Mary asked Janet Squires:

You sound like such a busy woman. When do you find time to write?

Janet Squires Hi Mary,

It's all about being organized and flexible -- having a schedule and knowing I can accommodate changes to that schedule when necessary. I keep a running list of projects, both writing and others, that I add to each day. Everyone morning I look at that list and decide what is most time sensitive and select the ones to tackle during the day when I need a break from my computer. Knowing I'll take care of the most pressing things allows me to sit down and work at writing with a clear mind and without feeling guilty that some important task is not going to be completed. I break large projects into their component parts and chip away rather than trying to accomplish everything at once.

One of the most difficult parts of being a writer is successfully dividing my time between the creative side: writing, revising, editing -- and the business side: answering emails, promotion/advertising, public appearances, reviewing books for my blog, keeping my website and Facebook Page current, and so on. Having said that, I'm not at all hesitant about putting those business and household demands aside when I'm deep in creating a story and I'll keep writing for as long as that creative fire is burning. Those intense moments don't last indefinitely so I take advantage of that surge because I know there will be pauses when I need to work out a plot point or delve into a character attribute before I can continue the story. Those breaks will allow me to return to my schedule so it all averages out in the long run.

I keep myself balanced by spending time with my rescue dogs, working in the large organic garden that I keep, and by reading every day.

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