10 Ways Writer-Moms Can Gain More Writing Time

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

As a homeschooling mom of five children, the most common question I'm asked is: How do you do it all? How do you manage your large family and have the time to write?

No I'm not super woman (although there are times when my kids expect me to be!). Yes, I do get plenty of sleep (most nights!). And no, I haven't hired the TV to babysit my kids (at least not often!).

Over the years, I tried many different tricks and techniques in order to gain (or maintain) writing time in my schedule. Here are 10:

1. Take advantage of kids' downtime. When my younger children were taking naps, I used every minute they were asleep for writing. As tempting as it was to clean, pickup, or even take a nap myself, I knew I had to make the most of that quiet hour to write uninterrupted. When my kids got a little older and didn't need naps, I still required afternoon rest/reading time for an hour. It helped give them a needed break, but also gave me a block of uninterrupted writing time.

2. Pay older kids to "babysit" younger children. As my writing career began to swing into full gear and I needed more writing time, I discovered that I could pay my older children (who were in elementary school) to "babysit" my little ones. I would assign them each a child to play with, give them a time limit (like an hour), and then pay them a couple of dollars when they were done. It not only gave me more writing time, but it helped teach my older children the value of working hard to earn money.

3. Involve the whole family in household chores. As Moms we often think the entirety of the housework falls on our shoulders. But I'm of the belief that whoever lives in a house needs to help in the upkeep of that house. Therefore, over the years I've gotten my kids involved in doing laundry, cooking meals, handling yard work, etc. When everyone pitches in, we all have more free time for the things we love (including writing).

4. Bring the laptop along to activities and write while waiting in the van. Since my kids have so many activities that I drive them to, I often sit in the van and write while I wait for them. Without the distraction of the internet, the van is actually a great place to get concentrated writing done.

5. Schedule larger blocks of writing time when husband is home. This has probably been one of the biggest ways I've been able to add more writing time into my schedule. Even in the days before publication, my husband realized the benefit of supporting my mental health by giving me extended time away from the kids which I used for writing. Those larger blocks are sacred writing time. No browsing blogs or Facebook. Writing only!

6. Hire a college-age student to take the kids out a couple of times a week. I did this one summer when my kids were younger. I paid an hourly wage to an older girl who could drive and had a car for the purpose of getting my kids out of the house. She took them to parks, the pool, the library, to get ice cream, and basically anywhere to allow them to do things while I worked.

7. Rise and shine before the rest of the family. (Or be the night owl.) When I'm particularly crunched on time during the day, I schedule writing time in the wee hours of the morning before the household awakes. Again, that writing time is sacred. I don't dilly-dally responding to emails or anything else. During the uninterrupted time I simply write.

8. Set work hours and teach children to respect that time (works more for older children). As my children have grown older and can occupy themselves without constant supervision, I've had to teach them to respect my work boundaries. I usually explain my "writing hours" and expect them to respect that time. For example, I won't drive them to a friend's house or take them to the store until I'm done with my work time.

9. Involve grandparents (or other relatives) when possible. I'm blessed to have my mom live in town nearby. She often offers to assist when she knows of specific needs. But I've also had to learn to ask for help, and that's not something that comes easily to me. Over the past couple of years, we've worked out a system where she comes to my house once a week (and helps homsechool) which frees me to write.

10. Outsource work that can be done by others. I had a hard time letting go of work I thought I should be doing. But in the end, I've found that it's more profitable for me to pay someone else to do their "specialty" so that I can focus on mine–my writing. Obviously, I didn't come to this point in my career until I had a steady income. But moving in this direction has helped free up even more of my time.

What other advice do YOU have for finding more writing time?

The Hectic Life of a Multi-Published Author

 
By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I thought about titling my post, "The Hectic DAY of a Multi-Published Author." But then I realized that I don't have normal, typical patterns to my days. In fact, the only unchanging aspect about my days is that they're crazy and busy.

For those who don't know me well, I'll start by saying I have five kids (three of whom are teens). Ah, yes, I can hear your sighs of sympathy and you telling me to stop there and say no more. You can already see the piles of dirty dishes in the sink and clothes on the floor, and you can hear the unending questions about going here and doing this or going there and doing that.

All that to say, I don't have a typical writer's day. So instead of sharing about a day, I thought I'd share what life is like in a typical week.

The truth is, the idyllic days of writing for hours on end (if there really ever were such days in the first place), are over. I can't just write anymore. As a professional, multi-published author, I have a multitude of other responsibilities that need my attention every day in addition to the writing.

So what kinds of things do multi-published authors have to juggle?

Here's what I'm working on this week:

• My WIP (work-in-progress). I recently started writing a book that's due to my publisher at the beginning of November. After spending a number of weeks researching and plotting, I'm now about one-quarter into the actual writing of the book.

• Galleys Edits. Last week I talked about working on two sets of Galleys at one time–one for my novella that releases this fall. And the second is for my first lighthouse book that releases in December.

• Marketing for my newest release. Captured by Love hits shelves in about a month (officially July 1). So I have posts to write for a blog tour. I've been collecting names and addresses for my Influencer list. I've had to write up Q & A for my publicist, update business cards, proof bookmarks, plan a book signing, etc. And those are just a few of the many things I'm working on for the book.

• Miscellaneous. Every week I squeeze in time to write blog posts for this blog and my group blog, along with attempting to keep up with emails and social media. Lately I've also been corresponding with my agent more frequently as she's been working out additional book deals (I hope to have good news to share soon!).

Obviously, I can't only work on one thing at a time. I can't stop writing my WIP to work on galleys. I can't stop writing to market. And I can't stop writing while I'm consumed with new book deals. If I put my WIP on hold every time I had something else come up, then I'd never get any writing done.

Instead I've learned to organize my time carefully and to prioritize my responsibilities so that amazingly everything gets done when it needs to. Here's how I usually prioritize:

• Do my writing first. I give my WIP my best and most concentrated time. I spend several hours completing my daily word count goal. I try to put my freshest and most creative energy toward my stories.

• Do in-house editing second. I've calculated how many chapters I need to edit a day in order to meet my deadline. So, I literally don't go to bed at night until I edit the number of needed chapters.

• Work on marketing third. Since I have a book releasing in a month, I've bumped up marketing to high on the priority list. Every day I spend some time working on my personal marketing plan. I look at my list and decide which things need to be done now (a month in advance) and which things can wait until closer to release.

• Everything else gets squeezed into my schedule wherever I can make it fit. I write blog posts while I'm waiting to pick up my kids from activities. I check social media over my lunch break. I usually respond to emails late at night or early in the morning.

While it's not easy to juggle everything, it IS possible. And it's even possible to do it all well. I've learned that I can't get side-tracked by non-essentials, that I sometimes have to say no to good things (I can't do everything!), that I have to outsource anything I can (like I'm currently paying one of my daughters to help with marketing administrative details).

In other words, I have to be organized, efficient, and diligent with my work time. I can't dilly-dally. I simply have to put my whole heart into the task at hand, work hard to get it done, and then move right on to the next thing needing my attention.

