A writer's busy life.

Writers have very busy lives.  I had no idea how busy until I decided to write full-time.

1.  You need to constantly work on your WIP (work in progress, for non-writers).

2.  Create and post regularly to your blog and/or website or both.

3.  You need to join the best social media sites to promote yourself and build your brand.

4.  Join Wattpad to start gaining a readership.  AND write stories for that, too!

5.  Keep up with what’s trending so you don’t miss out on any opportunities that could give you an edge.

6.  Tweet on a regular basis AND follow people so you don’t look like a jerk with no followers.

7.  Post to Facebook regularly to keep that audience happy.

8.  Pin it on Pinterest.

9.  Read it on Reddit to gain “karma points”.

10.  Find interesting things to add to your StumbleUpon profile.  This is one of the best sites to grow your audience, believe it or not.

11.  Read all the blog posts you chose to follow AND comment regularly!

12.  Learn at least one new thing a day about your craft.  At least I do.

13.  Send out query letters for the books you’ve completed AND send out manuscripts when you get requests.  And then wait, check your email, wait, check your email,  wait, check your email…  Oh, the waiting is maddening!!!!

14.  Post to any other blogs you’re a member of– like the multi-author blog I belong to–  AND promote to the best social media sites for the others in your group, too!

15.  Join contests AND try to win so you can use it in your query letter.

16.  Connect with other writers AND watch what you say so you don’t insult anyone.

17.  In my case, I also have to go to physical therapy twice a week for a frozen shoulder.  But at least everyone needs to have check-ups, teeth cleanings, and other doctor visits to keep yourself healthy.  You won’t be any good to anyone if you don’t take care of yourself.

And so on and so on and so on…  It’s just never-ending!

This list doesn’t even include taking care of your household: cleaning, laundry, making meals, and all the things that go along with being a good wife and mother (whether it be to furry kids or real ones).  And in my case, find time to visit my granddaughter who lives one hour south of us.  Yes, I have a granddaughter. She’s 7 months old and is precious beyond belief.  I know, I’m getting old.

It’s absolutely exhausting!  

And all the while you can’t neglect that book you’re trying to finish.  The work must come first, IMO.

Inevitably, something or someone always slips through the cracks.  Which is usually your friends and family.

I hear comments from my neighbors like, “You never take your nose out of that computer!” or “Oh my God, she left the house!  It must be spring!”  Well, mainly one neighbor who never lets me forget that I’m neglecting my social activities.

But you have to do these things if you want to “make it” in this business.  And it never stops.  Once you get published you’ll add deadlines and rewrites to your lists of “things to do”.

I’m really not complaining.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I just thought I’d open the eyes of people who think that writing is all fun and no work.  Boy, they couldn’t be more wrong.

Personally, I love this life.  I find new inspiring things everyday, talk to interesting people everyday, and love reading and writing.

How do you balance your writing life?