Rest. Those moments we take for ourselves in between being responsible adults. There’s simply never enough time in the day to accomplish everything we’d like to, yet we NEED to for fear of burning out. Especially this time of year when everything goes into overdrive.

How the hell do some of these writers do it? I see some of those authors in my genre, big and small, cranking out books, anthologies, blogs, stories…all while attending conventions, book signings, etc. It’s hard enough for me to get a good 3,000 word day, and by the time I’ve managed to put that together, it’s time for bed, work, socializing…showering! I love doing what I do, but it’s very easy to fall into a trap with writing, and with trying to establish yourself in a place that’s already packed to the ceiling with others who are on various steps of the same ladder.

“The Darkening” came pretty quickly, simply because it was around for so long. “The Farm” was written in a matter of weeks. The newest novel will take me about 3 months from beginning to end…3 months!! It may not seem like a lot, but that’s 3 months where certain other aspects of my daily life are going to have to sit in the back and be quiet. Once that book is sitting happily on Amazon, or in your hands as a pretty little paperback, it’s time to not only promote the hell out of that work (and the ones that came before it), but also start the next 2 or 3 projects so that I have a steady stream of writing on the market!

It’s not an easy feat. Luckily the ideas are coming fast and furious…there’s not much of a chance I’ll be drying up any time soon, but there are going to be periods of time where I need to disconnect and reboot the old computer. Burning out is the last thing I want to do, especially as I slowly build a readership of folks who are waiting for the next book.

With that said, enjoy your holidays any way to you see fit…mine will consist of a ridiculous amount of food and an even more ridiculous amount of alcohol! I’ll still be around for the next couple weeks, but in a somewhat diminished capacity as I forge ahead with the new book!

Take care of yourselves!