At times it's grueling! But there's nothing more rewarding than knowing that readers are enjoying my books. Just last week I learned that my summer release, Captured by Love, got a starred review in Publisher's Weekly. And I also got the news that Rebellious Heart finaled in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award.

What about you? How do you juggle all of your writing duties? Do you have a system that you find helpful?

How to Cheat to Find More Work Time

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Spring is a such a crazy time for most families. It's the time of year for dance and piano recitals, sports banquets, end-of-the-year school projects, track and soccer practices, graduation parties, state swim meets, etc, etc, etc.

Basically we're trying to cram as much into the calendar as possible before summer arrives.

All the activities tend to wreck havoc on a writer's schedule . . . at least they do on mine!

When things start to get crazy, I have to be careful not to let my emotions get crazy. It's all too easy to start snapping at everyone and to have major pity parties about how little I'm getting done.

As a work-from-home mom, I constantly find myself challenged to balance work and mom duties. Obviously I don't want to short-change my family. I want to be available to them. I want to give them my best. But I also want to give my work my best too. I want to work hard. And I want to put one hundred percent into my writing.

The balance between work and family is a constant tug-of-war.

Although I do fall into the woe-is-me trap, I've also learned to "cheat" to find more work time.

Here are just a few ways I cheat to get in more work:

1. Listen to audio books. 

I firmly believe writers must be voracious readers. We learn an incredible amount about story-telling and writing techniques from studying what others are doing.

But if we're having trouble finding writing time, how can we possibly squeeze in time for reading widely and deeply?

Audio books.

Audio books have been a godsend for me. I have a membership with Audible.com which allows me to download books onto my Audible app on my iphone with the mere click of a button. Within a minute (or less) I can be listening to ANY book I want.

I listen in the car while driving kids to activities. I listen when I'm getting dinner ready. I listen while I'm putting on my makeup in the morning. And while I'm listening, I'm constantly analyzing and evaluating the stories, and thus working.

2. Listen to writing podcasts.

In addition to listening to audio books on my phone, I also download writing podcasts and listen to those as I go about life. I keep note cards and a pencil handy while I'm listening so that I can take notes to remember and review techniques.

I've found several podcasts that are particularly informative and practical:

• Inside Creative Writing by Brad Reed
• Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland
• Writing Excuses by B. Sanderson, D. Wells, M. Robinette Kowal, H. Taylor
• The Writing Show by Paula B.
• The Narrative Breakdown by Cheryl Klein and James Monohan

3. Get on social media when watching TV.

Yes, the TV does go on in my house. I admit, I have a couple of favorite shows. And I watch movies from time to time.

I've learned that I can watch those shows and sneak in some social media browsing simultaneously. While viewing, I'm able to flip through Pinterest pictures or glance at Facebook updates. During commercials, I can make blog comments or write a quick email.

It's an easy way to multi-task (and makes me feel less guilty about watching TV!).

Obviously, I can't rely on the "cheating" to get quality writing done. I have to purposely plan or set aside time for that. And when life is busy, inevitably the busyness begins to cut into my writing time.

But I really like this quote by JK Rowling. "Be RUTHLESS about protecting writing days." 

That's something I strive to live by. I try guard my writing time jealously. I let family and friends know my scheduled work time. I don't plan other events or activities for those writing days.

I aim high with my ruthlessness. And while I fall short some days, overall the ruthless protection holds me in good stead.

What about you? How do you "cheat" to find more work time? Are you ruthless enough about protecting your writing days?

Having Self-Discipline All Year (Not Just During NaNo!)

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

As most of you writers know, National Novel Writing Month is coming up. It takes place in November of every year. It's abbreviated NaNoWrMo or NaNo for short. The goal is to complete a full book in the month OR to write at least 50,000 (50K).

Whether you've ever participated or not, the month always generates a lot of enthusiasm for writing. Everyone everywhere is talking about how much they're writing, whether they've met their daily word count goal, the sacrifices they're making to write, and how they're feeling about the whole process.

I've watched from the sidelines and I've also participated. Both ways, I come away from the month inspired.

What I've realized is that NaNo is basically the one time of year when everybody decides to get disciplined about writing.

In some ways that's a really great thing. Most of us just don't have the time and energy to write 50K every month all year long.

On the other hand, I was struck by the realization that for many writers, NaNo is probably one of the only times when they set goals and work really hard to meet them. 

I recently read an article "How to Write Like Nicholas Sparks: 4 Tips" The very first tip was: Write 2,000 Words A Day.

Often when writers see a tip like that they shove it aside and say something like, "I don't have time for that." Or "I don't do well with daily word count goals. The pressure stifles my creativity." Or "I prefer to have weekly page/scene/chapter goals instead of word counts."

I see the validity in each of the above statements. Most people can't carve out 5 hours a day (which is what Nicholas Sparks spends on 2000 words). A lot of writers have a day job and do writing in their "spare" time (like me).

There are some people who freeze when under pressure and literally can't type a word. And there are some writers who can stay on track with chapter goals (versus word count).

But all too often, the above are just excuses. The truth is, keeping a daily word count goal is one of the most effective ways for writers of any level to complete a novel.

In fact the popularity of NaNo testifies to the successfulness of such a method. And it also debunks the myth that writing under pressure stifles creativity. In fact, I believe that writing larger amounts of words in a shorter time actually stimulates the creative part of the brain.

How?

Well, the pressure to produce forces us to shut down that nagging internal editor and give free rein to the story. We just have to write, even if it's crap. We have to push forward, even if the words aren't flowing. And eventually we find that when we persist and persevere, the story starts to flow and come to life in ways we never expected.

So, yes, I believe in daily word count goals. But I would issue three tips of caution for anyone using the method:

1. Set a realistic daily word count goal. Know what you can accomplish, and then set the goal just slightly above that. When I wrote my first published book, The Preacher's Bride, I only wrote 500 words a day. At the time, I had a six month old, a toddler, and three other young children. 500 was a stretch.

Even though I can write more per day now that my kids are older, I can't hit 2000, especially during the school year when I'm teaching. For the book I'm on now, I've set a goal for 1500 a day on weekdays and 2500 on Saturday.

2. Back up your daily goals with a weekly total. I first heard this recommendation from writing guru James Scott Bell. And it's solid advice that's held me in good stead for the past eight or nine books I've written.

Even though I give myself daily goals and I work hard to meet them, there are days where I fall short. Any number of things slow me down–the need for additional research or further plotting. Or life. There are days when I just can't get in the amount of writing time I anticipated.

If I miss hitting my goal one day, I try to make up the words by the end of the week by writing more on another day. For the book I'm currently writing, my weekly goal is 10,000 words.

3. Finally, don't compare yourself to other writers! That's hard during NaNo when everyone is tweeting their word count minute by minute. But for the rest of the year, set your daily goal and don't let what others accomplish intimidate you. Know what YOU can accomplish. Do the best YOU can do.

The important thing is writing consistently. Writing on a consistent basis will keep your creative energy flowing and eventually produce a completed book.

