Today I am at Donna Hole’s site, discussing the features of the iPad and how they relate to writers, readers, and bloggers. Please stop by and say hi – she was so worried I’d forgotten her!
Elizabeth Spann Craig started something really cool! A search engine for writers. No more useless Google searches! Get the details HERE
Guys, you don’t want to miss this!!!
Today is another edition of Fantastic Friday Writers! I invite your to check out my Fantastic Friday Writers partners - Elizabeth Mueller, Anastasia V. Pergakis, J. D. Brown, and Deirdra Eden Coppel - for their take on this subject. I’m sure it’s better than mine!
Working Around Family and Finding Time to Write
And I guarantee my entry will be the most unique!
Some would say family members are those pesky people who get in the way of our writing. They have schedules we’re to follow and demand attention. If it weren’t for family, we could’ve written twenty novels by now!
Oh really?
I think a lot of it has to do with our mindset. Do we view our family as help or hindrance? If we’re struggling to find time to write and balance family life, maybe it’s time for a new approach. Have we tried communication?
The key plot points for a story apply here as well:
WHY? Let our families know why writing is so important.
WHAT? Tell them what we hope to accomplish.
WHEN? Discuss how often we’d like to write and at what times.
WHO? Discuss the duties of the house and the new people who will enter our lives as a result of writing.
HOW? Figure out how to maintain a balance that makes everyone happy.
With good communication and the right attitude, it’s much easier to work writing into our life.
And the “Oh really?” comment? If it weren’t for my family, I wouldn’t be writing at all. My wife is my cheerleader, encourager, and best friend. Without her, I wouldn’t be writing at all and my accomplishments as an author would mean nothing. She’s not a distraction in my life.
Are you using communication to secure writing time? Have you tried?
With such an adjustment (toddler) and so much to do, I feel a little guilty trying to fulfil my wants. When I do though, my wife totally supportive, so it's just my own hang ups I need to get over:)
ReplyDeletehail to the king, baby! 500+ followers... you should have a cake and 500 candles... and have the fire department standing by. awesome!
ReplyDeletei proud to be follower 417!
jeremy
Alex, congrats on hitting 500 followers! Your blog has become so popular and I'm soooo happy for you, and I wish you twice as more followers this year :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on those 500, now 502. Sorry I missed Monday's music blogfest but, the truth, my English is very bad and I did not understand the whole evento.Saludos.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the big 500! :))
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent point, Alex. Sometimes we just "expect" our family to understand without us spelling it out for them.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 500! Very well deserved! Now I'll hop on over to Donna's and see whats goin on. :) Have a great weekend!
Will, I'm fortunate there's just two of us.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeremy - burning down a cake sounds fun.
Nebular, thanks, and what would I do with twice as many followers?
That's all right, Leovi.
Thanks, Tabitha!
Thank you, Pk!
Alex, no mean achievement hitting 500 followers and you made it so easy...i've just hit half your accomplishment and my blog is already more than two years old!
ReplyDeleteI may attribute it to not being an active blogger always!
Btw, thanks for sharing wonderful pieces of advise re: making family understand the importance of blogging and writing...:)
My hubby before could not tolerate me staying online for long when i was too busy working on my prose and poetry posts in my blog, but when I had to show him I have some wonderful followers who encourage and praise me for my work, well, you guess it right, he had his blessings, 'heartily' and whoaaaaa i was then on cloud 9...he never interferes anymore since then...:)
Now he calls and checks also on my progress about my blog...I could only smile...:))
Have a happy weekend!
Congrats on 500.
ReplyDeleteCommunication is key. I'm still working on it with my husband. He's getting there. I guess I also have the guilt factor that I'm not doing my job as a mom. Not that I'm ignoring my kids, just making the husband take over. I think he is finally realizing that writing is not just a hobby.
Thanks and have a great weekend!
500 is awesome. Congrats Alex!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on, now already 500 and four followers! I'm still missing one to hit 300 :) I think I scared them all off with the European music in your blogfest.
ReplyDeleteMany congrats on the over 500!! So wonderful. You do a great job, here. I'm two shy of 400. Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm already signed up for the A-Z...I'll have to blend a few posts, seeing how I don't blog everyday. Should be interesting.
