Topic: Finding Balance

I just joined this group as another way to meet writers, but I have to admit I don't have the time to informally give feedback.  My second book on local wineries is being released in July, my novel (that takes place in Ohio's wine country) is coming out next month, and I'm reformatting my self-published book that came out at the end of 2014.  I also belong to two writing groups and write for magazines PLUS I host two writing retreat weekends every year.  I'm working hard to become financially independent, but there's SO MUCH TO DO!  It's exciting, but time is short.  I walk and do yoga, and I also limit my writing time to a 2-hour period of time before I go to work each day.  How do you find balance?

Quote Post 1

Re: Finding Balance

You may be disappointed in this site if you're only here to network and don't bother venturing into prime. It's only there, and largely through the spirit of feedback give and take, that you will find dozens of successful writing members engaged in the exact same balancing act you describe. We have many published writers; some of whom are even (gasp!) with mainstream publishing houses. There are playwrights, poets, technical writers, journalists, and of course, novelists--lots of them. 

As far as balancing all my life and writing endeavors, I don't really. When one facet of my life begins to squeak from lack of oil, it gets my attention long enough to run smoothly again...and on and on it goes in cyclical form. Those that love me, embrace that wacky methodology as part of who I am. Those who don't, probably never will.

Quote Post 2

Re: Finding Balance

Nice way to put it, Linda.

You absolutely rock!
Madison

Quote Post 3

Re: Finding Balance

If life were balanced, we'd all be sitting on a teeter-totter with no ups or downs and hence nothing to write about. A wise person once said, "If you want something done, ask the busiest person you know." Counterintuitive perhaps at first glance, but once you think about it, you realize that a busy person has found the determination and a way to get many things done without stopping to worry about not having enough time. If it's important, the time will come, if not, all the time in the world will make no difference. Hence, for me, my teeter-totter doesn't stay in one balanced position; it moves up and down with the momentum of my priorities at the moment. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 4

Re: Finding Balance

I agree that this site might not be the most helpful for networking purposes.  I could be wrong though.  I have found a great support system of other writers here, but that has all come through reviewing each other's work.  As far as balance, does anyone ever have their life balanced?  I think the first step is to embrace the chaos that is life and roll with it.  I have a full time job, a part time job running my own business, an 11 month old, a husband, and 3 dogs.  Writing often has to come last on my daily laundry list of things to do.  I work it in when I can and don't let it get to me when I can't.

Quote Post 5

Re: Finding Balance

Like the others have already mentioned there is no perfect balance in life. I also feel that it is in the imbalance that we are honed and molded into the people we are now and the people we are still being made into. All of history shows that when people seem to have balance in their life that they became more corrupted. It was when they had major problems that they worked together to fix those problems. So embrace the imbalance in your life and be thankful for it, because it is refining you as a person.

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Re: Finding Balance

Everyone in my family says I'm a little unbalanced anyway, so why not live the role? I spend a lot of my days sitting here on my computers writing, editing, programming, or working on a web site. Mikira is right. If a person is in balance, that person is a pretty dull person. It's the imbalances that spice up anyone's day. Some things that will tilt you off-center are strange, some a great, most of them you can deal with right away, but some take a while. Go with the flow.

~Tom

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Re: Finding Balance

I tend to find balance by standing with both feet on the ground, rather than just with one. :-)

Dirk

Quote Post 8

Re: Finding Balance

Norm d'Plume wrote:

I tend to find balance by standing with both feet on the ground, rather than just with one. :-)

Dirk

LOL!!! How's that working for you?

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