Whoseewhatsit Thursday - Work/Life/Writing Balance

Photo by Marie Loughin

Ever feel your life is like the rocks in this picture, balanced precariously on top of all we have to do, and piling one more thing on top will cause it all to come crashing down?

Well, on Tuesday night's #indiechat, the group was discussing work/life/writing balance.  In particular, how authors who also work outside the home (and maybe even have kiddos), make/find the time to write.  In case you happened to miss the chat, I thought I'd share some of the tips with you so that perhaps you can add a little balanced harmony to your life.

*  Make a schedule and/or calendar in your writing time.  It's just as important as any other appointment you may have.
*  Set a daily word count goal and stick to it.
*  Get up 30 minutes early to do social media so that it doesn't deplete your writing time later in the day.
*  Accept the fact that you're going to bed late and write until midnight.  Every night.
*  Tote your laptop or iPad with you to appointments or kids' practices to sneak in some writing time.
*  Use that travel time on road trips for writing.  (Assuming your hubby doesn't care, of course!)
*  Makes notes while you're driving by using a dictation device on your phone.
*  Set a deadline for when you want to complete/release your book or even a deadline for getting it to your critique partner or editor.
*  Write with a co-author for added accountability.
*  Write during your lunch break.  You may not be able to break free from the dreary office, but at least you can escape in your own mind.
*  Make time to read too -- it helps your own creative process.
*  Plot when you exercise, when you're in the car, the shower, or anywhere else (just don't be afraid to talk to yourself out loud). Plotting over a lunch with a friend is also a nice way to kill two birds with one stone.

But most importantly, remember that if you miss any of your deadlines or fall behind in your goals, that's okay too!  Don't put so much pressure on yourself that writing isn't fun anymore.

Do you have any other tips to share?  Any of these that you think you might try?