tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post6633917934960694509..comments2024-03-26T23:31:37.080-04:00Comments on Balancing Act: #IWSG: Keeping the Excitement GoingSamantha Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-35055755651670172232016-02-09T20:40:32.551-05:002016-02-09T20:40:32.551-05:00Enjoy your con! It is rough to go straight back in...Enjoy your con! It is rough to go straight back into work (and I appreciate the sympathy about balancing it with kids: it's not a picnic)Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-49386321552271369722016-02-09T20:35:54.874-05:002016-02-09T20:35:54.874-05:00Thanks! I do put a lot of pressure on myself to wo...Thanks! I do put a lot of pressure on myself to work on sales . . .mostly because I want to be able to write full time. But I can forget to enjoy the ride on the way. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-16222308906448339082016-02-09T03:20:21.917-05:002016-02-09T03:20:21.917-05:00I hear ya! It is exhausting. Sometimes even bloggi...I hear ya! It is exhausting. Sometimes even blogging tires me out, though I'm thrilled people actually read my blog now.<br /><br />I have my first horror con this weekend, and I'll return to work on Monday without the slightest break. I have no idea how people balance this with kids - I'm barely managing with my freelance business.<br /><br />Hang in there!J.H. Moncrieffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18045467689291025137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-2870264642144600782016-02-08T09:39:08.513-05:002016-02-08T09:39:08.513-05:00I'm like you so I totally get it. And frankly,...I'm like you so I totally get it. And frankly, I'm starting to be a bit skeptical of this marketing thing. Every now and then I see an author who posts "I did X, Y and Z and it worked," and of course it doesn't work when I do it. So personally I'm taking a hiatus from marketing. My books haven't sunk yet. They're not soaring either, but they never did, so... :-) Anyway, good luck, but don't be too hard on yourself! Remember that we also write for our own enjoyment :-)EEGiorgihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11477791781485536775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-49597090083138614332016-02-04T22:58:57.093-05:002016-02-04T22:58:57.093-05:00I like the idea of looking back over it at year 10...I like the idea of looking back over it at year 10. I started taking it seriously when I was 42, and got the first contract when I was 43. I'm 44 now. There's definitely still time to make a living at this!Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-49754242738418787752016-02-04T22:57:10.576-05:002016-02-04T22:57:10.576-05:00It's definitely frustrating when you don't...It's definitely frustrating when you don't see results. That's why I always give up too soon on diet and exercise plans. With writing promotion stuff, I seem to be able to hold out hope that there are unseen ripples happening though, and that the thing I thought wasn't worth it might secretly be a breakthrough. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-29387705701322097122016-02-04T17:06:40.662-05:002016-02-04T17:06:40.662-05:00I've got the third book coming out, and a thir...I've got the third book coming out, and a third anthology due this spring. I'm with you in the exhaustion part. I've been knocking my head against the wall with no result but a headache. (what happens when your head meets a hard surface) LOL. But also the knowledge that my ten year deadline is two years out. If, as you say the income does not cover the outflow by a nice round number at the end of that ten years, I will step back - write for the sake of writing and wait for fame in the afterlife. :) In this day and age of everyone writing a book because they can I want the satisfaction of know I gave it everything I had before my peace of mind and happiness won out! All I really want is a quiet place with a view, a shelf filled with books, and my laptop! Heaven!Yolanda Renéehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09085436784133103221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-23598829040081888782016-02-03T21:29:11.332-05:002016-02-03T21:29:11.332-05:00I don't handle it well, especially when my eff...I don't handle it well, especially when my efforts seemingly yield nothing (no blog comments, for example). When I don't see progress, it makes things worse... I doubt myself more.<br />It's difficult to find belief when no one backs you up.<br />I don't mean the writing as much but the promotion and submitting.Jennifer Ruth Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04699005759754946494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-4947357672243191932016-02-03T21:27:52.896-05:002016-02-03T21:27:52.896-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jennifer Ruth Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04699005759754946494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-50558993501137275152016-02-03T20:17:40.552-05:002016-02-03T20:17:40.552-05:00When I'm doing my best at this, I do different...When I'm doing my best at this, I do different things on different days: fresh writing, editing/polishing, social media, networking, etc. It's easier during the summer, when I'm not teaching. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-66904634235795245952016-02-03T20:14:52.512-05:002016-02-03T20:14:52.512-05:00Thanks, Christine. Mostly I don't know how I d...Thanks, Christine. Mostly I don't know how I do it either. I'm lucky in the support of my family and that I inherited a ridiculous work ethic from my father. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-62002675654663486152016-02-03T20:11:45.665-05:002016-02-03T20:11:45.665-05:00Yes. I just hope the job isn't the death of me...Yes. I just hope the job isn't the death of me. I'm hopeful of being able to drop to part time on the day job in another year or so. That would DEFINITELY help. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-78361359709246536052016-02-03T20:07:20.158-05:002016-02-03T20:07:20.158-05:00I both love and hate the idea of hiring someone to...I both love and hate the idea of hiring someone to help. I might give it a go though if my income from writing becomes a little more regular. It would be great to just hand some of the logistical stuff to someone else. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-29149205459306635332016-02-03T20:00:18.912-05:002016-02-03T20:00:18.912-05:00Thanks, Mary. I'm terrible at giving myself pe...Thanks, Mary. I'm terrible at giving myself permission to take a break, but it's very good advice, indeed. Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-22404643332526218802016-02-03T19:52:04.713-05:002016-02-03T19:52:04.713-05:00It's hard to sustain such a level of effort. M...It's hard to sustain such a level of effort. Maybe take a break for a few days and concentrate on just writing. Twitter and Facebook will be there when you get back.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05697412264806977992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-7229447494429909382016-02-03T18:27:23.232-05:002016-02-03T18:27:23.232-05:00Yes, it's exhausting. I don't know how you...Yes, it's exhausting. I don't know how you do it, Samantha, with a full-time job and children. You have my respect. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11976538607575202318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-22320198882658396222016-02-03T11:16:29.563-05:002016-02-03T11:16:29.563-05:00Its the job. I take my vitamins and dive in. :-)
...Its the job. I take my vitamins and dive in. :-)<br /><br /><a href="https://emaginette.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/iwsg-22-im-not-going-to-be-a-millionaire" rel="nofollow"> Anna from elements of emaginette</a>emaginettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324981140248692448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-59777821356578692692016-02-03T10:57:03.830-05:002016-02-03T10:57:03.830-05:00I'm on the beginning end of this, so i'm o...I'm on the beginning end of this, so i'm only starting what you're doing. I hear the same from indie authors. It's a LOT of work. I think the best thing about indie publishing is it allows anyone to put out a book. The drawback is that ANYONE CAN PUT OUT A BOOK. And they do. There are a sea of books out there and to get your title recognized requires constant work. Even with a publisher, I am viewing my debut like an indie would, and planning what I can do on my own.<br /><br />My only advice is to do what you can, work smarter (ditch what doesn't work, focus on what seems to gain results), and take care of yourself. Your well being is always the priority. I say this out loud for my future self. If any wiggle room in your budget, maybe some of your promo can be managed by someone, a paid assistant who knows book stuff. Even a few hours a week might be helpful.<br /><br />I'm writing about social media overload today with a few resource links on how to better focus your efforts: <a href="http://www.stephaniescott.net/2016/02/insecure-writers-support-group-february.html" rel="nofollow">My IWSG post: Stephanie Scott</a>Stephscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06328839483008086049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-17525178683055358302016-02-03T10:00:18.299-05:002016-02-03T10:00:18.299-05:00I know it is exhausting. Maybe it's time to ta...I know it is exhausting. Maybe it's time to take a break. Writers often are introverts and get drained from being in at all those public functions. You're doing great. Now, rest. And, give yourself time to create again.<br />Mary at <a href="http://www.playoffthepage.com" rel="nofollow">Play off the Page</a><br />Mary Aalgaardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10089502829581772836noreply@blogger.com