So to all you NaNo writers, I wish you all the best! And I also encourage all of us to look for ways to be self-disciplined all year (and not just during Nano!).

So what do you think about daily word count goals? Any other tips you'd offer? And are you doing NaNo this year?

The Sacrifices Writers Make in Order to Have Writing Time

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

As a mom of five children, I'm often asked how I do it. How do I find time to manage my busy household, homeschool, AND write?

There are lots of writers who work day jobs, have families, and try to eke out writing careers. And I'm no different. I teach during the day, juggle family responsibilities, and write whenever I can.

Like any other person trying to balance dual careers or multiple responsibilities, I’ve had to look for ways to have a writing career alongside everything else. Of course there are numerous ways I try handle it all: I simplify home life, enlist help from my family, and stick to a strict writing schedule.

Even so, there are plenty of days where I struggle to find writing time. The truth is, no matter what we do, we won't find more time . . . unless we make sacrifices.

Yes, those who juggle multiple responsibilities have to make tough sacrifices in order to have writing time. We can't add writing to our already full plates without taking something away. Otherwise we risk burnout. And we risk mediocrity because it becomes difficult to do anything well when we spread ourselves too thin.

Over the years, here are just a few of the things I've given up in part or whole in order to make time for writing:

1. Sacrifice social activities. I choose social engagements very sparingly. There are always numerous things going on in my community, church, and circles of friends. But I have to say no more than I say yes. I reserve most of my socializing for when I go to my kids' activities.

2. Sacrifice housework. I still try to maintain some semblance of order in my home. And I require everyone who lives in the house to help with the housework. That's only common courtesy and good practice. My husband even does the grocery shopping. But I have to admit, I hired a cleaning lady last year. At this season in my life, paying for help has been worth it.

3. Sacrifice TV. I don't watch much TV. It helps that we don't have cable. Even with a few basic channels and Netflix, it's still all too tempting to turn on the TV. But I work hard at limiting the amount of time our TV is on, even for my kids.

4. Sacrifice hobbies. There are many things I enjoy like gardening, scrapbooking, and doing crafts. But one by one, my hobbies have fallen to the side (unless I do them with one of my kids).

5. Sacrifice outside commitments. I don't commit to many responsibilities outside my family. I don't coach sports teams. I don't teach Sunday school. And I don't serve on any committees or boards. At this point in my life, I'm using my gift of writing to serve others. I don't allow myself to be guilted into taking on more.

6. Sacrifice fellowship. Notice I said fellowship, not friendship. I still value my friends dearly. And most of my closest friends understand that I have less time in my life for getting together, and they support me anyway. But the fact is, I don't often have the luxury of going out for coffee with friends or having families over for dinner.

So what haven't I sacrificed? I try not to sacrifice spending time with my family. I still go to my kid's activities and games (even if it means writing less). I haven't sacrificed my own spiritual, emotional, or physical care. In fact, I even added running to my weekly schedule.

Of course there are many things that remain constant in my life. But as my writing career has progressed, I've had to give up a lot in order to fit in the time I need to write. The bottom line is that I don't have much free time.

I'm not sure if I'll always need to make so many sacrifices. My hope is that one day I can add back in some of the things I've cut out! But for now, the sacrifices are worth the opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream and desire to write novels.

Writers, what are some sacrifices you've had to make to find more writing time?

And readers, what do you sacrifice in order to do the things you love?

Why Saying "I'm Too Busy" Is Just an Excuse

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Often when I talk about being an author, people say, "With your busy life, I can't believe you find time to write." And when I start talking about how I love to read, people will invariably say something like, "I don't have time for reading. I'm just too busy."

Both statements stem from a similar presupposition–that it's nearly impossible to find time to write or read amidst the crazy chaos of life.

The problem with such a presupposition is that usually it gives off the impression that somehow the person who's writing or reading is lazy or else has more free time than the rest of mankind. Why else would they have the time for such "frivolous endeavors" when the rest of the population struggles through each day with overly busy schedules?

Of course it usually irks me when someone thinks that somehow I magically have more time in my life and that's why I can accomplish all that I do and still have time for reading. It's during those moments, I want to print out a daily log of my life.

For example, this summer I've had to take one or another of my kids to daily swim team practice, swimming lessons, play practice, volunteer work at the library, basketball camp, football practice, play dates with friends, dentist and orthodontist appointments, math tutoring, and more.

To put it mildly, the summer has been chaotic. Somehow my main job has become taxi-mom driving my kids everywhere for everything. (Along with all those other things that need doing–like washing smelly beach towels and scooping the litter box for FOUR cats!)

I can certainly go toe to toe with anyone who says they're "just too busy." My life is a far cry from couch-potato bliss.

And yet, somehow I've managed to write a full-length novel that I started in May and finished in July. I completed rewrites on Captured By Love (releasing next summer). And I critiqued a novel for another Bethany House author. That among all the many other writing duties I attempt to keep up with, like this blog.

I also have read approximately two full length novels a week this summer (for a total of 15 books so far).

My point?

Most people who say they don't have time for writing or reading (or really anything they enjoy doing), are just making an excuse. (Note I said most people. I realize there are situations where people legitimately can't make the time.)

The truth is the large majority of us can make time for the things we want to do.

In fact, an article in New York Daily News from 2012 said: The average American over the age of 2 spends more than 34 hours a week watching live television, says a new Nielsen report — plus another three to six hours watching taped programs.

A fascinating infographic How People Spend Their Time Online says that: the US Internet user on average spends 32 hours on the internet per month. (That averages to about 8 hours a week.)

That means between TV watching and internet surfing, the average American clocks in about 40 hours.That's almost a full time job!

Those who say they're too busy for reading or writing usually aren't too busy to watch their favorite shows or spend an hour playing Candy Crush. Instead of saying, "I don't have time" people should just honestly admit, "I choose not to make the time."

I choose to make the time for reading and writing. But I also do several other things that help me carve out the time:

1. Prioritize. I figure out what I need to get done each day, do the most urgent, and then tackle whatever else I can in the leftover time.

2. Budget time wisely. The buzz word around our house is, "Budget your time wisely." We're all given the same amount of hours in a day. It's up to us how we spend them. We can piddle our time away putzing around doing diddle. Or we can work diligently.

3. Make time for personal well-being. I've learned over the years, I need to make time in my life for the things that make me healthy. Writing satisfies my soul. And reading is relaxing and stress-reducing.

So has anyone ever told you that they're too busy for reading (or writing)? What have you told them (or wanted to tell them)?

Writing Time: A Guilty Pleasure or a Necessity?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Summer is quickly arriving. And for most of us that means our nice neat schedules get turned upside down and shaken around. Whether it's having the kids home, one-hundred-and-one summer activities, the family vacation, or out-of-town company, we usually find ourselves scrambling to find writing time.

Not only are we chasing after that allusive time, but when we DO actually catch a free moment, we feel GUILTY, like we should be out playing in the sunshine with the kids, or heading to the beach, or walking the dog.

Yes, we writers are good at feeling guilty for "sneaking" in writing time. But is writing time a guilty pleasure or is it a necessity?

