Katie Forrest

Writing About Creativity, Special Needs Parenting, Time Management & Life Dispatches.

20Booksto50k Edinburgh: Writing With a Day Job

I was honoured to be asked by Craig Martelle to be on a panel at 20Booksto50k Edinburgh this week, talking about juggling writing with a day job.

It was so great to share a stage with the incredible Lyz Kelley, romance author, and Martha Carr, fantasy author.

Craig asked us questions about the tools we had each used to help us juggle writing and work.

By way of backstory, here’s my journey.

I’ve always wanted to write. As a kid, I always had a notebook, then a typewriter, a word processor and eventually a computer. I was hooked on writing stories and creating characters.

Then I grew up, got a job, started a family, and before I knew it, writing was something that I used to do. I’d occasionally start a piece, then get distracted by life.

At the end of 2017, I realised I was never going to have everything lined up perfectly. My life was never going to suddenly throw me an extra 10 hours a week to use writing.

And so, I made a commitment to myself to get on with it. I did it quietly, launching a pen name and publishing 11 books in 2018 while working and raising a child with complex additional needs.

I kept it quiet because I was doing it for myself. I didn’t want any recognition or applause, I was just doing something that mattered to *me*.

Along the way, I found a tribe of amazing author friends who are such a blessing to me, and I started making some money. I developed a loyal readership.

I started to talk about what I was doing a little more and, often, I was asked how I managed to juggle writing with my work.

I’ve been planning a book on time management for writers for about a year now, and this talk and the feedback from it have really forced me to look at that again and commit to getting it done and released this year. (To keep up to date with those plans, join my eMail newsletter.)

In this post, I thought I’d share some of the things that have worked for me, and maybe they’ll work for you too.

So here’s 5 tips to juggling writing with a day job*:

  1. Understand your natural circadian rhythms. I touched on this in the 20Booksto50k talk. Your circadian rhythms are your body’s natural cycles. Yours may be different to mine. And, the kicker is, while you can work outside your natural rhythms to some extent, you’re always going to get the maximum impact if you work with your natural body clock. For me, my body shuts down at 10pm and I’m not doing to be productive after that time (note: if I’m working to a massively important deadline, I can trample across this hard line, but only short term), but I can wake up as early as I want and after a minute of wake-up time, I’ll pretty much be fully alert and super productive. Questions to ask yourself: What are your natural rhythms? When do you have the most energy? Is it easier for you to wake up early or stay up late? Are you most efficient in the morning? Do you have a post-lunch energy slump? Think back to your most productive occasions; what time of day have they been?
  2. Focus on one thing. Multitasking is a myth. We are becoming a society of people who are never really focused on only one thing, and it’s to our detriment. Writing while having one eye on Facebook, or your phone in case anyone needs you, isn’t productive. Or, it isn’t as productive as being single focused would be. When you’re writing, don’t be doing anything else as well. What does that look like? Your phone out of view, your Internet browsers closed, your WiFi switched off. If you’re not used to focused work, this will be a struggle. Focus is like any other muscle, you need to build it over time. (Bonus tip: if you’re terrified that your spouse / the school / etc may need to reach you in an emergency, you could do worse than buy an old school phone and only giving the number out to those people. Don’t install any apps on it. Tell those people to ring that number only in case of emergencies, and then turn your regular all-singing-all-Facebooking mobile off and turn the old clunky one on loud. Keep it out of view, and know you’ll hear the phone ring if there is an emergency. Bonus bonus tip: You may have to train some people into understanding what is and isn’t an emergency!)
  3. Ask for help. As the saying goes, no man is an island, and no woman either. Balancing a day job and writing is a lot to do, and to pull it off you may need to ask people for help. Personally, I had a lot of help from my husband with childcare. We got into a routine of me getting up around 5am and leaving the house straight away to go to a coffee shop and write until going to the office. I couldn’t do that every day because sometimes he needed to leave early, but whenever the schedule allowed, that’s what we did. He also took on a bigger share of the housework and all of those myriad duties that are involved in running a house. That didn’t happen by magic. We talked about it and I asked him to help. Who can you ask to help? Maybe for you it’s similar to me – some childfree time and some more help around the house. Maybe it’s sending your toddler to nursery an extra day a week. Maybe it’s asking your sister to take a share of all of the medical appointments you’re currently taking your elderly mother to. Whatever you need – ask.
  4. Start saying no. This may be controversial, but I don’t agree with the saying that we can have it all. Not all at the same time, anyway. If you’re working, and writing, and spending time with your loved ones, there’s every chance you won’t also be able to keep up with keeping your home pristine. You may not be able to train for an ultra marathon. You may not be able to honour that commitment to spend 4 hours a day on Facebook or 3 hours a day watching TV. Make peace with the fact that you probably have a triangle of priorities – your family, your writing, your day job. Let other things go – at least for now. What does this look like? The possibilities are endless, but for me it looks like hiring a cleaner (thanks Sue!), hiring a gardener (thanks Jerry!), never washing my own car, having simple easy meals, and not watching much TV.
  5. Consider plotting. The ‘plotter vs pantser’ debate is fierce, and I’m not suggesting that any way is superior. But, if you currently don’t plan, and you find you’re wasting some of your precious writing time trying to work out what the heck happens next, at least give plotting a try. For me, plotting just a simple one or two sentences for each chapter allows me to know where I’m headed. I don’t have time to sit and wonder what’s going to happen at the start of each writing session. You probably don’t have that time, either.