Congrats on over 500 followers! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! on the 500th follower! Getting the support of family is vital if you want to be successful as a writer. You need their support. Too often I see people who put writing over their family and do not ask them to support them. I have a pretty good balance and give a lot of family time to everyone. And I allow them to interrupt me. never tell them to, "Go away, I'm writing."
ReplyDeleteAmity, thanks! And so glad you have his support now. Makes all the difference in the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine. Just keep talking to him. We're sometimes a little dense.
Dezz, no! I bet you gained followers from the music fest.
Thanks, Salarsen, and glad you're on board for the challenge.
Thanks, Stephen! Better not show your family the "Go away, I'm writing" mug then.
i typically write during work (i know. bad me) which therefore opens up my free time for family and stuff.
ReplyDeleteI think you need a contest or something for 500 followers. I'm just sayin...
Way to go DUDE! 500. I'm with you on the family thing, any excuse is all mine :)
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Congrats on 500+ followers!!! Love this post because balance is something I'm always working on maintaining.
ReplyDeleteI need to learn to delegate more. This weekend we're staying in so I can work on my writing. Yay!
Alex, I'm SO geeking out over Elizabeth's search engine. I can feel my adrenaline soaring!
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much for blogging about it. I'm going to do a HUGE shout out over that. What an invaluable tool for ALL writers!
Btw, congrats on your 500 (+now!) followers!
♥.•*¨ Elizabeth ¨*•.♥
Congrats on the 500 followers - you deserve that and more. And the A-Z Challenge is going to be epic.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all your followers. I'm not surprised; your blog is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link over to Elizabeth Spann Craig. I'm going to check that out.
Lastly, on finding time to write. You could have written this about me. I've done this this year, and my writing life is finally getting back on track.
Thanks for the links, Alex. I've been considering the Ipad. And congrats on the 500 followers! Securing writing time with communication is tricky as a single parent. But I'm okay with that right now, getting done what I can!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations with your ever growing band of fab followers!! Yay!!!
ReplyDeleteI've just visited your guest blog over at Donna Hole's blog and now want an ipad thank you!
I love my family but my mum being a mighty warrior amazonian type of mum is more a distraction to my wishy washy arty farty way of life!! LOL!! Oh she disapproves!! Charlie on the otherhad is my greatest fan!! :-)Take care
x
Interesting you bring this up today, because I'm going to be setting up specific writing times for this weekend with my wife later. :) (Fortunately, she gets it...)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 500 followers, Alex! And here's to 500 more...
Cheers!
Congrats on getting to 500!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 500 mark! Good work man!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 500, sir! I'm working on the big 1-0-0, though it's really picked up this month. When it happens, a party shall be planned!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for mentioning the search engine, Alex! I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on hitting the 500+ mark, too. And...I struggle with the family/writing balance every day. It's such a tough one.
Congratulations on hitting 500.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem writing as far as family is concerned. I have a problem motivating myself. To quote Fredric Brown (or the other dozen authors who have said the same thing), 'I hate to write but I love to have written.'
Karen, that's great!
ReplyDeleteFalen, I'm working on it!
Thanks, Jules!
Jamie, that's good. Enjoy!
Thanks, Elizabeth. And isn't it cool?
Talli, thanks, and yes it will be.
Carol, that's great to hear! Thought I was going to be way off kilter with this post.
Thanks, Lynn - and you have a unique situation.
Kitty, just listen to Charlie then. And glad I could instill the iPad urge in you.
jm, there you go! And thanks.
Thanks Karen and Doo!
Paul, blogfests really help and just wait until the challenge - you'll be shocked!
You're welcome, Elizabeth!
Great post Alex. My family cheers me on too. I won't make to everything today but I definitely want to learn about the iPad.
ReplyDeleteNancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Being awesome is bound to lead to 500, Alex! Congratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all your followers!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 500 followers! That's great Alex!
ReplyDeleteI pretty lucky. My family lives an min of 800 miles from me and my friends are very supportive, so I don't have this problem. If I did I am sure a I would use your suggestions.
Michael
Fantastic, Alex. BIG CONGRATS. You deserve it. Keep up the fantastic work.
