by: Staci Stallings
By far the biggest question I get from my writer friends is: “When do you find the time?”
While right now there are a lot of novellas being released which usually run around 20,000 to 40,000 words, my books tend to be…. uhm, longer, to say the least.
The one I’m working on right now actually had to be chopped into two books because when I hit page 850, I knew, it was just too long. That threw some monkey wrenches into the process because I already had all of my covers done, which meant I had to do a new cover AND renumber several covers, AND figure out where to chop the books (which isn’t at all easy when you write like I do). UGH. Not my idea of how I like to be productive.
But the funniest thing about this question of how I “find” the time is this…. I have NO IDEA!
Literally.
Let me explain.
While most people think that a writer’s life is this idyllic existence where you awake to romantic music that just accompanies your entire life, go to the keyboard with your flowing silk robe, and quietly flood the world with amazing, awe-inspiring prose…. that is NOT how my life is.
First of all, I’m not a morning person, so that part of the dream shatters pretty completely right there. Second of all, if you were around to see my life, you would know how ridiculous that whole idyllic thing is.
For example, I have two daughters currently in college. One is about to graduate for the second time in December. That one is currently working two jobs as well. Not that I do a lot to keep her going, but keeping up with her is a challenge. The second daughter is equally busy. She’s currently holding down a perfect 4.0 not for the semester but for all of college! Let me tell you, there is more to having kids that age than just fond memories of life when they were little.
We’re constantly Facebooking each other about tests and things that need done on their house, how we’re going to get things done, etc. In fact, both of them now have parties (three of them to be exact) scheduled at my house in the next month. Oy!
Then there’s my hubby who has his own construction company. I do the bookkeeping for that, and while most of the time, that’s not a huge deal, it, too, has its moments.
THEN… there’s my wonderful, lovely, amazing 16-year-old son whose dream is to light the world. Literally.
He’s been working since April on a Christmas light show ON OUR HOUSE. Over the last two weekends, we’ve had an army of people out here to set everything up. (To see more about his show, you can visit: https://www.facebook.com/TangledLights/ ) So basically I spent this last weekend, untangling lights (yes, that’s a thing when you’re dealing with 16,500+ lights!), feeding people, helping anchor snowmen to poles so they wouldn’t blow off our roof… and all in 32 degree weather!
And all of this kicks off one of my “busy seasons” — Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Parties, Christmas cards, decorations, and 2,000 people out front of my house to see the lights. Fun!
Oh, and did I also mention I’m teaching a class, getting finals ready, and trying to get my house clean for all of these parties?
I’m telling you, it can get to be rather overwhelming at times.
So, how am I going to get this current book finished, Book #4 formatted and ready to upload by Dec. 15, doing a sale next week, and putting together all of the marketing for the new release which hits the virtual shelves on Dec. 20th? I have no idea!
I’m curious. How is your Christmas shaping up? Busy…. or idyllically serene? If it’s the later, can I move in with you for a month or two? I promise, I won’t even wake you up early! :)
Signed,
Staci Stallings
(who needs more than 24 hours in each day!)
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A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. Although she lives in Amarillo, Texas and her main career right now is her family, Staci touches the lives of people across the globe with her various Internet and writing endeavors.
Hi Staci, life certainly sounds busy for you- your family sound great:) Christmas is in Summer here in Australia, so lights are a bit of a strange thing with it getting dark so late!
Christmas this year will be quiet for us- we won’t be travelling interstate to be with family this year, just my husband and I with our two boys. We will catch up with close friends, but it will be pretty laid back. I am looking forward to it, after a busy school year.
Blessings:)
Hi Staci! Definitely remember those hectic days. As a retiree life is finally slowing down. Enjoying a little time for ourselves! Best wishes .
Even with being in a less busy season with family, it seems time zips by while the to-do list stalls! Blessings on the busy weeks ahead for you (and all of us!)
I like laid back holidays! Much easier on the nerves! Have a blessed holiday season!
Hope you have a splendid holiday season! God bless you, and thanks for stopping by!
Blessings back, Val! I hope this is a season of wonderfulness for you and your family!
Wow, Staci…you are definitely a busy woman, lol! We are very laid back, just me and the hubs…no family near enough to spend it with, no parties… no lights…but I would love to see your house!!
The first week of December I’ve got something on every day. Then it slows down :-) Still don’t know when we might get to see our 2 nieces :-) They kind of wait until the last minute to make plans. I looked at the Facebook thing about your son’s light show. WOW!
We started the show last night. Had a “full house”–8 or more cars every show from 7 until about 10. Fun times!
Have great holidays!
It’s been quite a project! I just realized the other day, I think from now until Jan . 6, we have something at least every other day. And I’m not a partier. Yikes!
Blessings for your holidays!
My life is always busy running back and forth to help my parents.
I’m also not a morning person but my job requires it of me. I couldn’t live your busy life! Wow. I would need some major down time or I soon wouldn’t be pleasant to be around. I hope you get a chance to slow down over the holidays.
Lots of reasons to be busy these days!
God bless & thanks for stopping by!
Looks like it’s only speeding up from here. Just glad I’m feeling better than last year.
Cheers to “not morning” people!
Staci, you’ve got me chuckling here…. I think your youngest and my oldest might be twins separated at birth LOL and I have three more after… so “idyllically serene” is only in my dreams. Blessings!
I roll with the changes when it comes to finding time to write. When I worked full time – I scribbled notes or entire during my breaks, then added them to the book when I got home in the two hours before my husband came home from work. When our son was born, I became a stay at home mom, but my writing flew out the window until he was about six months old. I wrote during his naps, but if I was tired, I napped too. Once he started preschool three days a week, I wrote while he was at school. In the summer, I stayed up until midnight to write. Since he’s been in regular school, I write while he’s gone and stay up late in the summer. I’ve written during baseball and basketball practice. He’s a junior now, but I still stop writing when he and my husband get home so we can have family time.