tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post7092061657386275147..comments2023-09-13T01:03:35.934-07:00Comments on Dance on Fire: Balancing Life with The Writer StuffJames Garcia Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559119178720751963noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-29974121283410110552012-04-26T05:08:09.713-07:002012-04-26T05:08:09.713-07:00Why do you think I've disappeared for so long,...Why do you think I've disappeared for so long, Jimmy? Balance is difficult. My MS was suffering and sleep was nonexistent. I've dropped off the social media scene and though it was intentional, it hurts to see that I was effectively dropped like a hot potato. A person's popularity is a direct indication of participation. I'll start picking it up again in a few weeks with some new blood, but it was just too much at the time. Balance is an art form, which requires more time than us 11-hour a day worker bees. Someday, though...Diana Murdockhttp://www.dianamurdock.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-70598044735627334082012-04-13T04:02:38.283-07:002012-04-13T04:02:38.283-07:00It's a tough juggling act, and lately, because...It's a tough juggling act, and lately, because of the A to Z Challenge and promotional work for my upcoming novel, writing has taken a back seat, sadly. But after April, I'm planning on hitting it hard. <br /><br />I try to manage the social platform thing by doing guest posts and interviews--I let someone else do the hard work of blogging for me! These can of course be scheduled in advance, and then I also have someone else to help me with responding to comments. Plus, it's great cross-exposure for both myself and my guest!J.C. Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01567971311643106302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-89556806558884720422012-04-11T06:40:37.634-07:002012-04-11T06:40:37.634-07:00I second the vote for Dropbox. I don't know wh...I second the vote for Dropbox. I don't know what I would do without it. When I used to commute to work on the train, I would do some writing on my iPod Touch and sync my files when I got home.<br /><br />I understand the struggle to balance networking with writing. I've been thinking about this lately as well. I've decided to condense my networking to scheduled times and put more of my focus on my creative writing. <br /><br />When it comes right down to it, the best thing we can do to expand our reach is create more valuable content, and the most valuable content of all is our creative writing. I think if I need to miss creating a blog post here and there to make more time for my writing, it's time well spent.<br /><br />Life's too short to get everything done. All we can do is try to focus on doing the things that matter most.Jacquelynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11646450951770742173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-86403941495623968222012-04-11T05:53:11.123-07:002012-04-11T05:53:11.123-07:00Hey Jimmy,
Can't remember if we've talked...Hey Jimmy,<br /><br />Can't remember if we've talked about this before, but I know sometimes I have to hear things a couple of times.<br /><br />My first bit of advice for getting some writing done at work is Dropbox. No need to worry about viruses or anything else. It's online storage. Drop something in at home, access it at work. It's like Google docs, except for anything. <br /><br />More than anything, I can totally relate to the mid-winter blues (I think that's what it is for me) and feeling like there's just not enough time in the day. <br /><br />Even though many say (whether they're right or not) that blogging and visiting other blogs is what you're supposed to do as a writer, I also struggle with it. Marketing is one of those funny things in that there is no end goal... you can always do more of it, right? <br /><br />So feeling like I should do it to an extent, but at the same time wanting to write, I had to schedule my weeks, just like any other job, making sure that I put in time for writing/editing/something creative. I agree with Lorelei on this one. If writing is your love, you gotta find the time to do it. Otherwise, those mid-winter blues just get darker. Again, at least for me.<br /><br />And it's nice to find that I'm not alone. Last winter was rough before I started blogging and meeting fellow writers. So I guess there's one good thing :)<br /><br />Oh, and hey, maybe it won't make for multitudes more, but feel free to leave a little something at my blog when you get a chance to comment. A link to your blog, or your book, or something. <br /><br />Paul D. Dail<br />www.pauldail.com- A horror writer's not necessarily horrific blogPaulDail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14950856020562599190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-73200755740441576482012-04-10T08:04:57.191-07:002012-04-10T08:04:57.191-07:00Hey! You were just in my neck of the woods! Hope y...Hey! You were just in my neck of the woods! Hope you had fun. I know what you mean about balancing, but you have so much more on your plate than I do.Missed Periodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10343265071637032284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-23616285887092297932012-04-09T15:04:50.770-07:002012-04-09T15:04:50.770-07:00Hey, Jimmy, yep. That's a hard balance to achi...Hey, Jimmy, yep. That's a hard balance to achieve. I've had to spend less time doing it as well while I've been editing the thrid novel. Marissa has the best advice, both about a note book and about the networking stuff. We tend to get all bent about the pageviews or comments we get on our blogs. I really have no idea who is following me, or why. But my sales have dropped this month. Crazy weather? People are feeling the pinch at the gas pump? Whatever. Just trying to ride it out.<br /><br />You're a writer, and if this is your love, write. Visit us when you can. If push comes to shove, your life/family is #1. Gotta equal it all out. Hard to do, sometimes. But deep down inside, you know what is important. And like the comercial says: "Just do it".<br /><br />Take care, friend!Lorelei Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03294047277447613989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-87768519265469924672012-04-09T10:22:40.276-07:002012-04-09T10:22:40.276-07:00Hey James! I feel your pain. Juggling everything i...Hey James! I feel your pain. Juggling everything is a constant challenge and I've not worked out the answer yet. It sounds as though you have a wonderfully supportive family, which is essential in this game! Best of luck at figuring it all out:)Jane Isaachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11170793644740072343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-12260306110831858882012-04-09T09:53:20.012-07:002012-04-09T09:53:20.012-07:00Balance can be hard to achieve but it is essential...Balance can be hard to achieve but it is essential. We are asked (and expected) to do all this networking, but as a writer this can not take over my actual writing time. It's a tight rope walk for sure! Hope you figure it out.Tracy Krausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05066853243062725525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-75178535201460925402012-04-09T06:23:29.101-07:002012-04-09T06:23:29.101-07:00Hey Jimmy! Good to hear you've had some time o...Hey Jimmy! Good to hear you've had some time off with the family. Here are my two cents: blogging is great and we all appreciate the support of our fellow writers, but, unless you're blogging on sites which are directed at readers, spending time commenting on other writer's blogs isn't going to pull you in a huge number of book sales. If I were you, I'd scrub out the time networking and concentrate on writing and getting out some short stories (including buy links to your novel) so more people will experience your writing. As for the iPad thing, what's wrong with a good old fashioned pen and notebook? I think I do half my writing by grabbing a few minutes here and there to write a few lines (when the kids are in the bath, or when I'm standing in the kitchen making dinner). Later on I'll type them up and you'd be amazed at how quickly those scribbled words add up!Marissafarrarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409272164117892923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6232628723576241448.post-32532446993964568152012-04-09T05:37:50.088-07:002012-04-09T05:37:50.088-07:00I know this dance well. Recent events have caused ...I know this dance well. Recent events have caused me to reevaluate how I want to spend my time.<br /><br />I like writing and as long as I feel I have something to share, I will, but the real world has to come first. Life is too short to do otherwise.<br /><br />Ref: laptop<br />If you just plan to write, why not forgo the internet and just use the iPad or other small laptop strictly as a writing pad? You can always surf when you get home. At least this way, you get some of your writing done during the day.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.com