My Daily Approach to Writing

I wake up in the morning feeling like “insert random rap star name here”… not really but it seemed like a fun intro to this glimpse into my writing daily life.

I treat writing just like what it is, a full-time job. When I was still “in the workplace” I would wake up in the morning, get ready for work and be to my office by 8am. Same holds true with me being home and writing from my home office. I’m to work by 8am. I start my day the same as when I was in the workplace. I check email, catch up on anything pressing there and by 9am I have my daily conference call with my fellow co-owner of The Raven Books, Michelle Pillow. We discuss what needs to be done administration wise for the company that day, who is doing what task, what book is in what stage of the publishing process and any type of marketing things we need to think about. We are an e-first publisher and our goal is to always stay one step ahead of the market, never to chase it. We have the ability to switch gears on a dime and because of that, we are always in touch with one another. The conversation normally lasts an hour. When you’re dealing with a business earning what Raven Books earns, and you’re doing it with a very small number of employees, you have to be in the thick of it. You have to be hands on. After the conversation is over I normally catch up on whatever we discussed and then I take a lunch break.

While on my lunch hour I eat and then contact people regarding anything personal, like dog groomer apts, dr appts, catching up with friend quickly or saying hi to mom or grandmother. I watch the clock. I’m off the phone and done with my tasks by the time my hour is up. Then, it’s time for me to return to my office and get to writing. I write until 4pm when my youngest two children get home from school. Then, my time is theirs. I’m “Mommy” until bed time. I then return to my office to write more or do covers. Whatever needs done. I often get up in the middle of the night and work too.

I don’t treat writing as a hobby. It’s not. It’s my full time job. It’s my livelihood. It’s what pays the bills at my house and what is needed to put three boys through college. I’m strict with myself and my time because if I don’t take my writing/job seriously how in the heck can I expect readers to take my work seriously and spend their hard earned cash on it?

I should say that I keep this schedule Mon-Fri. Once a month I have a week that is nearly all admin and often includes travel related to the publishing house or at the very least research for my next book. I also know after 8 years of writing full-time that the month of Dec is a work wash for me. Thanksgiving pretty much kicks off the “get nothing done” stage and I know better than to plan a heavy release schedule for that time or for January. I work as much as I can through December and think of whatever I get done as a huge win. Since there are holidays there and the kids are off for a week, I know when to label a win a win.

During the summer the kids are home and I do a ton of research/writing travel. I’ve learned how to set my yearly releases accordingly. I know which months I have more work time and which I have less. No matter what month it is, I’m always doing something to better my career and myself. If I’m not writing, I’m doing admin. If I’m not doing admin, I’m doing research. If I’m not doing that, I’m doing work related travel (research, signings, meetings, appearances, workshops, guest speaking). If I’m not doing that, I’m doing social media and I’m out there planning marketing for my books.

I take my job very seriously. It’s my career, what I want to do for the rest of my life. I’ve spent eight years building a brand for myself, a name, a new small press and a decent sized following of loyal readers (who are awesome, I might add). I’m just lucky enough to be doing something I love. That doesn’t make it any less important to me or my time any less valuable. Authors and aspiring authors, don’t feel ashamed for demanding time to do your job. And readers, please know, I really do put a lot of time in all my books and I truly hope you enjoy them as much I do writing them!

My newest release

Adam’s Angel (League of the Unnatural)

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