,

Prioritizing your life will save you a lot of frustration.  Time wasted because of a lack of planning. The saying Time is Money and Money is Time could not be more true.

If you plan to be a successful author, you will need to learn to prioritize our lives.  You can do this by planning everyday life as best as you can.

Think about the following:

• Family
• Work
• Life
• Fun

Which of these is most important to you?   The one you pick first will be the one where your focus is most.  Family should always be your top priority.  

Prioritizing life is not hard.  It simply means you have to know what is important and what can wait.  Prioritising each day will save you time.  Time you can spend on writing.  Think about this - YOU EITHER PLAN TO FAIL OR PLAN TO SUCCEED.  

This is a simple schedule, I follow.

1. I wake up
2. Make my bed
3. Exercise -keeps me healthy, focus and stress levels down 
4. Eat breakfast and feed the dogs.
5. Clean one room in my house properly
6. Make sure I keep the load schedule in mind for dinner.

By following a simple schedule which is not set by the way, I create time within time.  What does this mean.

Take for example washing.  I will pop a load into the washer.  Go back to my editing until I hear the beep.  Save my work. Switch the kettle on.  Hang the washing and pop the next load in.  Make myself

tea and return to editing.  As you see, I utilise my time well by just organising even the little mundane tasks.

This is how I get everything done.  I would have loved to just lock myself in my writer's cave and hack away at my computer, but until I make it big, I will have to do the little mundane task.

Until we meet again,


Just Write

Writing Fiction - Living Large?

Dear potential author,

Most people have an image of authors living in mansions, sipping drinks and being served by staff. That is just not true.  The stark reality for most authors publish or not is that you have to work hard, very hard.  

Making a living as a writer is not easy. For most of us, we have to hold down a job, take care of the family, cook, clean etc. While faithfully honing our craft.

Now it is a known fact that when you sit all day in front of the computer, it is not considered work even if you toil on digital media until the wee hours of the morning.  At least this is true for my family.

It wasn't until recently when they actually saw me in action that they realised what I have to do each day to get my novel publish.

For those who have finished a novel I commend you.  WELL DONE.  If you are considering writing a novel or have started one, please take note that:

• It takes dedication
• Commitment
• Perseverance

Writing fiction doesn't mean you will be living it large.  It simply means you will be doing what you love while living.

Until we meet again,

Just Write