Indie Author Life: A Day in the Life of . . .
Where the “magic” happens. Ah hem . . . magic. Did I really write that? Hahahaha.
The following is a “typical” day… or the plan of a typical day. As we all know, being moms, wives, husbands, fathers, sons, daughters, students, working and writing, managing households, lots of time it’s shot to sh*t within the first hour. Reorient. Get back on track. Keep going. So, we’re off . . .
5:30AM: The alarm goes off. It’s a lovely tone that doesn’t jar me from my sleep, if I’m still sleeping. Lots of days, I’m already up (3AM, 4AM aren’t shockers when I’m in the middle of a project or have something on my mind). I guilt myself that I haven’t worked out, but decide that if I think about it, my brain doesn’t know the difference.
5:45AM: Hurry up, coffee pot. I set you the night before for a reason. Come on! While the coffee pot is brewing I usually check my IG and engage with what I’ve missed. I’m in Hawaiʻi so I am always a bunch of hours behind everyone else. I want to make sure I engage in real time with people, so I need to do it early. Social media is a very important part of an author’s life. This is the direct link to readers.
6AM: I sit down with my journal and my Bible app. This is how I center myself. A few scriptures, a bit of prayer and then I’m writing morning pages (have you read Julia Cameron’s The Artist's Way? I recommend it for the new creative or a stuck creative). I find that this centering is really important for me. Why? Because I can get caught up in all the needs to be done. It makes me feel frantic, anxious and kicks up my doubts. Taking the time to balance my mind keeps me grounded and focused on my place on the road rather than what’s over the mountain. While I draw from my faith practice, I would suggest that faith practices don’t have a monopoly on reflection or meditation, so don’t allow that to keep you from finding a way to center yourself.
6:30AM: My family is moving about and the noise in the house heats up. Husband is up, talking to the dogs while listening to ESPN on the highest volume; son is up, shuffling through spaces muttering and asking for items he was to have prepared the night before. Daughter is texting from college or facetiming with a new issue that needs solving. The dogs are now wrestling as part of their morning routine. If I’m feeling generous, I’ll make them some breakfast, but usually they are on their own (because, leftovers). I drink coffee with my partner before he heads out to work and drops our son at school.
7:30AM: Get ready. Okay. This just means get out of my pajamas, though I don’t always (sometimes that doesn’t happen until like 10AM and I need a quick mental reset).
8AM: It’s time to get down to business. 8-12 is the first block of time I’ve set aside, and it is for the “work” part of my business. I work on an editing job for a client, send and answer emails, make calls, create and distribute marketing materials, write blog posts, draft and finalize newsletters (yes, I have two. One as an author and one as an editor), plan and design IG posts. I spend time on IG and Facebook during periods of this block to make sure to engage on social media when most of my followers are up and functioning.
12PM: Grab something to eat for lunch. I try to disconnect and read while I eat lunch. At 12:30 I put on my mom hat to go pick up my son from school. School hours are strange right now due to the pandemic, but I’m not complaining. When my son is cleared to begin workouts for his sport, I have a feeling my schedule will change again.
1:30PM: Time for the second block of my day. 1:30-5 has been set aside for my creative projects. Sometimes I have business stuff I have to do as well (i.e., interviews or meetings, but usually it’s reserved for the creative block). I’m drafting now (which I find difficult; I much prefer revision and editing). I set up my spotify, usually with the background noise of a rainstorm or ocean waves, and I work to focus on the creative work.
2PM: Crap. I’m nodding off as I try to work. I curl up on the couch with the dogs for a power nap.
2:20PM: Rested and clearer now that my head isn’t bobbing with sleep, I’m back at the keyboard. I write. It’s usually a slogging session through sh*t, but that’s okay. I won’t find the story or uncover the gemstones without something on the page. Besides, I’ll look for the shiny stuff in revision. Later. Keep going.
5PM: Time to think about dinner. I set up a podcast or an audiobook while I’m cooking. Sometimes it’s my WIP playlist so I can continue thinking about the issues I’m noticing to work through them internally while I’m engaged in the busy work of cooking.
6PM: On a good day, the family is home together and we convene at the table to eat. Mostly, it’s a mad dash to shovel sustenance into our mouths between sport practices, workouts, homework or after school stuff, and whatever else is happening. With the pandemic, things have been a bit more predictable from home, which has been a positive, but truthfully, the chaos is preferable to a pandemic.
Thank you, husband, for this flattering picture.
7PM: I’m usually on the couch with my feet up next to my husband and the dogs. He’s watching something on TV and I’m reading. If it’s a program we both like, I reluctantly put the book down.
8PM: We walk the dogs.
8:30PM: Somedays, I’m struck with night inspiration, so I’ll sit down for another hour or two writing session. I don’t know what it is about the darkness and the low glow of a lamp. It gets my creativity moving. Sometimes this is the perfect opportunity to chat with my husband about the business side of things. He’s also an entrepreneur, so I appreciate his perspective and ideas. Usually, I’ll check social media again and make sure I’m set up for the next day.
10PM: Usually in bed and reading, or nodding off. I’m usually asleep by 11PM unless the book I’m reading has me hooked. Then I’ll allow myself a little bit more time . . . just one more chapter… one more. Crap it’s after midnight. Time to sleep.
5:30AM: The alarm rings . . .
And it all starts over again. I don’t feel like Sisyphus, however. Maybe because I’m doing this for myself rather than someone else. Truthfully, I put in twelve hour days and don’t even notice it. Sure, I feel tired, but it’s that suspension of time. It’s the immersive joy that comes from the work, the satisfaction that comes from wanting to build something that is sustainable and stands the test of time.
Which is a great segue into next week’s story:
Why I’m an Indie Author and went with Ingram Spark.CLWalters Blog RSS
