Computer Time

I've been adding to my links list here on my blog and need to update my website one of these days with new links. Most of the links are fellow Cerridwen Press authors whom I'm getting to know through the lists and the chats we do together.

I like to check out other people's blogs, but it is starting to take up too much time. When I first get on the computer in the morning, it takes me an hour to go through my e-mail and do my blog and the other things I do each day. Then I start checking other's blogs and websites and myspaces, etc. That's starting to take longer than my first hour doing just my stuff. And yet, many of these people are my friends and I like to see what they're saying.

But time is becoming an issue. Updating my website takes me a long time because I'm not well-versed in HTML programming (but I'm learning). And no, I don't pay someone else to do it. I haven't earned that kind of money yet in sales of my books. Then you add in checking out various blogs and websites, doing marketing and promotion work for my books, doing searches for agents, all the stuff that makes up writer's life - and it leaves little time for writing.

As primarily a writer, I have to balance what works for me. I do have a life outside my job. Okay, my family may argue that point, but I think I do. And I still enjoy just reading books - must find time for that too.

It's an interesting conundrum - finding time for everything that must be done and integrating it with what you'd like to do. It's something we all struggle with everyday. Some of us are more successful at it than others.

It all comes down to one question - what is most important to you?

Answer that, and you'll be able to prioritize.

Or not. :)
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Birthdays: Sigmund Freud, Leo Lionni, Ariel Dorfman

Tips and Teasers: A publisher has bought your novel but you have to write a short bio for the back cover. What do you say? Write one now and file it for when this happens

Thought for the day: "A lot of people say you can't teach writing, but I've never felt that was entirely true. You can't make a great writer, but you can teach discipline, at least through example, and that's the biggest part of writing, I think. If you don't have the talent, you'll probably figure out sooner or later that writing's not for you, but you'll never know if you don't make a serious commitment to it." - Dave Weich