It’s time I get back to the 52-Week Blog Challenge after a brief hiatus. I’ve been finalizing two books to come out this year, and I wrote the end to another book also coming out in 2019, but that has nothing to do with this blog hop other than I’ve been busy, busy, busy! ❤ #WritersLife
This week’s topic sounds like a similar topic from the last two years:
Week 32: For an author, does life exist outside of writing?
I can only answer for me and whether life exists outside of my writing world. This answer is twofold. Putting words to paper took the back burner for a lot of years while I grew from a child to a teen to a young adult to a wife. I raised a family and worked outside of the home. These were happy times, but the need to write was always there.
Through the years, I always scribbled down words be it a poem or a short story, and I knew one day I’d write books. It just wasn’t the right time back then because I had a life outside of writing. What I didn’t know was how important it would become one day. Or how much time it would take to keep up with the business side.
Moving forward many years when everything about my life changed. Kids live their own lives, but I still receive much joy from spending time with them. Retirement allowed me to write full time, so nowadays, creating stories is my life, and no, I don’t have much of a life outside of this career, but I do make sure to find a balance that works for me.
I still have friends that I had when I was young and raising a family, plus new friends. They know of my dreams. We still go out to walk together, take little day trips, socialize, and continue to talk about my writing and books. However, I don’t do as much with them as they’d like.
Family and most friends understand that this is how I roll these days. Still, they would prefer I had an equal balance of life and career. I do keep my heart and soul in harmony. If I won the lotto or sold hundreds of books a day, I’d be happy to give the same amount of time to work and life–maybe even more to LIFE.
What about other authors? Participants in this blog challenge will tell you by visiting the 52-Week Blog Challenge blog for links to their blogs.
I appreciate your visit today. Enjoy what’s left of summer. It goes by too fast.
And now, I’m going for one of those walks.
The BALANCE sign is made of metal and hangs on my refrigerator by magnets on the back. While shopping with my son and daughter-in-law, I purchased this at a quaint little store in a small town nearby. As soon as I saw it, I had to have it! ❤
Balancing rocks credit: Pixabay
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
12 thoughts on “#Am Week 32: Balancing Life and Writing #MFRWauthor”
D. Wallace Peach
There never seems to be enough time for balance. And balance is fickle and changing constantly, at least for me. I get it right and then everything changes. *Sigh* But I’m glad you find time for writing and doing the things that you love, Mary, including spending time with friends. I hope your summer is going well and congrats on those coming books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Diana. Summer is going by too fast. I’m taking time now to walk when I need a break to get away from the frustration. I found a wrong file had been uploaded to Kindle, so it’s one more distraction away from my current WIPs to fix it. It’s always something. Thanks for visiting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
D. Wallace Peach
I haven’t written in months, Mary, and can’t wait to get back to it. I’m sure my 10-hour-days at the laptop are gone, but it’s going to feel good regardless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I understand.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cathy Brockman
I thought this year I would have a schedule and stick to it and actually get books out, then a teenage pregnancy hit, and that meant doctors visits, WIC appointments, planning gender reveals and showers, then Dad got ill and the baby was born a week early then the death of her mom so my life took over. Now the grandson is having heart issues at 13. so I may not be through with life yet. Good luck on your books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thank you. Wow, Cathy. It sounds like you have your plate full. It’s hard to think of much else when family isn’t well. Good luck to you and yours. Hugs.
LikeLike
Teagan R. Geneviene
I know it’s probably not a good thing, but the best thing about writing is that it lets me live in my head. I don’t like the world much lately! 🙂 Hugs on the wing.
LikeLike
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I’m sorry that living in the place you thought you’d love and yearned to live, isn’t working out, Teagan. I enjoy living in my head while working on books. I better since I created it. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Teagan R. Geneviene
Thanks Mary. I still love my home and my area, despite the run of the mill challenges I’m having with it. Bu that comment I was thinking of the world at large and everything on the news. Thank goodness there’s at least an off switch for the TV. Hugs.
LikeLike
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I’m glad you still love being there. I know what you mean about what is going on in the world, Teagan. That’s why I posted the candle for #WordlessWednesday. It saddens me, and yes, at least we can turn it off or change the channel. I still like to know what’s happening though…until I’ve had enough.
LikeLike
Jacquie Biggar
An unplanned illness and my mom’s failing health have changed my perspective on work/life balance. I spend more time with the ones I love now and write when i can slip it in. Maybe not ideal, considering this is my career, but something I feel is necessary.
Thoughtful post, Mary {{hugs}}
LikeLiked by 3 people
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I agree with you, Jacquie. When loved ones need us, it changes the way we think and puts priorities into prospective. I’ve lived through many kinds of hell to bring me to this point in my life. Hugs right back.
LikeLiked by 1 person