Now look what you did!” Said the fish to the cat. “Now look at this house! Look at this! Look at that! You sank our toy ship, Sank it deep in the cake. You shook up our house And you bent our new rake. You SHOULD NOT be here When our mother is not. You get out of this house!” Said the fish in the pot.
LOL, not that I’ve been away but the house is feeling like the Cat himself has been here all week. Of course the Cat brought along not just one set of Thing 1 and Thing 2 but TWO SETS.
Writing when all the wee beasties are home is a trial on the best of days. Red-heads and sun don’t mix thus summer here in the desert is extra challenging. Additionally, with the heat everyone has been inside more than usual. It certainly is the perfect time to experiment with finding my balance between home-life and writer-life (not to mention fitting in social media) while my taxi demands are minimal.
So far this month–
Home: 6
Writer: 1
Sigh. Failing at that balance thing.
Last week, Jenny Hansen had an awesome post Is Your Blog Eating You Alive? where she talked about why we blog. All excellent and important pieces of the puzzle but as I continue working toward that balance what I was most interested in was the “dreaded time dilemma.” None of us have enough time to do all that we want to do. Where’s that magic wand anyway? But if you want something bad enough you make the time.
I do make the time for the writing.
While my first reader has the last WiP I’m moving on to the next. My focus for July is a fantasy piece I’d set aside earlier this year (remember Gaea from Tarot: Character Circle?) and working on the pre-writing process of developing characters, world building, etc. I’m hoping to be Kicking Out a Fast First Draft in August.
Where I struggle is keeping up with all the blogs I read (and commenting), and being more than a blip on social media sites. Go ahead hit me with a wet noodle 
I’d love to hear your tips.
Jul 07, 2011 @ 13:23:13
I wish I had some good tips, but I don’t. Everyone is different. Our schedules are different. You have kids, school and a husband and you have to work around their changing schedules too.
I have a part time husband and full time dogs and chickens. I try to hit some blogs at o’dark thirty, then as it gets light it’s time for me to head out and feed the hordes and work on the homestead. I’ll read blogs again in between breaks (like this one). Writing tends to happen at night when it’s quiet, and my blog is usually the last thing written before I go to bed.
*When* I read a post depends on the length, if the topic is heavy or complex, or if it’s just chatty. If I have lots of time, I’ll read the chatty or dense blogs. If I don’t, I just hit the ones that press my emotional buttons.
Jul 07, 2011 @ 15:02:48
Aw…so that’s your secret to getting through the hundreds of blogs I know you read
The addition of the puppy has taken over my Dark & Early which had been my prime new wordage time but I wouldn’t trade those walks. I know things will settle into a pattern once school starts again.
Thanks for stopping by and giving me the kick I needed
Jul 08, 2011 @ 00:30:14
Raelyn,
Thanks for the shout out! I’m with Maria that my blog and some browsing is usually my last stop before bed.
I don’t think there is any secret to piling more into the day BESIDES combining activities. I don’t know how anyone can get everything done if they have to “go sit down at the computer.” Internet and email on my phone give me back hours each week because I can subscribe to blogs and read them on my phone. Especially with FOUR kids, your time is getting sucked up at a rapid clip.
I miss having a dog…what kind of puppy did you get?
Jul 08, 2011 @ 10:05:20
I love your blog
That’s a good point Jenny. Back when I worked outside the home I frequently surprised my supervisor with everything I juggled but that muscle atrophied a bit when I became a SAHM. I guess it’s just taking more to get back into the practice than expected :shrug:
She’s not really a puppy, 18 months, but she’s the newest member of the family so we’ve taken to calling her that. She’s a Boxer-bully (general consensus says Pit Bull) mix. We love having a dog in the house again.
Thanks for stopping by
Jul 11, 2011 @ 22:28:46
Sounds like a VERY cute dog, Raelyn! I think we need to see pictures…
Jul 11, 2011 @ 16:50:54
Blogging does take a lot of time. I’m glad I enjoy it so much. I always learn, laugh, and cry each day by the various posts. I’m amazed at how much talent is out there.
Jul 11, 2011 @ 19:44:17
Hi Ciara,
Most of the time I enjoy the blog writing process and I do try to write up more than one post at a time to help with the dreaded time management factor. I love reading other people’s blogs. You’re right there is a lot of talent out there. There’s always something to learn, a new twist on an old favorite, and friends to be made. That’s a challenge in and of itself, too, because I’m always ADDING new blogs to Google Reader, LOL
Thanks for stopping by