Of course, those writers who are under contract, who have advances, or who have a steady income from their books, might be able to more easily justify holing away in front of their laptops while the sun is beaming brilliantly and summer activities beckon.

And yet, I still find myself struggling with writer's guilt, even though I'm a wage-earning, work-from-home, published author. Whether we're published or not, we all experience guilt. I think it's inherent to working at home, no matter what the job. We're easily distracted by what goes on in our homes. And our families are quick to interrupt us.

And let's face it, for writers, it's even easier to feel that pressure. After all, we spend hours dreaming up stories, devising twisted plots, and writing about people who exist only in our imaginations. And the thing is, we actually love it. We thrive on it. We usually wish we had more time for it.

Should we feel guilty for loving what we do, for actually deriving pleasure in our jobs, especially when WORK is a dirty word for so many people? Or should we feel sorry for those who don't have that same privilege, for those whose work is drudgery, who aren't able to use their gifts and talents, or who are caught in a dead-end job for reasons they can't control?

Perhaps instead of feeling guilty, we can count it a blessing that we can get out of bed every day and do something we love so much.

And we can also accept the fact that writing (or using our talents) is a necessity. It's the way we're designed. As human beings, we're each uniquely wired, and we function best when we're doing the job we're wired to do. Our mental health and physical well-being flourish when we're doing what we were created to do.

All that to say, we can't let summer derail our writing efforts. It's not a guilty pleasure. It's a necessity (whether we're published or not). And here are just a few ways to alleviate writer's guilt:

1. Set blocks of work time. Be clear with your family when those times are. Post it on the refrig or on the calendar. Then everyone knows when you're busy and when you're not.

2. Plan scheduled time or days off. If the family knows when you're working AND also when you're free, then it's easier for them to respect your work time. They'll know that they get YOU later in the day or later in the week during that planned time.

3. Consider getting help. A couple summers ago, I hired a college-age young woman to come over a couple afternoons a week and watch my kids, drive them to activities, and take them swimming. Then I didn't feel so guilty that my kids were sitting at home on such nice days. They were still able to get out and enjoy summer activities.

4. Teach our family/kids that it's okay to be home. Yes, summer is a wonderful time to be doing camps and swim lessons and all that other good stuff. But we also have to remind ourselves that it's okay for our kids to play at home. We don't have to fill our lives with every activity available to mankind. In fact, some of the best creative play comes when kids are allowed the space and time to use their imaginations.

5. Take full advantage of our work time. When I get a block of concentrated writing time, I don't respond to emails. I don't write blog posts. I don't answer interviews. I don't do anything except work on my stories.

How about you? Do you ever feel writer's guilt? Is writing a guilty pleasure for you or a necessity?

The Modern Author's MAIN Job

*Image Source*

By Jody Hedlund,@JodyHedlund

Long ago, in the dinosaur ages before the internet existed, writers could just write. If they wanted, they could hide away in a mountaintop cabin overlooking a lake and could focus on writing books for days and weeks. Except for the occasional book signing or speech at a local library, the old-fashioned writer didn't have to worry about much except writing great books.

But those were the good old days . . .

As you know (and have likely heard ad nauseam), the modern writer has to handle an incredible myriad of responsibilities including: editing for critique partners, judging contests, interacting with book groups, answering emails, staying abreast of industry news, interacting with fans via social media, enhancing professional relationships with other authors, keeping up with personal and group blogs, updating websites, providing endorsements, etc.

And the biggest time cruncher? Marketing our books. Authors can literally spend hours upon hours organizing blog tours, writing up interview questions or guest posts, planning Pinterest campaigns, giving away and mailing books, participating in Facebook chats, doing Q & A on Goodreads, etc., etc., etc.

With all the responsibilities that fall upon the modern author's shoulders, it's a wonder writers have any time left for actually writing their books!

In the past, the pendulum of a writer's job tipped in the direction of mostly all writing. And now in the present it has swung the opposite way, and many writers struggle to squeeze in any writing. As I've analyzed this pendulum shift, I've realized that perhaps the modern writer has gone TOO far the opposite direction.

Of course I've heard plenty of people say that self-published authors have no other choice but to spend just as much time marketing their books (if not more) than they do writing. And even traditionally published authors must scramble to find ways to get their books to stand out in an exceptionally crowded market.

But as great as social media is for marketing and for interacting, I've realized that the modern writer is really much better off shifting back to the middle of the pendulum (if not inching back the other way). Maybe we can't ever return to the all-writing world of the bygone days. But neither do we have to let our writing take a back seat to all the other responsibilities.

Whether we self-publish or go the traditional route, a fiction writer's MAIN job is WRITING BOOKS.

We often get caught up in all the online hype and begin to think that everything else will help us have success. But our BOOKS are what make us successful.

The more we write and the more we publish, the more chances readers will have to discover us. And when they love one book, they're more likely to go out and buy more of our books as well as tell others about us.

But that phenomenon can only happen when we're writing multiple books AND the stories are consistently good quality.

So my advice is for modern writers to stop piddling away time on all of those other responsibilities. Sure, we need to give them some time. But it can't be our best or greatest time.

For example, when I have a concentrated block of free time, I make myself use that time for working on my books and my books alone. I make it a priority to meet my daily word count goal before I do any of the other writing work. Blogging, emailing, responding to interviews ALL take the leftover miscellaneous time that I have here and there. I give my best time to my books.

The modern author's main job still is and always will be THE WRITING. Our stories will be the stepping stones to our future success. As we write and publish them one by one, we'll keep climbing higher and gaining new readers.

So what do you think? Do you think many modern writers have let the pendulum swing too far and are getting themselves too busy with all of the other writing responsibilities? What are some ways you strive to make your writing THE priority amidst all the other writing work that clamors for our attention?

The Difficulty of Being a Work-At-Home Mom

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Recently I had a conversation with one of my children that went something like this:

Child: "Can I invite BFF over to play this afternoon?"

Me: "Didn't you just see her last night?"

Child: "Yes, but we really want to get together again today."

Me: "You know I'm working this afternoon and I don't have time right now to go pick up your friend."

Child: "You never have the time. I wish you didn't have to work. Why do you have to write anyway?"

As a work-at-home mom (WAHM), I have these kinds of conversations from time to time with my five children. They're not my favorite kinds of chats. I come away from them feeling guilty, like maybe I shouldn't be working or at the very least, not working as much.

But I enjoy my writing. And so I usually tell my kids, "I don't HAVE to write. I WANT to write. I like writing. And I find it very fulfilling." I also remind them that even if I wanted to quit (which I don't!), that I can't because I'm under contract and I need to follow through with my obligation to write the books I said I would.

Our kids won't always understand our passions and gifts. Sometimes their world is limited and they can't see much beyond their current desires. In their frustration, they say things they don't really mean. Don't we all?

As a WAHM there will always be the inevitable push and pull between being the Mom and the Working Parent. Our kids and our work both need our time, attention, and energy. Unfortunately we don't have an endless supply, and there are days when we'll have to make tough choices that don't make anyone happy (like in the scenario above).

