You May NOT Have Cake Right Now

I just got done chatting with a lovely friend. We had a great laugh because as you know, today is Monday and she's human and like the rest of us dreads Mondays. She and her husband were talking about how they would love to take Monday off and enjoy another family day. I said something I have a feeling I'll be using again:

" It's like dessert. 

If you don't eat the broccoli too, dessert isn't quite as sweet.

You need the contrast. The balance."

Isn't that good? As soon as I said it I thought I must write this down. Then I thought of how it applies to my writing life. I love reading and promoting the work of other authors. I also love writing, but it's more difficult with a house full of children, a job, responsibilities, etc... Reading has become my cake and writing has become my broccoli. They are both equally delicious, but one of them is going to get me to my goal much quicker than the other. In the case of food, broccoli is going to help me slim down and feel great. In the case of writing, I'm going to feel much better once I finish my novel. It's no longer going to be 'yet another project Crystal started'.

Who is going to help me stay on track? Who is going to help me by saying in a firm yet loving voice:

"You May NOT Have Cake Right NOW!"

Here's where you come in dear reader and writer friends. Share your wisdom with me. Several authors have already been gracious enough to help me by answering the question of how they balance their writing life with their real life, but I want to hear from you too - please leave a comment with what works for you. And while you're thinking about that, feel free to share in the wisdom from these amazing author friends of ours here at WOW!

David Berner was asked: How does real life fit into a writer's life? As part of his recent tour for his latest book "October Song", he responded:

David: I don’t see them as separate things. A writing life is a ‘real’ life. It is central to much of my everyday existence. Do I write each day? Not always. But if two-three days go by without writing, I get antsy. Like working out or walking the dog, I try to make it part of my daily life. Even if it is not on a specific project, I write. I put down words. Sometimes they are not worthy words, but they are essential to get me to that next level. That next project, that next story, the trick sometimes is “training” those you love, those in your life, that writing – going off on your own to think and write – is not some vacation or getaway. It’s your work, your calling, your inner peace. It’s important for me to write to be the best person I can be. I truly believe that, so, I write. And it’s not an off-shoot of my real life, It is my life.

Donald Dempsey was asked: What words of encouragement would you give someone trying to put together their memoir or story? As part of the book blog tour for his original memoir "Betty's Child". He responded: 

Donald: Don’t be afraid to let it rip. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Just let it out and read it later. You can always edit and tidy up the emotional content at some point, but most of what readers seem to like about my book wrote itself.

Judy Mandel was asked:What's the most useful piece of writing advice you've ever received? as part of her WOW! Women on Writing launch of "Replacement Child". She responded:

Judy: Not to expect your first draft of anything to be great. It takes editing and revising to create good writing.




All these great tidbits of advice for such lovely author friends. Thank YOU dear reader in advance for the tips and ideas you'll leave in the comments - your support and encouragement (as well as your readership) mean so much to all of us here at WOW!



Crystal is a council secretary and musician at her church, birth mother, babywearing cloth diapering
mama (aka crunchy mama), business owner, active journaler, writer and blogger, Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing, Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing, Press Corp teammate for the DairyGirl Network, Unicorn Mom Ambassador, as well as a dairy farmer. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, four young children (Carmen 10, Andre 9, Breccan 3, Delphine 2, and baby Eudora due this fall), two dogs, four little piggies, a handful of cats and kittens, and over 230 Holsteins.

You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff here, and at her personal blog - Crystal is dedicated to turning life's lemons into lemonade!