Takeover Thursday with Kariss Lynch

I want to extend a warm welcome to Kariss Lynch. She's discussing how to have a balanced writing life. She's also giving away a print copy of her book Shaken (U.S. ONLY).  You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends August 17, 2017. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and pass on your information.) Now, here's Kariss...

Writing Life Equals Balanced Life 

You’ve heard the age-old story: Creative individual decides to write a book. They sit down with paper and pen or keyboard and painstakingly write that heart story. Sometimes it takes months. Sometimes it takes years. When talking with their friends, you often hear them say, “Something just came up. It isn’t quite right yet. I just haven’t had the time.”

It’s pretty clear that time is precious. In fact, outside of my loved ones, my time is my most treasured possession. Since signing my first contract in January 2013, I have learned an important writing tip, probably the most important tip:

There is NEVER time, unless you choose to make it.

In fact, I’ve noticed one common trait among the published: They make time to finish. After signing that contract, time to market becomes important. And time to edit. And time to promote. And time to interact with readers. Lot’s of time. So it’s important to figure out how to manage it.

Over the last few years, I’ve learned a few tricks to maximize my time in every area of this writing journey.

Create margin.

Determine your best time of day to write or create and maximize those short windows. I am a night owl and can write and create relevant marketing content easier when my checklist for the day is accomplished. It clears my mind to be creative.

Set a timer.

Write every day. Set the timer on your phone for an hour, then put your phone on silent and put it on the other side of the room. Clear your mind and write. I found when I did this, I could easily write over two thousand words an hour, and I like the challenge of racing the clock.

Strategize for online interaction.

The internet is a wonderful tool, but managing our online interaction can eat our time if not managed correctly. Block out thirty minutes every few days to catch up on emails. Take a few minutes to respond to every person who comments on social media (within reason of course). Know your brand, what you are passionate about, and have character and author interviews on hand for guest blog posts. Schedule our social posts through the week. Don’t overthink. Just do.

Read, read, read

This one is important. Reading is as much a learning tool for me as it is a brain break. I love diving into a story. Make time to see what else is out there. Read books in your genre and in others. Read craft books. Just read.

Managing time is as much mental as it is physical. At the end of the day, be satisfied with what you accomplished and leave the rest for tomorrow. 

Bio and where to find Kariss online...

Kariss Lynch writes contemporary romance about characters with big dreams, adventurous hearts, and enduring hope. She is the author of the Heart of a Warrior series and loves to encourage her readers to have courage. In her free time, she hangs out with her family and friends, explores the great outdoors, and tries not to plot five stories at once. Connect with her at karisslynch.com, or on Facebook, Instagram, or Goodreads.

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