This month, I want to talk about balance.
Most of the writers I know are passionate about the craft. I am. Writing makes me so incredibly happy and I would do it all day, every day, if I could.
My ultimate dream is to be a full time writer, something I am working hard towards achieving. At the moment I am at home with the kids, watching them grow, wiping up their tears, teaching one that throwing food all over the floor is inappropriate behaviour and teaching the other that kamikaze jumping from his top bunk bed, with a plastic sword in hand, is how bones get broken. My full time job at the moment is basically making sure my kids are feeling completely adored by their mother.
It's when my little one sleeps that I dive into my office and swim in the ocean of my imagination. It is my favourite time of the day and I always feel just a little sad when junior wakes up from his nap. My little bubble pops and it's back to playing mommy again.
I sometimes find this really frustrating and desperately wish to retire into my writing cave. But life is about balance. Stepping away from the computer to look after family, work another job, exercise, cook, eat, play, relax... is vital to becoming a quality writer. Your brain and eyes can only take so much screen time. It's amazing how often a storyline will come clear or a character will develop another layer as I'm going about my other tasks.
It's also important to find balance in your writing.
You need to find time to research, study (there's always room to improve your writing skills), write, edit and market.
Fitting everything in can be a mission. That's why I get up an hour before everyone else. The time difference works in my favour, so I spend that time marketing and working on social media stuff. During nap times, I work on my writing and on the weekends I do a little of both.
I'm not going to lie, I do get very excited about the idea of my youngest starting morning kindy next year - 3 mornings a week!!! That's like 6 hours of writing time. I am very much looking forward to seeing what I can achieve.
What do you think about having a balanced writing life? How do you fit everything in?