I’ll be writing more on this in the future, but if you do need any more help with this, feel free to reach out to me either on the Contact page here or by messaging me on Facebook. I’m friendly 🙂

*The point here really is that you’re juggling writing with another big commitment. Being a stay at home parent could definitely be your “day job”; so could raising a child with extra needs or caring for an elder.

 

katie

109 thoughts on “20Booksto50k Edinburgh: Writing With a Day Job

  1. No matter if some one searches for his vital thing, thus
    he/she desires to be available that in detail, thus that thing
    is maintained over here.

  2. Magnificent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too
    great. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like
    what you’re stating and the way in which you say it.

    You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible.
    I cant wait to read far more from you. This is actually a tremendous website.

  3. Good post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I
    stumbleupon everyday. It will always be useful to read articles from other writers and practice
    something from their websites.

  4. Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve bear in mind your stuff prior to and you’re just too fantastic.

    I really like what you have got here, certainly like what
    you’re stating and the way in which through which you say it.
    You are making it enjoyable and you continue to take care of to stay it sensible.
    I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a great web site.

  5. Для обеспечения удачного проведения дератизации необходима тщательная подготовка. Специалисты проводят диагностику мест нахождения грызунов, выбирают оптимальные средства и методы дератизации. Они также следят за тем, чтобы процедура проводилась безопасным и современным оборудованием.

  6. Мне понравился нейтральный тон статьи, который позволяет читателю самостоятельно сформировать мнение.

  7. This article is a true gem in the sea of information available. It not only educates but also challenges conventional thinking and encourages readers to explore different perspectives. The author’s passion for the subject shines through every word.

  8. This article exceeded my expectations in every way. It’s well-written, thoroughly researched, and covers all aspects of the topic. The author’s passion for the subject is contagious, and it has left me feeling inspired and motivated. Thank you for sharing such an exceptional piece!

  9. Автор представляет анализ основных фактов и аргументов, приводя примеры для иллюстрации своих точек зрения.

  10. Очень хорошо исследованная статья! Она содержит много подробностей и является надежным источником информации. Я оцениваю автора за его тщательную работу и приветствую его старания в предоставлении читателям качественного контента.

  11. Эта статья является примером качественного исследования и профессионализма. Автор предоставил нам широкий обзор темы и представил информацию с точки зрения эксперта. Очень важный вклад в популяризацию знаний!

  12. Автор старается предоставить объективную картину, оставляя читателям возможность самостоятельно сформировать свое мнение.

  13. Очень понятная и информативная статья! Автор сумел объяснить сложные понятия простым и доступным языком, что помогло мне лучше усвоить материал. Огромное спасибо за такое ясное изложение! Это сообщение отправлено с сайта https://ru.gototop.ee/

  14. Автор не старается убедить читателей в определенном мнении, а предоставляет информацию для самостоятельной оценки.

  15. Я хотел бы выразить свою восторженность этой статьей! Она не только информативна, но и вдохновляет меня на дальнейшее изучение темы. Автор сумел передать свою страсть и знания, что делает эту статью поистине уникальной.

  16. Я восхищен тем, как автор умело объясняет сложные концепции. Он сумел сделать информацию доступной и интересной для широкой аудитории. Это действительно заслуживает похвалы!

  17. Очень хорошо организованная статья! Автор умело структурировал информацию, что помогло мне легко следовать за ней. Я ценю его усилия в создании такого четкого и информативного материала.

  18. Очень интересная статья! Я был поражен ее актуальностью и глубиной исследования. Автор сумел объединить различные точки зрения и представить полную картину темы. Браво за такой информативный материал!

