A Writer's Life
(Or… Things That Keep Me Sane In My
Writer's Life)
by Julie Ann Walker
It's funny - not funny ha-ha but funny weird - what people assume when I tell them I'm a writer. They imagine I sit in cafes drinking over-priced
coffee, doodling in a notebook or henpecking my laptop as I watch humanity
drift by, waiting for the muse to strike.
They imagine I live this "artist's" life that includes nature
walks and long conversations over wine about such esoteric things as character
motivation, plot movement, and the grand, sweeping meaning of life.
I let them believe this...
Because the reality would crush
them. Especially since the reality is… I
work.
My. Butt. Off. Ten to twelve
hours a day. Five, sometimes six,
sometimes seven days a week. I make my page counts. I make my deadlines. I sign up for new deadlines. I answer fan
mail. I schedule appearances and signings. I write speeches for appearances. I update my Facebook fan page. I tweet about myself and my fellow
authors. I blog. I blog some more. I update my website. I run contests and giveaways. I stand in line at the post office so I can mail out the swag from these contests and giveaways. Ad nauseam, ad infinitum…
But even though I'm basically
running a small business, the truth is I do
have an artist's spirit. And
sometimes the workload, the abundance of… stuff
that must be done as an author that has absolutely nothing to do with actual writing begins to wear on me. So, what do I do to remain sane, you
ask? Well, I have hobbies. A lot of
them, in fact. An arsenal of soul-saving
activities that I can choose from when everything starts to feel just a little
bit too heavy, too overwhelming. And those are what I want to share with you
today.
So, let's get to it, shall
we? I give you my top five sanity checks…
in no particular order.
HIKING...
Bryce Canyon, Utah |
FISHING...
Cooper Lake, Texas... 12lb Large Mouth Bass |
CYCLING...
With Mr. Walker in San Francisco, California |
TRAVEL...
The Forbidden City in Beijing, China |
VINO...
Although, according to this picture, perhaps I shouldn't rely on this sanity check very often. LOL! |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Julie
Ann Walker is the New York Times
and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Black Knights Inc. romantic suspense
series. She is prone to spouting movie quotes and song lyrics. She'll never say
no to sharing a glass of wine or going for a long walk. She prefers impromptu
travel over the scheduled kind, and she takes her coffee with milk. You can
find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her
keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission. Look for the first four books in her
fast-paced series: Hell On Wheels (August
2012) In Rides Trouble (September
2012) Rev It Up (October 2012) and Thrill Ride (April 2013).
For more information, please visit www.julieannwalker.com or follow her on Facebook www.facebook.com/jawalkerauthor and/or Twitter @JAWalkerAuthor.
To Purchase Thrill
Ride
It is a small business and you never to get to go home! I love your ways for staying sane (except fishing--poor fish!). Believe it or not, I run. I hate running but it helps me de-stress.
ReplyDeleteShana, I WISH I found running soothing. That would be so very helpful to my figure. ;-) My sister-in-law runs marathons to de-stress and I'm always so envious of her - and her figure - for that.
ReplyDeleteShana, I WISH I found running soothing. That would be so very helpful to my figure. ;-) My sister-in-law runs marathons to de-stress and I'm always so envious of her - and her figure - for that.
ReplyDeleteLet's trade lives for a day, Jules. No...make that a week. Or a month. ;) I'm envious of your awesome travels!
ReplyDelete@Melissa, maybe a week. I'd have fun with your boys. Teach them bad behaviors. Let them eat sugar and stay up late. Then I'd give them back to you. LOL! ;-)
DeleteI'm pretty much working 365 days a year and late into the night. Clearly I need better hobbies!
ReplyDelete@Cheryl, honey, I'd go crazy, flat out lose my mind if I didn't have a few release valves. More power to you, doll! Good for you!
DeleteI would love to go back to the days when all I had to do was write. The social media stuff gets me down and so behind on writing. I like your ways to stay sane.
ReplyDeleteAmelia
@Amelia, I have some writer friends who LOVE all the social media interaction. That IS their de-stresser. I think I'm a hermit by nature. :-/
DeleteSo many awesome photos! Life can be stressful, but looking at all the wonderful places you've been, great things you have done...you know deep down LIFE IS GOOD - and there's no better soul food than that! Wishing you a future that continues to be full of many busy writing days, and plenty of de-stress days too!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, @Drama Mama! And, thanks! Same to you!
DeleteGreat to read a bit about you!! Looking forward to your next book. Love seeing the photos, pretty lady!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, @Sue! I'm anxious to hear what you think of the book.
DeleteYes, ma'am...reality and what folks think we do are two different things. Love what you do to de-stress! Cooking is my de-stresser...doesn't require too much energy and I get to eat the results.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, I love your de-stresser! And you can come cook for me any day! :-D
DeleteGreat pictures, wish I could travel somewhere!!! I am anxiously awaiting your next book - they are awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha! I hope you enjoy it!
DeleteFunny how the actual writing eats up about 50% of what we have to do these days (:
ReplyDeleteI need something active to relax me, since I spend so much time nailed to my computer. I love running, going to the gym, walking the dog, riding a motorbike, anything that gets me out in the fresh air. I also love chocolate, hence all of the above.
Funny how the actual writing eats up about 50% of what we have to do these days (:
ReplyDeleteI need something active to relax me, since I spend so much time nailed to my computer. I love running, going to the gym, walking the dog, riding a motorbike, anything that gets me out in the fresh air. I also love chocolate, hence all of the above.