HOW TO BALANCE LIFE AND WRITING WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND

 

Nancy Mehl is a USA Today best-selling author. She’s been a finalist for the Carol Award twice and won the award once. She was also a finalist for two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews, and was also a finalist for the coveted Christy Award.

Her newest book, DEAD END, was released in March. Also look for her books in The Mysteries of Lancaster County series (Guideposts) – co-written with her daughter-in-law, Shaen Layle.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

She lives in Missouri with her husband, Norman, and her Puggle, Watson. She’s authored over forty books and is currently working on a new series for Bethany House about an FBI profiler, and a cozy mystery series with Guideposts, set in Savannah, Georgia.

Readers can learn more about Nancy through her Web site: www.nancymehl.com. She is also very active on Facebook.

 

HOW TO BALANCE LIFE AND WRITING WITHOUT LOSING YOU MIND

During interviews I’ve been asked to share my typical writing day. Typical implies that some days go one way – and some days may go another way. But the truth is, my writing days don’t vary much. I have a plan, and I do my best to follow it each and every day. It’s the only way I can stay on top of my work. Writing is a job, and you have to treat it as such. If I worked in an office, some of my duties might change from day to day, but other things aren’t negotiable. For example: What if you went into work an hour late and excused it by telling your boss you stayed up late watching a movie the night before instead of going to bed at a reasonable time? Or what if you decided to take a two hour lunch just because you felt like it? I can guarantee you that you’d be looking for a new job! Employers expect certain things. When you’re working for yourself, you must set your own boundaries and rules. The more you control your schedule, the more productive you become – and believe it or not – the more time you have to relax.

I get up at a certain time. I have breakfast and spend time with God. Then I go to my office. On Mondays, I do all the “other work” that writers do – and I spend some time editing what I’ve already written. Tuesday through Friday, I have a goal of a certain number of words on my work in progress. I do everything I can to reach that goal. Yes, every day. (Unless I’m on vacation. Hasn’t been one for a while, but I’m convinced it will happen one of these days! LOL!)

 After I reach my word count, I work on social media, promotion, etc. If I’m running behind on a deadline, I’ll put in a couple more hours of writing. By five or six o’clock it’s time for supper, maybe some reading or TV. Monday through Thursday I get to bed by a certain time so I can get up early the next morning and start all over again. Does that seem too controlled to you? Too strict? It is strict. But when I sit down to rest in the evening, my mind is clear because I know I’ve done everything I can to make my deadline.

What about weekends? I usually take them off. There have been emergencies where I had to work a weekend here or there, but I do my best to protect that time so I can spend it with my family. If I didn’t set strict guidelines for myself, I’d probably be stressed out, upset, and on the verge of losing my mind. I don’t want to spend my life sitting in front of my computer instead of relaxing and living the other part of my life with joy.

So I’ve given you a glimpse into my writing life. How about a glimpse into my Kaely Quinn Profiler series? Leave a comment, and I’ll pick someone for an ebook copy of DEAD END, the final book in one of my all time favorite series!