Read to Feed

photo credit

First of all, the winner of the first chapter critique (as chosen by Randomizer.org) is C. Lee McKenzie!! 


I've been busy lately. Life has gotten crazy and I've been practicing my mad juggling skills between kids, volunteer work, and writing. Oh and I'm pregnant, which I didn't announce publicly until now, but what the hey! Three times is the charm. :D 


What's my point? Through everything, I've been bound and determined to keep at it. To keep writing because it means - YOU ALL MEAN - so much to me. I can't imagine my life without it now. But something was missing. When I did find a precious few minutes, and I forced myself to work, I was still having a lot more trouble than usual expressing myself the way I'm used to. 


I figured it out, folks. So I have to share it with all of you. The problem was that I had let something important go in favor of writing time. READING time. I've been in book withdrawal and I hate it! Reading is just as important to writers as writing. Let me repeat that because it's so important.


READING IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO WRITERS AS WRITING.


The more I feed that part of my brain with delicious, nutritious books, the better I'm able to write with confidence. Do I copy authors I love? No. Certainly not consciously. But I let them INSPIRE me. I try to note what I love and find what's missing in my work so that I can round it out. Example? I just finished Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. OMG I devoured it. If you don't read her work, go fix that RIGHT NOW. I have four more books bought and ready to be gobbled up as well. And it's pumping up my writing brain. I can't explain how it works exactly, I can only tell you that it does. 


You need to read anyway. You need to know your genre and others. But if you don't get joy from reading you're probably in the wrong profession. So do me a favor and join me, will you? Go read a good book. Give up TV time or something else. But squeeze it in. 


I posted today on Enchanted Inkpot about what makes a fantasy classic. I'd love it if you visit me there too!

Balancing Act

I often joke around about the teetering monster made of dirty clothes on the floor in my laundry room. Okay, maybe it isn't a joke so much as reality. Shameful admission time: I suck at house work. I'd much prefer sitting in front of my computer tweeting, blogging, or just plain writing. If I'm not in front of the computer chances are I have my Kindle or a book stashed nearby.

Oh yeah and I have a family.

Funny? Not really. As amazing and forgiving as they are, I know I tend to get so wrapped up in my own little world that I am sometimes neglectful.

The following is a dramatization. Maybe.

Kid: "Mommy I'm hungry!"

Me: "Go get a snack." *types*

Kid: "Mommy I don't have any clean clothes!" (See what I mean about the laundry?)

Me: "Re-wear something." *continues typing*

Kid: "Mommy the house is burning down."

Me: "Shh! I just have to finish this scene." *types feverishly*

Well okay, if the house were burning down I'm sure I'd do something about it. But you get the idea.

Often times we hear people say they don't have time to write. But is the opposite true as well? Can you write too much? I may be an example of just that. So what should I do about it? Here's my plan:

1. Shut the computer when the kids get home until they're in bed.
2. Keep a detailed schedule that I refer back to often (like I used to do at my "day" job) to make sure I don't miss anything important in the real world.
3. Teach the kids to do their own laundry. - Well okay maybe that's just wishful thinking.

So tell me, what balance issues do you have? Online vs. writing time? Family vs. writing? And what plan can you use to make it better? Perhaps if we keep each other accountable it will help us remain on track.

photo credit