  19. Очень хорошо исследованная статья! Она содержит много подробностей и является надежным источником информации. Я оцениваю автора за его тщательную работу и приветствую его старания в предоставлении читателям качественного контента.

  20. Attractive portion of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital
    to claim that I get in fact loved account your
    weblog posts. Any way I will be subscribing on your augment or even I achievement you
    get entry to consistently rapidly.

  21. Автор явно старается сохранить нейтральность и представить множество точек зрения на данную тему.

  22. Статья предоставляет разнообразные исследования и мнения экспертов, обеспечивая читателей нейтральной информацией для дальнейшего рассмотрения темы.

  23. Эта статья – источник вдохновения и новых знаний! Я оцениваю уникальный подход автора и его способность представить информацию в увлекательной форме. Это действительно захватывающее чтение!

  24. Это позволяет читателям формировать свою собственную точку зрения на основе фактов.

  25. Автор старается оставаться нейтральным, чтобы читатели могли самостоятельно рассмотреть различные точки зрения и сформировать собственное мнение. Это сообщение отправлено с сайта https://ru.gototop.ee/

  26. Attractive component of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing on your augment or even I achievement you get right of entry to consistently fast.

  27. Hey excellent blog! Does running a blog such as this require a large amount of work? I’ve absolutely no knowledge of programming however I was hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyways, if you have any recommendations or tips for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off topic but I simply wanted to ask. Many thanks!

  28. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your site. You have some really good posts and I think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an e-mail if interested. Thanks!

  29. Magnificent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely great. I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is really a tremendous website.

  30. It is the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read more things about it!

  31. Whats up very cool site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally? I’m satisfied to search out so many useful info right here in the put up, we need work out extra strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  32. Today, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  33. Я предлагаю Вам новую услугу по массовой установке ссылок на ваш сайт в комментариях и блогах.
    Для чего это надо? Если сказать просто, то постинг ссылок положительно влияет на позиции сайта в Yandex и Google.
    В общем случае: чем больше ссылок на ваш сайт “увидит” Яндекс и Гугл,
    тем выше будет позиция вашего сайта в
    поисковой выдаче и тем больше целевых пользователей придет к вам на сайт.
    Цена такого размещения составляет от 2
    тыс. рублей и выше и зависит от количества размещаемых ссылок.
    Подробнее о размещении вы можете узнать на нашем сайте https://gototop.ee/ После выполнения работы мы
    обязательно предоставляем полный отчет!
    По всем вопросам обращайтесь прямо на почту
    alexey@gototop.ee

  34. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here.

    The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish.
    nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following.
    unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly
    very often inside case you shield this hike.

  35. Advanced Security Measures: To ensure the highest level of security, CandyMail.org employs various advanced security measures. This includes regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and adherence to industry best practices. By prioritizing security, CandyMail.org maintains a reliable and trustworthy platform for users to conduct their confidential communications.

  36. I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout
    on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize
    it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see
    a great blog like this one these days.
    powered by GoToTop.ee
    https://ru.gototop.ee/

  37. This design is incredible! You obviously know how to keep a reader amused.
    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job.
    I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
    Too cool!
    powered by GoToTop.ee
    https://ru.gototop.ee/

  38. Greetings I am so grateful I found your blog, I really found you by
    error, while I was browsing on Digg for something
    else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a remarkable post
    and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at
    the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added your
    RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read
    a lot more, Please do keep up the superb b.
    powered by GoToTop.ee
    https://ru.gototop.ee/

  39. Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I
    found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and
    said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She
    placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside
    and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back!
    LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I
    had to tell someone!
    powered by GoToTop.ee
    https://ru.gototop.ee/

  40. Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Ie.

    I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought
    I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though!
    Hope you get the issue fixed soon. Many thanks
    powered by GoToTop.ee
    https://ru.gototop.ee/

  41. Simply wish to say your article is as surprising. The clarity in your post is simply excellent and i could assume you are an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the rewarding work.

  42. Получить консультацию, уточнить стоимость проката строительного оборудования, оформить аренду инструмента можно по телефону либо оставив заявку на сайте. Главное, на сегодняшний день доставка в нашем пункте отсутствует, только на условиях самовывоза.

    прокат инструмента в Перми аренда инструмента в Перми.

  43. В целом, аренда инструмента предоставляет гибкую и экономически выгодную альтернативу покупке. Она позволяет получить доступ к широкому выбору инструментов, сэкономить деньги и избежать проблем, связанных с хранением и обслуживанием.
    прокат инструмента в Перми аренда инструмента в Перми.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top
Scroll Up