But in an effort to avoid some of the drama, here are a few of the things I'm trying to implement this fall:

1. I'm trying harder to keep work and mom time separate. I've been blocking in chunks of time several times a week where I can "lock" myself in my office and work (usually at times when my husband is home to supervise the kids or when my mom comes over) (and I use the word "lock" very loosely since I usually don't lock the door, and I allow for plenty of interruptions).

When my work time is over, I can come away from it and focus on my kids without work distracting me or pulling me away from them every few minutes.

2. Keep the lines of communication open. I want to be open with my family about my work demands so that they know what I'm working on and what's consuming my time. And then I also want them to feel free to come talk to me about their frustrations and concerns. In the busyness of life, however, making time for talking often gets pushed aside.

So this fall, we implemented "dates" with our kids (something we'd done in the past but had fallen away from). My husband and I rotate taking one child out for a special "date" each week. Usually it's something as simple as going to Target's cafe, getting popcorn, and chatting. The undivided time allows us to keep the lines of communication open.

3. Staying flexible to the changing needs of my children. As my children are getting older, their extra-curricular activities and friendships have increased in importance. Even though their busier schedules make my life more hectic, I'm trying to adjust without complaining (I've learned that complaining only compounds the problems!).

Adjusting means I haven't been able to be online as much this fall. I've also had less work time in the afternoons and subsequently write more at night after the kids go to bed. The key for me is being willing to change my expectations, reminding myself that what worked in the past won't always work now.

My Summary: Yes, there will always be unique frustrations that come with being a WAHM. But when I'm feeling especially discouraged, I remind myself that even though the boundaries get blurred when working at home, there are many blessings too. And as always, counting our blessings seems to put things in perspective.

What about you? For those who work from home, what are your biggest frustrations? How do you make it work?

3 Tips for Writing When Life is Chaotic and Crazy

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

It's that time of year again, when the kids are back to school, fall activities crank into gear, and the schedule gets flipped upside down and shaken around a bit.

As I stare at my calendar at the month of September and continue to add things to the crowded round-up, I can't keep from wondering how in the world I'll be able to carve out enough concentrated writing time.

In addition to home teaching, I'll be leading a children's writing class for a co-op. And then of course between my five children we have dance, guitar and piano lessons, swim team, basketball, co-op classes, literature group, children's choir, youth group, and the list goes on.

So yes, during this time of year, time is on my mind, particularly the busyness of it. In fact, I just noticed that recently I've been subconsciously pinning a number of quotes on Pinterest about the use of time.

Like this one: "Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows."

And this one: "All we have to do is decide what we're going to do with the time that is given us."

Here's another: "Show up. Even when you don't feel like showing up."

This is my favorite: "There are seven days in the week, and someday isn't one of them."

I love all of the above quotes. They're all so applicable to my crazy fall. In fact, they're helpful to think about for any of us dealing with changing and chaotic schedules and wondering how we'll be able to find solid writing time.

Here are three things we can keep in mind:

1. We can't put off our writing because we're busy. There really are only so many tomorrows. We never know when our time on earth will be up. And let's face it, we're always going to be busy. Once we're done with our current busy stage of life, we'll start the next busy one. We'll find different things to do, places to go, and activities that will fill our time.

I'm learning that I can't wait until I cross off everything else on my to-do list before I start my writing time every day. Because honestly, my to-do list is never-ending. Instead, I have to choose to ignore it for a little while each day.

We can't wait until that someday when we finally have a block of free time before we decide to write. Because as the saying goes, someday isn't a day of the week and will likely never come. Instead, we just have to make the time to write . . . now. We can usually squeeze in time for the activities that are most important to us. And if writing is something we want badly enough, we can fit it into our schedules, somewhere.

2. When we sit down to write, we have to use that time wisely. This is something I struggle with constantly. When I finally manage to grab writing time, I have to battle against the urge to check email or twitter or facebook.

It's all too easy to tell ourselves, we're only going to read a couple of blogs before we start working on our WIPs. And the next thing we know, twenty minutes out of our coveted hour of writing time is gone.

Whether we have 30 minutes or an hour or a day, we have to make a conscious choice to turn off the distractions, tune out the noise, and focus on the page that lies before us.

3. Finally, we have to show up at the screen, even when we don't feel like it. Ever notice how young children get excited about new activities? Before my youngest daughter started piano lessons, she was waiting anxiously for the day when she would finally get to play the piano like her siblings. But now that she's been doing it a while, the newness has worn off and there are days when she would much rather do something else than sit down and practice.

And the same is true of most writers. We all feel that initial excitement when we start writing or when we begin a new book. But eventually the thrill wears off under the daily pressure to write something.

If you write only on the days you feel like it, you either won't finish your book or it will take you forever. The only way to complete a book is to write on the days you feel like it AND to force yourself to write on the days you absolutely don't want to.

What about you? How's your fall shaping up? Busy? Chaotic? Crazy? How do you keep writing when life conspires to keep you from it?

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Want to learn some of my deepest, darkest secrets? ;-) During the month of September, I'll be sharing secrets about myself during my "Fun Secrets" Blog Tour. On each blog stop, I'll also be giving away a signed copy of my newest release, Unending Devotion:

Monday, Sept. 3 Secret #1:  My greatest struggle during my childhood. Melissa Jagears’s blog

Tuesday, Sept. 4 Secret #2: The secret source of my writing inspiration. Carol Garvin’s blog

For a list of all my secrets, check out my Events Page!

Do Deadlines Hurt Us or Help Us?

Let me just say this upfront: I don’t like deadlines. 

I hate the creepiness of having something looming over my head like a grizzly hand waiting to snatch me and devour me if I don’t finish. 

And I don’t like the pressure of having to complete something too quickly. I’m always afraid that if I have to rush, then I won’t have the time to make it as excellent as I’d like it to be.

I also don’t like deadlines because I fear that I might freeze under the pressure, that I won’t be able to think of anything to say, that the words won’t flow, that I’ll be left with a blank page—which is every author’s nightmare.

So often we think deadlines are restrictive. For us creative, working-from-home types who like the freedom of setting our own schedules and plans, deadlines tend to put a crimp in our style.

Yes, the word deadline has become a “dirty” word.

But I’ve learned that all writers who are serious about publication need deadlines of one kind or another. As much as I shudder at the thought of deadlines, I’ve come to realize that they can be very helpful, especially ones we impose upon ourselves.

Now I fully realize every person is wired differently. We operate at our maximum potential under varying circumstances. There is no one-size-fits-all way of writing.

Nevertheless, as much as I detest deadlines, I’ve also come to realize how beneficial setting our own deadlines can be:

Self-imposed deadlines help us stay focused.

As writers working from home, (like any person with a home-based business), we face special challenges. And one of those is that we’re our own boss. No one is hovering over making sure we’re clocking in. In fact, if we want to browse the internet for an hour instead of working, no one will dock our paycheck or fire us for fooling around on company time.

