Balance

I haven’t posted in a while. We’ve been busy just enjoying the weather and not having to kill ourselves to get the house ready to put on the market. I’ve been reading a lot lately, and in all honesty, I should really be writing instead. Normally I would read 3-5 books per week, but since I started writing, I’ve tried to not read as much so that I wouldn’t lose track of my own thoughts. However, reading has been a lifelong habit, and I’m finding it hard to set that aside right now. During the last two months of working on ‘Secrets In The Shadows’, I probably only read about 10 books. I guess I’m making up for lost time now. Add to the desire to read that book two is just giving me fits and it does not add up to be a picture of productivity.

The learning process continues, and I’m finding that taking time each day for promotion and networking is as time-consuming as the actual writing process. As I go on this path, I am certain that I will learn better time management skills, so I’m not going to flog myself overmuch right now. That is definitely one of the more positive aspects of traditional publishing that I can see - having someone to do promotion for the author. I’m enjoying it, though - making the connections, joining discussions. It’s educational and fun, and I’m learning the tricks of the trade, so to speak.

I keep coming across folks who have read SITS, and I’ve still yet to encounter someone who didn’t like it. I can also say with complete honesty that 99% of the people who’ve read it are looking forward to book two. I am eager, as well - I don’t know where Beth and Ethan are going to end up, although I have an idea of where I’d like to see them, and I’m anxious to see how their journey ends. Will they end up together or not? I don’t know at this point. Their relationship certainly has not been an easy one, but hopefully they will end up happy…whomever they end up with.

I must say that, although I’ve not spent nearly as much time writing lately as I should, the ideas do keep coming. I think part of the problem with book two is that I spent too much time while writing SITS thinking about book two and, having lived with these characters for the better part of a year now, I’m a little bored and ready to move on. It’s a bit of a catch-22 situation - because I’m tired I’m having trouble focusing on the storyline, and the story won’t be finished and I can’t move on until I write it.

There is a balance to be found in this job - and I do think of it as a job, one that I love doing. Balancing the time used to create and promote, balancing how far I delve into the next story before I finish the one I’m working on…I’ve set some high goals for myself, and I’m satisfied that I can accomplish them. Like everything else, however, it just takes time.