This is an ongoing series of “questions every author avoids answering” (based on this video by Dale L. Roberts) and my answers to them. I recommend every author ask themselves these same questions to better understand themselves and their art.
Question:
What habits keep you moving?
The quick
answer:
Schedule my
time as best as possible and stick to it.
The long
answer:
A few years ago, my writing was in disarray. I was still actively writing, but I had trouble juggling my time. In addition to finding time to write new material, I was coordinating author events, dealing with blogging and social media, marketing, writing newsletters, and a whole host of other author activities, in addition to working about 50 hours a week at my day job, running a household, and “life in general.”
Luckily, I had a friend who was a life coach. I met with her many times, and she helped me figure out a weekly schedule that balanced all of those activities. I not only had a written schedule to keep to, but I also tracked my time and what I was doing. The schedule kept me on track, and the tracking of time made me realize just how much I was doing and where I needed to focus.
That was almost three years ago, and I have stuck with it. As a result, I am more coordinated, focused, and efficient at all of my author activities.
Our lives are complex, and it’s okay if you can’t find time, or if you go off schedule. I know of some authors who write in the morning for several hours, some who write in the evenings, and even one author who dictates her writing to her phone as she drives between work and home.
And while there
are authors (usually full time) who say you should write X hours every day or Y
number of words, don’t pay too much attention to such absolutes, everyone is
different. Do you need a life coach to help? It can’t hurt, but it’s not always
necessary (though I do recommend you find a
writing coach, like me).
Find what works for you and stick with it.
Cheers and
happy reading!
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