It’s especially tempting, when we hit a hard spot while writing our books, to stop, take a break, and tell ourselves that we’ll get back to our writing later. And if we’re in the middle of writing a blog post and get interrupted by one of the kids, it’s all too easy to decide to write the post on another day.

Yes, one of the benefits of working from home IS the flexibility.

But all too often, we let ourselves wander aimlessly, shifting from one thing to the next without any real direction. And our times of writing become hit or miss.

When we establish tangible goals, dates, and time frames within which we work, we can reduce the tendency to flounder, get distracted, or put projects off. Those goals give us something to shoot for. 

Even if we fall short, at least we’ve shot at something rather than nothing at all.

Self-imposed deadlines can help increase our productivity.

I’ve found that when I give myself deadlines, I don’t freeze or lose my creativity, but rather my production actually increases.

Before I write the first draft of a book, I decide how much time I think it will take. Since my books are about 100K in length, I divide that amount out over a span of 4 to 5 months and then give myself a weekly word count goal to meet the deadline I'm setting for myself. Then I take my planning a step further and give myself a daily goal so that I can hopefully meet my weekly goal. If something comes up one day that prevents me from meeting the goal, then I try to make it up by the end of the week.

The more regularly we keep our writing muscles working, the more productive we are.

Self-imposed deadlines prepare us for being a professional.

If we begin to establish deadlines before publication, then we’ll be much better prepared for the deadlines that come later, particularly for those who aspire to work with a traditional publisher.

If we want industry professionals to take us seriously, then we need to start taking ourselves seriously first. One way to do that is to approach our self-imposed deadlines the way we would approach deadlines at any other job.

For example, I write my blog posts the week before they go live. I schedule “blog writing time” into two afternoons a week. And I don’t let that particular afternoon go by without writing a post. I approach that time with tenacity, seeing it as something that is part of that day’s routine. It’s not optional and I don’t leave it to chance.

But that’s because I view my blog with the mindset of a professional. I want to post regularly, on time, with the best possible content.  

Meeting self-imposed deadlines allows us to present ourselves as professionals.

How do you feel about deadlines? Do they stifle your creativity, give you writer’s block, and zap the joy out of writing? Or, like me, have you learned to find some benefits in establishing personal deadlines?

5 Ways to Reduce the Working-Mom Whine Syndrome

Every mom is a working mom. I firmly believe that.

Some of us leave our homes to work. And others of us work from our homes. Location doesn’t determine the validity of our work. And neither does a pay check.

Unfortunately, our modern culture often doesn’t validate what we do unless we derive an income from it.

But I can’t tell someone who spends her days caring for an aging loved one that her job is less important than someone who works in a nursing home getting paid to care for the elderly.

And I can’t tell a mom who stays home every day to care for her young children that her job is less work than someone who works in a daycare and gets paid for her position.

I can’t tell a mom who teaches her children at home that her work is less valid than someone who goes into a school, teaches children there, and gets a paycheck.

I most certainly can’t tell an unpublished writer that her writing is less work than someone who has a couple books on the shelf and is bringing in an income.

No one should ever make us think any less of ourselves or our positions simply based on the location of our jobs or our income level (or lack of it).

Work is work—no matter where it takes place and whether we get paid or not.

However, if you’re like me, you want to feel validated for what you’re doing, for all of that hard work you do day after day, year after year.

Whether we get paid for our work or not, we working moms often don’t feel appreciated for all the many, many things that we do. And when we don’t feel appreciated, and when we get busy, and when things get overwhelming—and invariably they will—we tend to develop the working-mom whine syndrome.

Yes, we working moms, have the tendency to whine.

I became aware that I’d developed the whining syndrome when one of my teenage children pointed out that I was complaining a lot. (Teenage children are the experts at revealing our character flaws, aren’t they? )

And of course, once he mentioned it, I realized I had grown rather whiny—about being interrupted, about not having enough writing time, about having to play taxi-mom during my coveted writing time. You name it. I was complaining.

Now the truth is, I may not always get the kind of validation for all my work that I’d like, particularly from those closest to me. They won’t always see how many roles I have to juggle, all of the multitasking I have to do, and all of the sacrifices I have to make in order to do my work.

I can’t control their reactions.

But I can control mine. And in particular, I’ve realized that I can control my whining and complaining. Here are just a few ways I’m learning to do that.

1. Bite our tongues. Count to ten. Literally, grind our teeth together. And force ourselves not voice our frustration when we’re tempted to. When we complain aloud, we set a negative tone in our homes. Our children can even grow to resent our work because of all the negativity surrounding it.

2. Choose to be grateful. We shouldn’t just stifle the moment of frustration and stuff it down inside. Instead, in the heat of the moment we should find something—anything—that we can be grateful for. We can make a mental list of our blessings. Replace the habit of complaining with a new habit of lifting up thankful thoughts.

3. Identify one problem at a time and tackle it. Usually when we’re complaining, we need to look at our situations and find out what we can change to make things better. But we can’t change everything at once. Rather we can take baby steps.

For example, I’ve gradually worked up to four blocks of uninterrupted writing time a week. But I didn’t start with that much. I had to slowly go from having none, to now having a little bit of time at least four days a week where I can focus without too many interruptions.

4. Share frustrations at strategic times. We should be able to voice our frustrations at some point. But usually, we’ll have a better reception if we wait to share our concerns until we’re calm and can think clearly. Our family or friends still may not be able to see our perspective. We can’t make them change. But we will feel better for having attempted to explain our side.

5. Accept the hardships. Don’t try to dodge them. Sometimes we just have to adjust our way of thinking and accept that the problems won’t go away. I like this quote that I saw on Pinterest: Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

Today, to help us all in our efforts to juggle mothering and writing, I’m giving away a copy of Suzannah Windsor Freeman’s new eBook called: The Busy Mom’s Guide to Writing. For a chance to win, leave a comment (and your email address for contact purposes). Giveaway ends Sunday, April 29 at midnight ET.

Have you ever felt unappreciated or that the work you do isn’t validated? Are you tempted to complain too much? How do you beat the working-mom whine syndrome?

3 Ways to Keep Social Media from Taking Control of Writing Time

 

The newest craze around the internet seems to be Pinterest. Everywhere I turn, I see posts lauding the benefits of the site and telling us how to make the most of it.

I’m not nay-saying Pinterest. In fact, I joined some time ago and am having a blast with it. I love using it not only to share more about myself and my books (via pictures), but I also love the capabilities Pinterest has to inspire, encourage, and brighten the lives of all those my pins touch.

However, the thing about any social networking site is that as good as they can be, they have the potential to detract us from our limited writing time. Add Pinterest to Twitter, personal and author Facebook accounts, Goodreads, and blogging, and we could literally spend hours a day drifting from one place to the next.

Sure, we can and should enjoy social media. I’d likely spend time on social media sites even if I wasn’t an author. But . . . let’s face it. Writers who are serious about publication have the added pressure of building an online presence. So, many of us are likely doing more online than we would do otherwise.

But as I always say: Writing HAS to stay the priority. Or what’s the point?

