Day in the Life of a Best-Selling Author
Or perhaps having time to sit and ponder major plot complexities.
Or maybe … just breathing life to words on this page this way.
by Mark Batterson as I cleaned.
3:00 p.m. As I’m working, I email editor about a COOL idea for my novel. 13 minutes later she emails me back and agrees it’s a cool idea.
3:20 p.m. Kids wake up from nap. They play outside, and I try to get some more writing done. (“Try” is a good word with them coming in and out of house needing things. I got maybe 300 more words.)
4:00 p.m. It’s getting to hard to concentrate on writing. So I send off some emails and Facebook messages to friends who are helping with my daughter’s wedding reception instead. (Wedding in just a little over a month!)
4:15 p.m. Work on schedule and plans for upcoming Teen MOPS meetings–trying to keep all the volunteers on board.
4:45 p.m. The kids come in and ask to watch Mulan. I put it in and try to get a little more writing in as I sit at “watch” it with them on the couch. (Maybe 150 words.)
5:15 p.m. The kids are back outside. They decide to play in the mud … which I don’t realize at the time. I get the mail, sort through it, pick up the house a little.
5:30 p.m. They kids are COVERED in mud. (I should have gotten a photo!) I have give them all baths and blow dry the girls’ hair.
6:30 p.m. What’s for dinner? John is in Australia and it’s “just” me, the three little kids, Nathan (20) and grandma. I decide on scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and orange wedges.
7:15 p.m. Just as we’re sitting down to eat, Grandma starts having a little fun, so I capture it. Click to watch video of my 85-year-old grandma dancing!: (Posted by Tricia Goyer on Tuesday, April 14, 2015)
7:45 p.m. Washing dishes and the kids finishing their movie.
8:30 p.m. I remember that I need to order some books for an upcoming speaking event, and I look at www.BookDepot.com. That site totally sucks me in and I place an order for my books for stock, homeschooling books, World War II books, books for my Teen Moms, and new Bibles for the new pre-teens/teens who will be joining our family. As I’m scanning the books my kids are having a big pillow fight in the living room. They are super hyper!
9:30 p.m. Get the kids to bed WAY to late they are overtired and cranky.
10:30 p.m. The kids are finally in asleep, and I sit down to write this blog. I have no idea what I’m going to write, but as I think over my day (which is pretty typical), I get an idea!
11:59 p.m. I’m finishing off this blog and creating the title graphic. The house is a mess, my eyes are tired, there are still a pile of research books on the couch next to me, and I didn’t get as much done on my novel as I needed to, but tomorrow is a NEW day. And that exciting thing is that John will be home from Australia. Do you think he’ll mind if I hand the kids over to him and crash?!
What about you? What does your typical day look like?
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Yes! This is the mess of my writing life. The details are different, but the big picture is the same. Little kids. Interruptions. Distractions. Meals. Clean up. It’s a constant juggling act. Thanks for sharing a little of what it REALLY looks like. I much prefer this peek to perfect-looking author desks.
It’s a whole lot of fun isn’t it?! Of course I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My days look a lot like yours, Tricia! I could use some of the: beautiful setting, the tea sipping, the relaxing time to read and write. Where’s that to be found?!
Becky, I know … right?! I think that’s found at Deb Raney’s house!! Let’s go!
I guess writers appreciate the fact that typewriters are no longer used, except when computers crash before you get to save your work.
Right now with a fractured leg I wake up on my sleeping end of the couch, slide down to the sitting end of the couch. Use my “bedside” potty. Watch TV, crochet, read, check email, drink coffee, use “bedside” potty, start over again. My days are very exciting! But it has caused my husband to appreciate more what I do and he is getting to be quite the cook!
I’m sorry to hear about your leg, Gail! I hope that it heals well and quickly!
Wow, Tricia. You have such a busy life. I’ll never complain about finding time to write again—well, maybe just a little.
Lynn, I can send you some kids once in a while to spice things up! 🙂
Loved this blog. You just confirmed that I’m normal; outside of the more than 2,000 words written in one day. Trying to get there!
I’m not trying to write a book, just blog posts and articles, but your day sounds a bit like mine, except that I could NEVER make it until midnight writing!!! I’m an early girl, get up at 5:30 a.m., but by 10 I’m half dead.
Congratulations on making the 100 Top Blogs for Christian Women list!
You had me exhausted by the first hour. Still don’t know how you do it day after day. My days are different depending on activities. Monday go to Bible study here in my building but with outsiders coming in. Studying Song of Songs. 2Hrs. Monday Evening go to Financial Peace class at church. Tues have church in building with area pastor. I am in charge – get hymn books out, offering box out, make sure room in order, sit by door to let pastor in. Tues eve go to Confronting Death Class at church. Wed. Have nothing extra. Thursday morning Bible study at church studying Genesis. Thurs. This week council meeting – other weeks life group in a home. Fri is the day my apt gets cleaned while I sit in hallway. Other than these activities, I sit in my recliner, reading, studying, scanning Facebook, looking through emails, listening to Christian music, on line Bible study What happens when Women Walk in Faith, Facebook group for last study, and finally when time read a novel and maybe play a game.
Love this look at your typical day – thanks for sharing. It’s encouraging to know I’m not alone in the struggle to write!
I don’t know that I have a typical day. I never know what’s coming, with my 90 year old mother needing me, my two adult daughter’s most recent tragedy (one in processs now), six grandchildren who depend on me to help with most anything. I love that time, except for the hospital time, which we’ve had a lot of with two of the boys. And then there’s my own disability, which keeps me humble.
So, having said that I try to get up by 7:00 AM, but if I didn’t get to sleep until 3:00 that’s kind of difficult. I have some physical troubles that require warming up in the morning so I spend at least an hour on my heating pad waiting for my meds to kick in while I have coffee and something to eat. Then I shower and dress and get to my computer, hopefully by 10:00. I scan the most recent and most important emails, answer those that need an immediate response. Drop in at facebook and then I work on a blog or promotional material, in between text messages and phone calls.
Time for lunch and usually a chat with one of my daughters. Then I sit down to work on my WIP, usually about 1:00 and do my best to stay focused on that until later afternoon when I take a break and call my mother. A couple times a week I go into town to visit her or take her out for a drive. There are also lots of other trips into town for one thing or another – it’s 40 minutes each way so each trip takes a big bite out of my work schedule.
Late afternoons often include time with my grandchildren or my daughter, and if I can squeeze in a little time to work on my latest novel all the better. Time to make dinner, then my husband and I take a short nap on the sofa, then clean up dinner dishes. I return to my office where I scan through emails and FB messages and answer those I can.Take care of promotional responsibilities and then back to work on my latest novel. I usually work late into the night.
Sandwiched in are church and assorted church meetings. And I try to find time to socialize with friends.
No day is the same, so each morning I’m lucky enough to wake up I’m always curious about how it’s all going to shake out.
What a busy day! Tricia, I’m not sure how you do it all. Thanks for sharing your day with us!
Right now is my busy season with the state exams being next week for my tutoring students. Today was extra crazy as some kids came in early, which crowded my table and my mind. But everyone got the help they needed and feel pretty prepared for the tests. Yay for God’s grace in the middle of surprise moments.
Blessings,
Andrea