What do toddler haircuts, the television show Longmire and Texas counties have to do with each other? Read on to find out!
Did you ever wonder what a writer’s life really looks like? The one thing I can tell you for certain—no writer’s life is the same, even from day to day.
Like most people, I have an idealized version of “being a writer” in my head—a nice mountain cottage, sitting on my porch with my coffee, inhaling the scent of evergreen and enjoying the sounds of birds in the trees. Words flow effortlessly from my fingers as I daydream happy endings and watch the wildlife pass by. I have plenty of time to enjoy God, nature and my family. No interruptions occur during that still, small quiet time, and then there is plenty of familial noise, happiness and love afterwards.
Real life? Not so much. Two days ago I wrote for sixteen hours straight, plowing on toward my deadline with little interruption. Today was much different, though not atypical, and I thought it would be fun to chronicle it for you.
First thing every morning without fail is coffee. First cup, check news, Facebook, Twitter. Second cup, my morning offering to God. Then I scan my email and deal with anything important, then leave the rest to look at or delete on a break later in the day.
Next, I pulled out my current and most pressing deadline book and edited for an hour. Stopped, checked email. I’m part of Harlequin Love Inspired’s 2015 six book continuity so the other authors and I have been piecing together all the crucial details that span the six books. Big issues right now—cattle rustling and where to find forest land in Texas. Do some research, look at maps and pictures of small Texas towns.
An hour of fresh writing on deadline book, and then I break for a quick lunch, fast food provided by Youngest. Read while I eat. Check email, Facebook, Twitter. Put together a list of possible titles for my next novel for my editors to go over, something catchy with lots of hooks. Check on Amazon to make sure none of them have been used recently. Most of them have been. Back to square one. More titles, more checking. Finally have a reasonable number of titles to offer. Send list to editor.
Turn back to deadline book, write for an hour. Break to cut my grandson’s hair, since he’s home from preschool today. Check email. Delete a few less urgent ones and all the spam. Start on my blog post. Usually try to do them early but got caught up with other deadlines, so I have to have to get this written and posted by tonight.
Get a Facebook message from a friend. The author of the books the Longmire television series is based off of is visiting her town this evening and she has an extra ticket to go see him. Very last minute. Do I like Longmire? Why yes, love it, actually. Hope it gets picked up by a new network. Blog post still not finished. Argh! Going anyway.
Post is done! Enjoyed listening to Craig Johnson speak about his writing process and really enjoyed spending time with my friend, especially because technically this was the first time we’d ever “met.” We’re both Texas Tenor fans and live within a half hour’s drive from each other but hadn’t yet had the opportunity to meet in person. I know. Crazy, right?
And that is about as typical as my day gets. I’m going to shut off my computer and go read now. How about you? What does your typical day look like?
Deb Kastner’s next book YULETIDE BABY is a December release from Harlequin Love Inspired. Available for preorder now!
~~Love Courageously~~ Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of 30 novels, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational western stories set in small communities. She feels especially blessed to be able to include faith as a natural and genuine part of her characters' lives. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
Well, not nearly as busy as yours. Retired & no schedules… Yaaaa. I too will miss Longmire!