We’ll only waste a LOT of time building an online presence if we don’t have a well-written book that can really WOW our readers. Because honestly, readers aren’t going to care a whole lot about what we have to say on Twitter or Facebook or Pinterest if they think our books are garbage.

So how do we keep the MAIN THING the main thing?

With my dive into Pinterest, I’ve realized that I need to keep a grip on my writing productivity. I have to be the master of my time, rather than letting Pinterest or other social media take control of me.

Here are three things I’ve been doing lately to make sure my productivity doesn’t bend the knee to social media:

1. Turn off the temptation during writing time.

When I have writing time, especially uninterrupted writing time, I try not to let anything else tempt me away from opening my WIP, putting my fingers on the keyboard, and plunking out my daily word count.

The internet can tempt even the most self-disciplined of us. When I’m writing, I’m usually most distracted by my emails as they come in (and lately also with Pinterest). So, what do I make myself do before I start writing? I completely shut off those two things so that they aren’t an easy click away when I get stuck on a hard sentence or scene.

Know your temptations. If you can’t turn the internet off completely (which doesn’t work for me because I listen to Pandora while I write), at least turn off the sites that the biggest distractions.

Author Media also put together a list of inexpensive apps that can help writers quit wasting time. If you’re really struggling with turning off tempting sites, then you might consider downloading an app that can help you gain self-control.

2. Set tangible writing goals within specified amounts of time.

I usually give myself the goal of writing a certain number of words within a 30-minute time span. I post the time and the amount of words I hope to write on a sticky note on my screen. Then every 30 minutes I add a new goal.

I don’t let myself switch on my social media temptations until I reach several consecutive goals. Then I take a quick break to answer a couple emails, tweet, or respond to a blog comment. I use the social media break as a reward for reaching several working goals.

3. Designate time to focus on social media.

As I said, I don’t believe our social media time should overshadow our writing time (except perhaps around the time of a book launch when the marketing responsibilities are at an all time high). Writing should stay THE number one priority.

However, I’ve found it’s somewhat freeing during my writing time, if I know that later I’ll have time to write those blog posts, or follow back my new twitter followers, or respond to emails. I’ve had to build social media time into my schedule, which ultimately allows me to focus better on my writing while I’m in writing mode.

What about you? Do you ever have trouble with social media taking over your writing time? What are some ways you keep social media in its place?

The Busy Writer's Guide to Time Management

Most writers struggle to find enough time to write—or at least enough uninterrupted time.

If you’re like me, you try to squeeze in writing around other life responsibilities. When I sit down to write in the afternoons, my “writing” time goes like this.

Kid #1: Mom, can I have a snack now? Me: No. You just had a snack ten minutes ago.

(5 minutes later) Kid #2: Mom, the cat just puked on the floor. Me: Go get the dog and she can clean it up.

(3 minutes later) Kid #3: Mommy, (sob, sob), I can’t find my other new pink sock. Me: Go find the dog. She probably has it.

(2 minutes later) Kid #4: Do I have to practice piano? Me: And exactly why do you think we’re paying the piano teacher?

(1 minute later) Kid #1: Mom, now can I have a snack? Kid #3: (Sob, sob, sob) I still can’t find my sock. Me: Why don’t you both go eat some candy or cookies or cheetos or all three.

(5 minutes later) Kid #5: Mom, I need you to drive me to basketball practice. Me: Okay, well since I’ve already gotten SO much writing done this afternoon, I might as well call it a day. (And no, my voice isn’t dripping with sarcasm.)

Okay, so maybe that’s not exactly the story of my afternoon writing time. But it’s pretty close some days! (And bonus lesson: Dogs are helpful.)

The reality is that it’s often tough to carve quality writing time out of our busy schedules. Sometimes trying to find more time is as impossible as whittling away at a metal beam with a rubber spatula. There’s just no place in our schedules for any flexibility.

I can completely relate. My schedule is impossibly busy at times. I homeschool, have five kids (including three teenagers), a jam-packed calendar, and play taxi mom in between mounds of laundry.

But amazingly, last year (2011), I completed two full length novels (100,000 words each). I had two sets of rewrites from my in-house editors. I launched my second book, The Doctor’s Lady (including a 50-stop blog tour). And of course, I somehow managed all of the other things like blogging, book signings, speaking engagements, etc.

So how do I do it all and remain sane?

Here are several truths I’ve learned about time-management:

1. Budgeting our time is something we have to LEARN.

Lately, I’ve been trying to teach my teens to budget their time. As they’ve gotten busier with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities, they have less time to dilly-dally. They can’t take their sweet old time on everything like they used to, otherwise they just won’t have time to get all their work done.

They’ve had to learn to organize their schedules and plan ahead. If they have a paper due on a particular date, they have to evaluate how much they need to do each day in order to make sure they get it all done on time (without having to stay up the last night and rush through it to get it done!).

As I’ve been trying to teach my children to be wise with their time, I’ve begun to realize that this skill may come more naturally to some personalities than others. But organizing our time, planning ahead, and working with diligence IS still something we can all learn, no matter our personality or age.

2. The busier we are, the more we’re forced to budget our time wisely.

When I’m writing a first draft with a daily word count goal, or when I’m editing with a daily chapter goal, I find that I work more productively than those times when I’m between deadlines and have “less” to do.

I think when we have more time, we grow a bit lazier, rationalizing that we can get to the work later. We aren’t in a rush, we get distracted more easily, and we often end up wasting a lot of time.

But when we have less time, we go into our writing time with more focus and with the determination not to squander the little time we have. Whenever something is precious to us, we tend to guard it more carefully.

3. Sometimes we just have to grab whatever time we get and make the most of it.

I’ve realized over the years that I have to stop waiting for the perfect moment and conditions before I write. Some days I really do have constant interruptions like the ones I mentioned above. But I write anyway—or at least I do the best I can.

When I finish my book, you know what? I can’t tell which scenes had a thousand interruptions and which ones had only a hundred. In the end, the story all weaves itself together.

Our job is to keep telling a little bit of our story day after day. And with perseverance and determination, eventually we'll type The End.

What do you think? Do you struggle with budgeting your time wisely? Do you find yourself more productive when you are busy? And are you grabbing whatever time you have and making the most of it?

6 Ways to Make More Time for Blogging & Writing

As a homeschooling mom of five children, I pour out my heart and soul into my children each day. After teaching at home for close to ten years, I’ve gradually realized it’s not healthy for me or even good for my children if I continually focus all my time and energy completely on them.

The fact is when we give of ourselves day-in and day-out, always pouring out but never filling up, we eventually find ourselves drained, going through the motions, and maybe even ready to give up. Yes, the role of motherhood (and fatherhood!) entails sacrifice at the very core. We would gladly and willingly lay down our lives for our children.

However, we need to find ways to fill ourselves back up. We can’t keep on giving when there’s nothing left. Our children and spouses can see when we’re frazzled and empty. They feel the effects of it. Not only do we suffer for our burnout, they do too.

