Taking Care of Authors

Taking care of business (every day)
Taking care of business (every way)
I've been taking care of business (it's all mine)
Taking care of business and working overtime

The words from Bachman-Turner Overdrive say it so well.  In our fast-paced world, we all feel pressure to be productive; to take care of business: athletes train to compete; business people strive for success; blue-collar workers work to survive; medical professionals study to be informed; innovators create to make life more convenient; and authors write to inform, inspire, entertain, teach, encourage, and more.  Just like the words say, "Taking care of business," we also need to heed the words, "Taking care of   authors."

Here's a list of ten suggestions by ten authors that every writer should put into practice in order to maintain good physical, mental, and spiritual balance.

*  Take time to let the subconscious 'play with the story' and do something creative.  Robin Carroll - mystery/suspense author of "Fear No Evil."  Painting, gardening, scrap-booking, cleaning cupboards, or whatever suits your fancy provides a great release from your story.

*  Every author needs to exercise regularly.  Lynette Eason, suspense author of "No One to trust", "Nowhere to Turn," & "When a Heart Stops," and Becky Wade - Christian romance author of "Meant to be Mine."  Work it so it becomes a part of your regular routine.  Use a pedometer to make sure to get your steps in each day.

*  Foster relationships with other writers - especially after a long stint of isolated writing.  Kellie Gilbert - fiction author of "A Woman of Fortune."  Nurturing relationships with other writers is essential to cultivating fresh ideas and to inspire creativity.

*  Get away from the computer and spend time with real live people.  Katie Ganshert - contemporary romance/romantic suspense author of "Wildflowers."  Talk with hubby.  Call a friend.  Go shopping and have a conversation with the person standing in the check-out line.

*  Pace yourself.  Be focused and disciplined with your time.  When you meet your goals for the day or the week, stop.  Give yourself time off.  Rachel Hauck - fiction author of "Once Upon a Prince."  Or give yourself a time-out and go to your room.  If you can't shut off your thoughts, jot down a few notes, then set it and forget it.  For a time.  Set reasonable goals.

* Preserve "you" in your writing career.  Learn to say "no" to ancillary commitments.  Strike a balance between necessary productive time and time-consuming unproductivity.   Ronie Kendig - rapid-fire fiction author of "Raptor 6."  Do not become a slave to writing so that it becomes drudgery.  Smile at yourself in the mirror to make sure you are still you.

*  Eliminate physical clutter in your work zone.  It does wonders for productivity.  Carla Laureano - inspirational/fantasy author of "Five Days in Skye" and "Oath of the Brotherhood."  One day this past week, my very-organized daughter, LaDawn, came to help me with a writing project.  She sat down at my computer, looked over the disarray, and said, "The first thing we need to do is to de-clutter your desk!"  I had to admit that even though I knew where everything was in each of the fashionably messy piles, I operated much more efficiently once we made space on my desk.

*  Get up every hour and move for ten minutes - not just to exercise, but to give your body movement.  Dani Pettrey - mystery/suspense romance author of "Sabotaged."  Go outside.  Breathe.  Walk.  Sing and dance to your favorite music.

*  Eat healthy and exercise.  Keep your mind and body in good condition.  Cindy Woodsmall - Amish author of "A Love Undone."  Healthy eating and exercise go hand-in-hand like love and marriage.  'Can't have one without the other.

*  Pray regularly - before, during, and after writing sessions.  Christian authors know the immeasurable worth of close communication with the Lord - not just asking that the writing be blessed when all is said and done, but during the process.  After all, His ways, His thoughts,  are much higher than ours.  Consider the timeless Book He wrote.  Rita Kroon - author of "Kiss Your Mommy Goodbye."

Are You Balanced in an Unbalanced World?

 Life needs balance.  Without balance, life can become chaotic.  We have to learn what to hold  onto and what to let go of.

 What are the areas of life we should consider when trying to establish an even keel?  The major components are: physical; vocational; spiritual and emotional; relational; social; recreational; financial;  and family and inner circle.  Life purpose and vision should be at the center.  

The more multifaceted our balance wheel is, the less time we have to devote to each area of life.  When that happens, we let those areas spill into the time available.  "If we just had more time, we could get everything done.  Right?"  Not necessarily.  Most people have a backlog of things they want to get done.  But when we try to accomplish it all, we create a huge problem.  We rob time from another slice on the balance wheel until all areas are jammed together.  Pressure builds.  We get stressed out.  It's like trying to stuff five pounds of hamburger into a three-pound bag.

Balance means to allot our time and energy in such a way that will benefit life's most important areas.  We cannot be all toil and no skittles.  We must consider: Do the things that matter on earth have any real significance in eternity?

Balance.  This is, by far, my biggest challenge and struggle.  I am notorious for being task-oriented.  I stay on task until I get the job done - at times, to the exclusion of my loved ones which is something I loathe doing.  I have to be intentional and self-disciplined in order to balance my physical with my spiritual and emotional.  It's not easy for me, but I know setting certain limits is absolutely crucial if I want balance in my existence, which in turn, brings quality in life, which helps me focus on the hub of my wheel - my purpose and my vision. 

Balance is not something we stumble upon.  It is something we create.  We must be proactive.         

Here are a few guidelines to bring balance into your life which I find to be most beneficial - especially for us overachievers.

• Determine what is important.  What are the top priorities that will contribute to the quality of your life?  Rate them on a scale of one to ten - the higher the priority, the more time should be spent in that area.
• Be creative.  Look for ways to be more efficient with time and energy you give to the tasks at hand.
• Stay relational.  Spend quality time with other people.  Focus on them - not on the tasks you could or should be doing instead.
• Keep healthy.  Eat well and exercise regularly.
• Relax.  Give yourself a time-out to enjoy life.

I am the first in line who needs to be reminded: "You can't do everything!"  Therefore, you do what ya gotta do to keep balanced in an unbalanced world.

Balance comes when you  discover, decide, and discern what you truly want - what you consider to be important.  And, voila!  Balance.

Rita Kroon

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