Writing while working . . .

Many authors, both traditionally published and indie, struggle to make ends meet on writing alone. Or, we came late to the writing game and have worked the entire time we wrote.  Either way, what is it like to work upwards of 40 hours a week (or more!) and still write/publish?

First, it is time-consuming. Having to balance work and a writing schedule alone is difficult. Then add to that a significant other, kids, pets, and their events that require your time, and perhaps other obligations you may have, such as hobbies, workouts, community events, work-related events, and hoping to find time to read.

Our time is like a pie. We can cut the slices into little slivers of pie, but there is still just one pie of time we have for a day. Some days, some slivers just don’t get cut — they are absorbed into the larger slices, and that is ok. As long as it isn’t like that every day.  Mix up those pie slices!

It is self-effacing. If we feel like what we are writing is crap or won’t be well received, that can affect how we feel our work at our job is going.  As an English professor, I feel that I am the last person who should be telling people how to write if I am A) not writing or B) not writing well.  And if we receive bad feedback or a bad review? UGH.  These challenges may make us feel depressed and that does spill over into our regular work.

And then there is general burnout — where nothing gets done.  We have all had that moment where we are home from work, kids are in bed asleep, and we are burning our midnight oil, cup of tea, coffee or wine in hand, hoping the miracle of writing overcomes us, and. .  . . Nothing. Just that blank screen, that accusatory blinking cursor, mocking us. Our brains are fried; we are tired; our significant other is snoring lightly in the other room, and we ask ourselves why.  Why do we put ourselves through this?

Why indeed.  But from a writer’s perspective, we would most likely respond, how can we not?  To us, this is normal. There is a pull, a need — the same as a need for food, for sleep, for air to breathe.

So to all you writers pulling double duty, I raise my wine glass to you. Good luck with cutting your slices of pie this week.