ReplyDelete-Whisk
Congrats on the awesome 500!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your 500! And, thank you for some wonderful recommendations re: family communication. Awesome. Truly.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 500, Alex!
ReplyDeleteThe other Cavanaugh...
Nancy, that's good!
ReplyDeleteThanks Colene and Angela.
Michael, that made me chuckle - you're lucky you live 800 miles from your family!
Thanks Whisk and Anne!
Liza, glad it helped and made sense to someone...
It’s kind of funny to write that a write need to communicate to those around him (or her). Isn’t the point of write to communicate something. It’s a little ironic, don’t you think?
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the 500 followers. WOW!
ReplyDeleteMy family does their best, they try hard. But truthfully? My most productive hours are between midnight and 4am when everyone's in bed.
Congrats on 500 followers! That's amazing!
ReplyDeleteAnd i have to say my family is sadly neglected. It's a good thing I chose a partner who is better at it than I am...
Congrats on reaching 500! I'm excited about being 2 away from 50. Guess I have quite a ways to go before catching up to you. Baby steps, right? :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband and 4 kids have been very supportive of my writing, but they also know that they always come first.
Congratulations on your 500th follower, it is much deserved,You have worked hard to achieve this, I'm sure it won't stop there,
ReplyDeleteHappy week-end
Yvonne.
500 is fantastic, Alex! Congrats! It happened because of your great writing, helpful info, fun posts, and terrific parties.
ReplyDeleteOn the matter of family, were it not for them, where would we get all of our interesting ideas?
xoRobyn
Alex. that is amazing advice! I think this is your best FFW post to date, lol.
ReplyDeleteMy family has no clue what's involved in being a writer, but they support me 100% anyway. I'm lucky my is the type that believes I can achieve anything I want and she supports whatever makes me happy. I am VERY VERY LUCKY to have that, because I know other writers who get no support and are sometimes even made fun of or talked down to by their family because they don't think writing is a "real" job.
I think those people can really benefit from what you've written here.
P.S. *clicks on the A to Z blogger challenge*
Holly, it is!
ReplyDeleteVR, sometimes we take what we can get!
Hart, thanks, and at least you can admit it.
Suzie, it will happen! And sounds like you have your balance.
Thank you, Yvonne! And you were one of the first.
Robyn, I like that thought!
JD - thanks! I really thought this post would be so far out in left field, no one would get it.
Congratulations on 500+ Followers!
ReplyDeleteAlex, sure sounds like a good plan. I like it that your wife is your best friend and cheerleader! In life, everyone needs a cheerleader! Congrats on 500!!!
ReplyDeleteMonti
NotesAlongTheWay
Alex, great post. Congrats on 500 followers! That's amazing!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%. Luckily for me, my husband was really easy to talk to -- granted I told him all about it BEFORE we got married so he already knew what he was getting into! LOL He's my biggest support and I could never do anything that I do without his love and encouragement.
congrats on your 500+ followers! Impressive :)
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky, my Hubby is my greatest support when it comes to writing. He even supplies the chocolate :)
Congratulations on the 500-plus followers. Your blog is terrific - always informative and entertaining.
ReplyDeleteMason
Thoughts in Progress
I feel the same way about my family. Congrats on 500 followers. I'm envious.
ReplyDeleteOooo! A party!
ReplyDeleteI read your article on the ipad and now I'm really jealous! ;)
ReplyDeleteI think it's important that our families view writing like a job. It's a career for me and I view it extremely important.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. The review I did is for the 2010 series of Upstairs Downstairs.
NICE!!! I love it!!!
ReplyDeleteMy kids are older now and I have more time available for me - this really helps me find some minutes for writing! :)
ReplyDeleteSo far the balance is okay, but it could be better. Great advice Alex. I do appreciate it.
ReplyDelete:)
Thanks, Golden!
ReplyDeleteMonti, thank you, and if I could only get her to wear the outfit...
Anastasia, that probably made a world of difference!
Lynda, thanks, and sounds like you're spoiled.
Thanks, Mason!
Susan, it will happen for you. I mean really - it happened to me!
Clarissa, it's a cool tool! Sorry, I was thinking of the old show, back in the 70's.
Great, Jemi!
Lydia, hope it helps.
