Balancing Work, Home, and Writing a Book: Challenges and Tips

Would you like to write a book? Writing a book is a dream for many people, but it can be challenging, especially when balancing it with work and home life. Just home life alone is a challenge sometimes. It’s been a unique challenge for me lately due to health issues. I’m trying my best to finish two books by the end of the summer. I am determined, but let’s explore some challenges I face trying to balance life and work.

Time Management: Making Time for Writing

One of the biggest challenges required is time management. Writing often gets relegated to the lower rungs in work and family priorities. I wasted a considerable amount of time in the past watching TV. It was becoming an addiction. In his book On Writing, Stephen King says TV “really is about the last thing an aspiring writer needs.” I gave up my TV pretty much cold turkey when I read that. I don’t know what happened to Mrs. Maisel, The Flash, Black Lightning, or the Legends. But leisure time has to be sacrificed to make time for writing. In my day job, I travel a lot. I often drive hundreds of miles each week. It is challenging to spend time with the family during the work week. Much of my weekend is spent soaking up time with the family. I start a new position next week, allowing me to stay home with the family and write during the day. I am hoping to take advantage of that. If you are trying to write your own book, keep on a regular schedule and ensure writing is a daily task.

Motivation: Finding Inspiration to Write

Another challenge is finding the motivation to write when you're tired or stressed from work and home. It can be challenging to sit down and write when you're mentally exhausted. I try to push myself to stay up late to write, but there comes a time when my head starts to buzz, and nothing productive is coming out of me. It is very discouraging, and I sometimes think I’m not moving forward. Setting small celebration goals for myself when I reach a certain amount of words helps me see progress. It also helps to remember that if your goal is to be a writer, you have to write.

Distractions: Eliminating Interruptions

Distractions are evil. Sometimes the story is on a roll, and the words fly onto the page when the husband is suddenly standing in front of you. “I’m sorry. I know you are busy, but….” It kills me! My daughter has noticed that sometimes when she talks to me, I read the words I have just written as if trying to remember them. Hmmm, that is interesting. The dogs are a welcome distraction mostly because they make me get up and stretch. I love spending time with all of them, but not when writing. Finding a quiet place to focus and eliminate as many distractions as possible is essential.

Creative Energy: Nurturing Your Imagination

Writing a book requires a lot of creative energy. I have been having an overload lately, which can also be challenging. My brain wants to move ahead with other projects before I finish the one I am working on. I guess it is a blessing because many writers experience a loss of creative energy, sometimes called writer’s block. I have found reading a book is the best way to boost creativity. Some people like to run or exercise. Find what works for you and use it when you need a creative energy boost.

Writing a book seems like an easy task. You put words down, and voila! A book appears. It is a challenging task requiring a lot of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. But if you are determined, it is possible to balance it all and achieve your dream of writing a book.