I’ve hijacked Kacey Hammell’s spot – and there’s nothing you can do about it!
Just kidding. Due to a real life situation Kacey had to take today off from her usual posting spot here on Naughty Quills, so in I step which means you get a double dose of Moira Callahan. I know, it’s mildly scary for me as well. Since this is an unplanned post I’m going to go off the cuff. Strap in, hang on tight, and remember to ensure you keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times. So I give unto you, my take on #SatisfactionSaturday…
Crazy Expectations vs. Reality
As an author our lives are a balancing act, not always the most stable one either. For many, new and established, we have day jobs to pay the bills, family, friends, meetings, appointments, various other commitments, and general real life turmoil that takes us away from our true passion – our writing. On top of all that is the need to maintain a public presence on social media.
My biggest piece of advice is to, from day one, be 100% totally honest with people. While they may not be able to recall everything you ever tell them, at least if you’ve put it out there then you’ve done your part. For example most people know I work a full-time job that pays my bills, keeps a roof over my head, and food on the table. My writing, while my passion and my much preferred career path, isn’t enough (yet) to make it my sole source of income. Though I do have a dream that one day, oh one day…
When things went to shit in a rusted out bucket at the day job I put that out there as well. No specifics, but I made sure my reader/fan base knew that my writing would suffer and the books would slow down for a while until everything was figured out. While I’m still figuring things out it is getting better, and my writing time is getting longer, and more frequent once again. Not where I truly want it – yet – but we’re getting there.
I figure that as long as I keep the conversation realistic, and fact filled then the readers/fans will understand that while they wish for a next book tomorrow, sadly it’s not happening no matter how I wish it would. Until they invent a way for us authors to write while we’re asleep, we all need to keep everything balanced so we don’t run ourselves, and thereby make our writing suffer, ragged. You are no good to your muse, to your art, to your career if you are not first and foremost taking care of yourself. Recharge those batteries however works for you. Your writing, and your readers will thank you. So too will your editor but really, I like the idea of occasionally driving them a little crazy.
There you have it. Thank you for reading today’s unplanned post. Now I’m off to do my usual posting for tomorrow. Have a great Saturday, a fabulous weekend, and to all my Canadian friends, readers, family, and fans – Happy Thanksgiving weekend.
And because Kacey suggested some hot pix’s… I give you some hot pix!
All images below are the sole property of Michael Stokes Photography.
Not always according to plan #SatisfactionSaturday @AuthorMoira
I’ve hijacked Kacey Hammell’s spot – and there’s nothing you can do about it! Just kidding. Due to a real life situation Kacey had to take today off from her usual posting spot here on Naughty Quills, so in I step which means you get a double dose of Moira Callahan.
Not always according to plan #SatisfactionSaturday @AuthorMoira I've hijacked Kacey Hammell's spot - and there's nothing you can do about it! Just kidding. Due to a real life situation Kacey had to take today off from her usual posting spot here on Naughty Quills, so in I step which means you get a double dose of Moira Callahan.
