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A Day in the Life of a Busy Author
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A Day in the Life of a Busy Author
While many people only see the end result of an author's efforts, there is so much more going on behind the scenes on any given day. Many authors are supporting ourselves or our families with a full-time job while we get our careers off the ground which only serves to make our days even more compact. How do I manage it all? Coffee! Oh and lists. If I didn't have a to-do list and a schedule, I'd never accomplish a thing. Here's a typical day in the life of an author.
Four a.m. — rise and shine!
I'd never been much of a morning person. I would rather wake up at seven and lay in bed playing on my phone for an hour than get up and start tackling my day. When I published my first book, that all changed. I now wake up before the birds so I can get it all done and I truly look forward to my quiet mornings to myself. I let our twelve-year-old German Shepherd, Halo, outside and feed her while I make a cup of coffee. Once she's settled, I head into my basement "lair" to start my day. Even though I have a home office, I have found I'm able to switch modes more easily when I'm not in the same room where I work my full-time writing job.
Once I'm in front of my desk, I check my email, look over the previous day's sales and page read numbers, and write out my daily to-do list. This typically consists of checking on my ads and creating new graphics, researching advertising opportunities, planning content, and tackling whatever stage of writing I'm currently in.
Five to eight a.m. — typey typey
Once all the administration work is completed, my brain can shut down its business side and I can be more creative. While it's still quiet in the house, I get to work on my current book. Right now I have a manuscript with my editor, so while I'm waiting for it to come back, I'm planning my next move and writing a novella to introduce readers to a new series. I spend this time writing, editing, outlining, plotting, and researching.
Eight to nine a.m. — chaos ensues
We are straddling age groups here. Our oldest is in her thirties and our youngest is ten, which means making sure she's up and moving at eight, packing a lunch, and driving her to school. By the time she's out the door, it's time for...
Nine a.m. to five p.m. — what a way to make a living
I writing marketing content for a publishing company, and I absolutely LOVE my job! Many authors have an ultimate goal of writing full time, but I'm not leaving my job unless they force me to, so I very much enjoy this part of my day. I'm able to work from home so my commute time is however long it takes me to walk to my office from wherever I am in the house.
Five to six p.m. — take a breath
I will usually let my brain relax for a little bit. I'll watch mindless TV or sit on the couch and let my mind wander. Even though it's supposed to be relaxing, my brain tends to come up with some juicy bits during this time.
Six to seven p.m. — cook dinner
I'm big on family dinners and try to cook six nights a week. If I've got something going on or if I'm writing, my wonderful husband will jump in, but I love to cook and it's an important act of service in my world. Very few things make me happier than sitting around the dinner table with my family, eating a meal I've prepared for them. It's something I experienced while growing up and it's been carried over into my household as well. Also, no phones at the dinner table means an engaged and active conversation.
Seven to eight p.m. — flex time
I'll either collapse on the couch and read a book while my husband cleans the kitchen, or I'll head back downstairs to keep working. I don't force the issue either way; I go where my brain leads.
Eight to nine p.m. — try not to fall asleep watching TV
Needs no explanation. It's a struggle, and I barely remember getting into bed every night.
Nine or ten p.m. to four a.m. — zzzzzz
Four a.m. comes fast, but getting enough sleep is imperative. When I'm not getting those hours in, every area of my life suffers and I can feel the effects all day long.
Weekends —free-for-all
Saturday and Sunday are a little different. I'm still up early, but after I write for a few hours, I'm usually trying to get through errands or do a little reading. Sometimes I'll even nap!
I'm certain every author's day looks a little different, and perhaps mine will continue to evolve over time, but after a year of publishing, I feel like I've gotten a handle on a schedule that works for me. And I've really come to enjoy being a morning person!
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