The Writing Muse

A weekly advice page on writing that is written by writers


KEEPING A BALANCE
by Laurie Olerich

Happy Monday, ya’ll! Thank you to Inner Goddess for including me today. Monday Muse is supposed to be writers giving advice to other writers. I hope I can provide a little nugget of inspiration today.

December is my favorite month. Hands down. Period. Dot. I adore the cold temps, the glitz and glitter of Christmas decorations, and the laughter that fills my home. I don’t adore the craziness on the roads, the rude shoppers in the outlet malls, and the constant stream of ads that bombard me on the TV, radio, and internet. Hey, America, every kiss doesn’t begin with a diamond necklace! Though I love December, the holiday season can be overwhelming between work, writing, promotion/marketing, and that crazy, elusive thing called family time. We want to do all of these things and do them well. But is that realistic? Maybe for some people. Maybe not for others. So what’s my advice for enjoying the season?

Balance! In years past, I’ve made myself miserable trying to juggle family, writing time, and promoting my books. With EVERYONE seeming to have a new book out, it’s hard to resist stalking Amazon and checking sales. Unfortunately, stalking Amazon isn’t super productive! While puzzling over this promo or that bundle, I’ve wasted hours wondering if I should do something different or try another type of ad. At the end of the day, I’m not writing enough and I’m stressed out and feeling a little hollow. Worse? I wasn’t really engaged with my family. My thoughts were all over the place. This year? I’m focused only on family and writing time. Unlike the characters in my books, my family isn’t immortal. They won’t always be here. And sadly, neither will I. And neither will you.

My two cents? Take time to breathe. Take time to look around and really see the beauty of the season; hear the sounds of bells and carols; delight in the laughter of children. Set a time limit for writing and then get off of the computer. Ignore the temptation to stalk your Amazon ranking. Ignore the temptation to hover over your computer. The internet’s not going to vanish.
Now’s the time to make memories. Now’s the time to find inspiration that just might be the spark that sends your next book into an explosion of awesomeness. Get away from your desk and get outside while your kids are on vacation. Play in the snow. Drink eggnog like a pro! Dance around the house to Christmas songs when no one’s looking. I recommend doing this naked but not at the same time you’re drinking eggnog... Take time to soak in the strange seasonal joy that people call the holiday spirit. Recharge your batteries! Be with your family and friends. There’s plenty of time to work in January; plenty of time to stress over sales then too. Readers will always be here--they don’t come with an expiration date. But, you know what? You do.

Breathe in and enjoy the season!



About the Author 


Laurie Olerich is the author of a hot new series that will suck you into the world of psychics, angels and demons like you've never seen them! Urban fantasy meets paranormal romance in this best-selling series! Beginning with Primani, the story sweeps across the mountains of New York to the underground world of Manhattan with pit stops in Hell along the way. When not plotting, writing, or fantasizing about her next hero, she’s planning parties, traveling the world, and relaxing with her family and friends. After spending most of her life in the Northeastern United States and Germany, she now lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her son and Dalmatian duo, Domino and Rambo. Connect with Laurie!



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10 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for having me here today! <3

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  2. Hard working writer! Thank you for sharing your tips.

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  3. I'm very new to writing so this post is very helpful:) thank you so much for sharing this information:)

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  4. I found this post very illuminating. Big thank you.

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  5. Outstanding tips, Elle Boon. Thank you.

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  6. Thank you so much for having me today.

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  7. Thanks, Inner Goddess, for having me as a guest!

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