Monday Musings—Juggling Life And Writing

Seems like whenever I get a good writing streak going, something in life pops up that needs my attention. Stat. I don’t know about the rest of you, but this past fall and winter seemed to bring one thing after another.

Still I did manage to participate in NaNo. I was about 12,000-words short but I feel good about participating. NaNo writing was an experiment in writing a sub genre I hadn’t tried before. I learned a lot. I also have some major editing to make it viable, but that’s okay because it’s a story I want to tell and so I’ll get back to it. The characters there are content to rest a bit since I put them through hell. Me too.


I’m back working on a story that is moving along well, if slooooow. Why is it slow? Because things and people (life issues) won’t leave me alone. If it isn’t kid problems, it’s extended family problems, or health. All of which zap me emotionally, overwork my energizer bunny batteries, and suck my creative spark somewhere into the cosmos. The good thing is, the characters in this story aren’t quiet. They bellow at me in dreams, creep into my thoughts when I’m doing chores, or simply sitting still with a nice cup of coffee. They whisper to me when I’m reading the pile of books I have assigned to me for review. They’re relentless.


Despite life’s chaos, I manage to meet the deadlines of the blog and scheduling. Sometimes it’s by the skin of my teeth and from time to time my creativity is at low ebb, but I get it done. I’ve dealt with deadlines of some sort or another all my working life. I don’t fail to meet them. It’s a matter of professional commitment. I keep my commitments and don’t believe in doing something half-assed. My blog reflects that.


Don’t get me wrong, I love my blog and I’ve had, and will continue to have, some wonderful guests. Most of them are so much fun.

Poor little bunny is a bit worn and pale

Where it gets tough is when you’re juggling so many balls in the air, and your energizer bunny looks for someone who is less maintenance, it gets tough to get back to writing. If I had a deadline for them to be done I’d find a way to do it, as I always have. Having a goal and having a deadline are two different things (no matter what I tell myself). When something has to give, I tend to prioritize and let go of things lower on the list. Consequently, my story is taking much longer to finish.

One of the things I've learned to do is carve out little bits and pieces of time and usually in the early morning when I’m fresh. If I’ve had a hard day, forget it. Writing isn’t smooth or as much fun as it usually is. Smooth, quantity, and fun require energy, and my poor little energizer bunny is just plumb worn out by the end of the day. I do keep a small notebook in my purse so when I hear whispers or shouts, I can jot down scenes and dialogs, or, at the very least, notes so as not to forget the epiphany when it hits me.


How do you juggle life and writing? Any special tricks you've learned to apply?






.