Keeping All the Balls in the Air

Is life/work balance, a myth? When you are pulled away from the middle of a manuscript by life having more important priorities for you, how do you mark the place where you are in your head and how do you find your way back into it quickly? A second question do you work on more than one project at a time? And is that confusing?

Brenda here.

I'll answer the last question first. I only write one manuscript at a time; however, I often have to stop to edit the previous manuscript as it nears publication. This can be confusing, trying to keep the two stories and plots separate. I much prefer to have one book written and completely edited before I delve into the next story, but this rarely, if ever, happens. As for short stories, I write them in between completed book manuscripts, almost like a palate-cleanser.

So, the life/work balance debate. I've not had too much difficulty maintaining one because life always comes first for me. I've never set aside family time for writing; I plan my day/week/life so that I write or do book stuff when it doesn't conflict. When I first began writing, I worked full time and my daughters were younger. Those were busy years! I sometimes wonder how I got any books written, but I always managed. I'm fortunate that I can start or stop easily and can work through noise and chaos once my mind is engaged. It's all about focus. My husband likes to come into my office to chat or share a cup of coffee, and I always shut my laptop and take a break. I've never had a closed office door when it comes to family.

I'm lucky now that I write full-time and can plan chunks of time during the day to do book stuff. More and more, writing has taken on the look of a part-time job that I work at seven days a week, unless some family or social activity takes precedence. Housework, however, never takes precedence. That I don't mind neglecting! When I was in my twenties, an older colleague told me how she did housework every day of her married life, only to have her husband leave her for a younger woman. She said that she spent all those years working hard with nothing to show for it. Her advice was not to sacrifice your own dreams, and Ellen, you'll be satisfied to know that I've never forgotten.

Returning to a manuscript after life has pulled me away takes some rereading of what I've already written. Now, I take notes as I go and keep a character list. My latest organizational trick is to jot down the chapter highlight, along with day of the week and weather on a post-it note for each chapter. I arrange the notes on a blank sheet of paper, and this helps to keep me organized and helps immensely with editing. Since I'm on the pantser end of the spectrum, this ends up serving as an outline once completed. 

I would also add that making life a priority, means periods of time when I don't write. As a result, I've never had writer's block -- I'm always refreshed and eager to get back at the computer when I do have time to write. My mind works on the plot in quiet moments during the breaks. If you would like to follow along with my writing week, I blog every Saturday morning -- a quick catch-up read over a morning cup of coffee :-)

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