We need to take some time to rejuvenate, recharge, and refresh so that we have what it takes to keep on going for the long haul. Of course there are countless ways to fill ourselves back up (exercising, gardening, baking, sewing, etc.). But over the years, I’ve learned that for me, writing is one of the best ways I can refuel.

In fact, over the past five years I’ve completed four full-length novels. The first book The Preacher’s Bride released last fall 2010 (through Bethany House Publishers). Another book, The Doctor’s Lady just released this month. And I'm currently doing in-house editing on the book that will release next year.

One of the questions I’m asked the most is, “How do you find time to write AND homeschool five children? How do you balance everything?”

I have to admit, it’s not easy to juggle the growing responsibilities of published author life and homeschooling. But . . . writing and blogging help fill up my tank. The creative process of writing brings me renewed energy.

Writing is a gift, an outlet, a way to connect with others in a similar situation, a way to pull thoughts together, an opportunity to minister to others, encourage, and uplift. Ultimately, writing and blogging can be so much more than a public journal—they can be a way to bless others.

But how do we make time to write and blog with all of the other demands on our time?

Here are six techniques I use to juggle writing/blogging and all my other responsibilities:

1. Schedule writing time. We need to pencil into our daily planner our writing time the same way we schedule subjects into a school day. I block out a little bit of time in the morning before my family awakens. I also carve out time in the afternoons when I’m done with all my teaching.

2. Prioritize our activities. We can’t do everything, even the really worthwhile activities. When we fill our lives so full of going here and there, we risk losing the creativity that comes from “down time.” We need those hours, even days, when we have the freedom to be home and just create. (And quite frankly, our kids need to be “bored” too, because boredom breeds creativity.)

3. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Otherwise we won’t ever write. My afternoon writing time begins after my kids are done with school, when they’re noisy, energetic, and just being kids. That means my writing time is often full of interruptions and chaos. But I write anyway! (And use headphones!)

4. Plan alone, extended and uninterrupted writing for once a week, if possible. Because of the less than ideal writing conditions the rest of the week, I make a point of taking extended writing time on the weekends or during an evening. Extended time allows us critical focused alone time.

5. Get your family behind your writing. Even though my afternoons are less-than-ideal for writing, I still try to teach my children to respect my writing time. When I take it seriously, they’re more apt to follow suit. If we explain to our husbands the importance of refueling ourselves, we can enlist their support as well.

6. Eradicate the guilt. Realize that when we’re pursuing something we love, we’re modeling to our children that they too can pursue their passions, and that learning, being creative, and expressing ourselves never ends.

What about you? Are you taking the time to refuel and refresh yourself on a regular basis? Do you ever feel guilty for spending time doing things you love?

*I originally wrote this post for Jamie Martin at Simple Homeschool blog.

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Don't miss these two blog tour stops! I'm giving away signed copies of my book at both places!

Friday 9/23: I'm revealing my must-have road trip item on Lisa Bartelt's blog! I'm sure you're dying to know what I take with me everywhere! *wink*

Friday 9/23: On Gina Conroy's blog, I'm sharing how I got my first real "writing break."

Don't forget to enter my BE A TRAILBLAZER CONTEST! Only a few days left!

How I do It: Live Intentionally But With Breathing Space

The months of August and September are crazy busy for me—both personally as well as in my writing life.

As you know, I’m gearing up for the release of my second book, The Doctor’s Lady on Sept 1st. I’m not under any delusion about the difficulty I’ll face in promoting my book. Today’s publishing industry is exploding with new authors but is constantly shrinking in shelf space which means I need to do whatever I can to market my book and help it stand out from the masses.

Among many things, I’m attempting a blog tour. Although I had quite a number of interviews for my debut book, I'm currently planning an official, established schedule with lots of unique and fun appearances, an epic contest, and tons of book giveaways. I’m really excited about all of the upcoming events.

But . . . I’ve had to spend an enormous amount of time planning for the tour as well as writing the awesome guest posts and interview questions for participants. In addition, I’m trying to keep up with my own blog and have recently started the first draft of a new book. Not to mention emails and social media . . . Then there’s my local book signing and the national writers’ conference I’m attending in mid-September.

I’m sure you get my point. My writing life (like many of yours) is filled to overflowing. Then there’s also real life with three birthdays in the next two weeks and the start of school (among other things). But I won’t bore you with all those busy details!

How do I do it? How can a person hope to keep up with all that needs to be done without getting buried? Is it even possible?

Last week I talked about easing into more as one of the ways I’ve learned to manage many responsibilities. Another way I manage is by living intentionally.

When I think about the periods in my life when I’m not living intentionally, those are the times when I allow myself to be swept along by my moods or the urgency of activities. I float from one thing to another, without seeing any real progress. I don’t have any focus, I’m easily distracted, and I spend way too much time on social media instead of doing things that really matter. Usually I end up frustrated and irritable.

On the other hand, when I decide I need to buckle down and get intentional, I’m always much more satisfied and productive. The dictionary defines intention as: a determination to act in a certain way. We resolve ahead of time what we're going to do, and then we do it. We're purposeful, make plans, and carry them through.

Yes, I accomplish more when I'm living intentionally. But I’m not an ultra-planner. I don’t have monthly, yearly, or 5 year goals (at least not written down). I don’t schedule out each hour of my day in a calendar (not that there’s anything wrong with doing that).

In other words, we don’t have to go from one extreme—complete disorganization with our goals and time—to the other extreme—planning out every second of our lives. We will probably only frustrate ourselves with unrealistic expectations if we do.

Instead, we can find a middle ground, one where we live intentionally, but still give ourselves breathing space. Here are just a few things I do to be intentional but not fanatical about my writing responsibilities:

• In the mornings, I take stock of my upcoming day and try to determine where I can block in a chunk of writing time for my WIP (work-in-progress).

• When I’m writing a first draft, I give myself the goal of 1000 words a day (6 days a week), but if I fall short one day, I simply try to make up the words by the end of the week.

• During my designated WIP writing time, I turn off email notifications, Tweetdeck, and anything else that might distract me. And I only allow myself to check it halfway through my time, and then only briefly.

• I write my blog posts a week ahead, usually on the three different weekdays that I have the most work time so that I don’t have to sacrifice WIP writing time.

• I give myself the weekly goal of trying to write one or two interviews as well as edit and return those I did the week before.

• When I start to fall short, or get off focus, I stop, take stock of the situation, and try to look at what I need to do differently to make it work.

The point is—I have to give myself some weekly and daily goals, or I probably will wander aimlessly. I want to approach my work, my family, my life with intentionality. I don’t want to look back some day on how I lived (or my writing career) and have regrets.

But at the same time I don’t want to turn into a robot. I don’t want to burden myself so much with planning and schedules and goals that I forget to enjoy breathing, and meandering, and detouring.

How about you? Are you living intentionally enough? What kinds of things do you do in your writing and life to be intentional? Do you need to give yourself a little more breathing room?

P.S. The winner of this week's signed copy of The Doctor's Lady is Sara! Congratulations, Sara! And thank you to everyone for playing along!! Come back next week for one more Trivia Question & one more chance to win!