I mean, I'm an expert, right? I have two preschool aged children that I watch during the day while my husband works as a teacher. Then, when he gets home, I go to work as a telephone counselor and he watches the kids at night. That's a pretty full and hectic life even without writing books. So, people often ask me how I do it. And, now that I've really thought about it...I have no idea.
There is no secret trick. There is no way to do all those things and be perfect at everything all the time. Sometimes (or all the time), I feel like I'm just treading water trying to keep it all together. My house is messy. I forget to shower. I have to stick my kids in front of the TV so I can have some time to write. So, yeah, it's not always pretty. Definitely not perfect. But, that's okay with me.
I believe that in order to balance all those things without going insane, you have to accept that things won't be perfect. And, you have to keep your eye on what's most important, and be prepared to let the little things go. Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed, I remind myself of what I care about the most and focus my energy on that. For me, my family is most important, of course. And, then at a distant second is writing and taking care of my own physical and mental health. Then, so far behind that you can't even see it is well...just about everything else.
Of course, I have to go to my day job. And, occasionally I have to do laundry. :) But, I choose to divert the majority of my energy and my stress towards the things that really matter to me. And, that's how I survive all the insanity.
I know I'm not alone. Many of the other authors I know are parents, and quite a few of them have day jobs. Very few authors out there are rich and famous. For most, it's a tough life. But, if you care about stuff...like your family, and writing, and yourself, you just have to make it work. If you're like me, you're not willing to give any of those things up, so you just do it. And also if you like me, you have no doubt that it's all worth it.
Now, may I suggest you check out the book that I wrote standing at the kitchen counter because it's the only place my toddler can't reach to bang the keys...
---
Introducing a new dark wizard family drama, Destruction by Sharon Bayliss, Book One in The December People Series.
BUY NOW
An independent family-owned bookstore. The ONLY place to buy signed copies!
David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything. Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn't a choice.
Eleven years ago, David's secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without.
Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David's wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children.
Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.
The Author
No comments:
Post a Comment