It's All About Balance - Tips for Authors

I was involved in some group anthology projects before I started writing novels. For one series, we did almost one hundred in-person and virtual events in about a year and a half to promote the books. It was fun. I enjoyed meeting people and talking about mysteries. But I soon realized a writing life needs balance. With so much travel, there was hardly enough time to write my novel.

Writers have lots of tasks from research and writing to revising and book promotion, and that’s on top of your regular life and responsibilities.

Here are some tips that work for me. There’s no single, magic solution.

• I still have a day gig, so I have to schedule my time. I keep a calendar of key writing events and due dates. I have to stay organized, or the chaos takes over. (I write from 5:00 - 7:30 every morning and then on my lunch hour. If I hit my word goal, then I’m done for the day.)

• Try to write (or revise your work) every day. If you leave your project for a few days, it takes time to get back to the place where you left off.

• To finish a first draft in a reasonable amount of time, I need a daily writing goal. I try my best to hit it. I know if I stick to my schedule, I can have a completed first draft in about two and a half months. I keep a running tally on a sticky note to keep me motivated and to see my progress.

• When you are writing your first draft, just write it. Don’t stop to revise chapters or paragraphs. Make notes and keep going. If you fall into the rewriting trap, it’ll take you forever to finish.

• You can’t just focus on one thing. There are so many tasks for promotion, research, writing, and revising. It’s a lot of work, but you also need to take time for yourself to reenergize. Figure out what works for you. Make sure you exercise and go outside once in a while.

• When I have a new book release, I create a spreadsheet (three months before and three months after). I track all of my online and in-person events, and I make sure I have plenty of time to complete guest blog posts and interviews. Make sure you track all your due dates.

• I hate spending time searching for something I know I have, so for things I want to remember, I make spreadsheets. One has all the blogs, podcasters, book reviewers, and other contacts that I like to follow. I add to this throughout the year, and it helps when I start planning my promotions.

• I also have a spreadsheet of ideas. I used to keep file folders of newspaper and magazine clippings. Now, I keep cool names, interesting locations, weird true crime stories, and names of resources in one document. It makes it so much easier when I’m looking for story ideas.

• Make sure that you’re also reading. It’s important to keep up with what’s popular in your genre. Writers should be avid readers.

What works with your writing style? Let me know what you’d add to my list.

It's All About Balance

Everybody’s world has been upended with the pandemic and all the changes it has caused. I work from home four days a week, and I report into the office on Mondays. In my new routine, I’m at my home office desk most days, starting about 5:30 AM. And I’m usually there until 5:00 or 6:00 PM. I really like that I can attend readings, workshops, and other events virtually, but that means I’m at my desk later in the evening or on weekends. The new normal requires some balance. Here are some ideas to help.

• You need to stand up and move around throughout the day. I miss my stand-up desk at work. I try to stand during conference calls, so I’m not sitting all day. I tend to stay stationary too long. I also bought a desk bike. I can pedal while I’m sitting. (The mute button is my friend when I’m pedaling.)

• Routines are important. If you can stick to a routine as much as possible, it helps. What works for me is to set my normal wake-up alarm for work days. I don’t set an alarm on days that I’m off or weekends unless there is something I need to do. This helps me separate the work and non-work days. They all tend to run together sometimes.

• Try to get outside when you can. Walks, jogging, hikes, and bike riding are all good ways to change the scenery.

• Many conferences and workshops have been cancelled, but a lot were moved online. There have been so many opportunities for virtual classes, readings, workshops, and conferences. Many of the Sisters in Crime chapters have opened their meetings to guests, and I have attended some really good presentations. I was able to hear presentation by Kathy Reichs (of Bones fame) recently which was outstanding, and I was able to attend the Murder and Mayhem Conference (normally based in Chicago).

• Many dance, yoga, and exercise classes have moved online. Our neighborhood dance studio offered free lessons via Zoom.

• My critique group has moved online, and I really like it. I miss hanging out and having lunch with everyone, but I find that I’m more productive. We usually meet in area libraries, and often it’s about a 30-40 minute ride for me (both ways). Now on critique group days, I have more time to do other things because there’s no commute.

• I’ve talked to a lot of folks who have said that they snack too much when working from home. The kitchen is just too convenient. I try to limit the junk I keep in the house (though there is always a stash of dark chocolate — I need that for writing days). I also try to keep meals on a regular schedule, if possible.

• I have binge-watched or streamed more TV/movies than I ever have. I’ve found a lot of interesting shows that I wouldn’t have watched otherwise.

What ideas would you add to my list? What’s been working for you lately? And have you purchased any equipment or tools for this work-at-home, stay-at-home time?