I keep reading about how it is good to build up a profile, write a blog, read blogs, read books, and then of course there is the time to write.
I also have to do things like walk the dog, work, make supper, be nice to husband who is supporting me though this whole being a writer stuff. Help! How do I balance my time?
Good advice you (and all of us) are getting here, Diane. I was intrigued to read Kate's piece. Surely something was missing? Then I got to the last line about the dog cooking dinner for you and I thought: "THAT's the Kate Baxter that I love!"
There are some blogs that have turned into best-sellers. But if you've already got a book in your head, why don't you get on with that and leave the best-selling blog idea until your next project?
Lorraine's comment on procrastination should be carved in stone and used as a paperweight [laptopweight?] for EVERY writer. "I've got this great idea for a book, but I must just paint the cat's litter tray first..."
I wonder how much time writers spend writing and reading other writers' blogs and tackling the technicalities of social media. Don't do it unless you want to do this kind of writing or when your masterpiece is published.
I bought my husband a playstation so he'd leave me in peace while I could write in nice long stretches of 3 or more hours at a time. Yay, it worked! With a good long productive writing session done in the day I will get on with all the other stuff without being Mrs Grumpy. I can fit in reading in short snatches but not writing.
My sons have playstations too.
What Lorraine said...
I'd add that you'll probably get along better by concentrating on one project at a time. If your friend's story fascinates you, then let that drive you. You can always write down ideas for your other projects as they occur to you, but don't let three projects become one project with two distractions.