Congrats on 500 followers again, Alex! I know I already congratulated you, but it bears repeating!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the 500. I'm not too far behind you.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out and the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011
Alex, I love your thoughts on family. It's so true. All of this would mean nothing without them. Plus, my family gives me LOTS of great ideas, especially since I also write nonfiction.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I try to write in the wee hours of the morning before my 3 kids and DH awake.
ReplyDeleteNew follower visiting from TIO's A to Z challenge. Looking forward to reading your posts. :o) Happy Saturday!
Jeffrey, thanks!
ReplyDeleteJulie, it would mean nothing indeed.
Thanks, Seams - hope I can amuse you!
Communicate? Talk to your family? What kind of heresy is this? Sheesh, Alex.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your growing number of followers!
Alex - 500 is totally rockin!!! Love your attitude about writing. It's so true, too. Talking to those you love about your reasons for writing and getting them on board with you makes all the difference. Great advice. =D
ReplyDeleteHelen, forgive the heresy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, RaShelle!
Congratulations on your 500 followers! And thanks again for the top ten music blogfest, I've just had a blast commenting on everyone's varied lists.
ReplyDeleteMany congratulations on the 500!! Well deserved, this is a terrific blog.
ReplyDeleteCassaStar has arrived, I shall arrange coffee, wine and chocolate (in no particular order) and escape.
Family? Bonkers Bohemians, the lot of them! With the Beloved Mr B also writing, a cosy room, two cats...bliss!
I battle with writer's guilt all the time. Should I be spending more time with my boys? My wife? Should I feel like I deserve MORE writing time? I never know.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 500! Barney sends his regards too. BTW, you now have one more follower than I.
It's all about balance! In everything...
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the first 500 Alex! Here's to the next 500!
Deniz, thanks, and I'm glad you enjoyed the music blogfest!
ReplyDeleteMargo - wow, thanks so much! I hope you enjoy.
Talk to them, Cheeseboy!
Yeah, thanks Barney. And now that you're back from Disney, you'll surge forward again.
Pat, yes it is, and thank you!
Deniz, thanks, and I'm glad you enjoyed the music blogfest!
ReplyDeleteMargo - wow, thanks so much! I hope you enjoy.
Talk to them, Cheeseboy!
Yeah, thanks Barney. And now that you're back from Disney, you'll surge forward again.
Pat, yes it is, and thank you!
Congratulations, Alex! And communication is so important.
ReplyDeleteDoh! I forgot my post for Friday. I enjoyed your post, Alex! :)
ReplyDelete♥.•*¨ Elizabeth ¨*•.♥
Congrats on reaching this pivotal number! 5@@ wow~
ReplyDeleteHappy for you; My family thinks I'm
having a mid life crisis~lol
I don't have the support, yet, but I'm working on it!
Thanks for sharing; It was what I needed to hear, today!
Well, if I haven't been, I sure will be now :) This is awesome advice.
ReplyDeleteAs informative and interesting as the iPad post at my site. Thank you so much for that.
And congratulations on the over 500. What an amazing number to reach.
.......dhole
Elizabeth, that's all right - I missed one a few weeks back.
ReplyDeleteElla, I read your guest post, and I so wish your family did support you!
Thanks, Donna!!
Congratulations on the big 500. It is so wonderful that your wife is so supportive of your writing.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on reaching 500 Alex!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you so much for the great advice :)
Actually, really no one except my sister knows I'm writing, and she is definitely one amazing cheerleader.
Thanks, Missed!
ReplyDeleteWriting, sounds like she's an amazing sister.
fabulous achievement,500+ followers!!!
ReplyDeletecongratulations!
hugs
lila
Congratulations on the 500!!! My husband is also my cheerleader, although in a different way. He makes sure distractions are out of the way for me and tries to take care of the small things that take up time. My procrastination is what eats up writing time. Sigh....
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the A to Z blogfest! I probably won't enter; too many life changes to sort out.
Congrats Alex on attaining 500+ followers/fans. You are always a mine of information and I rushed off to check out the Search engine for writers and have already blogged about it. What an awesome idea! I've been trying it too and it's great!
ReplyDeleteI like what you say about family and writing. It is always hard to fit all our commitments in, but as you say, communication is key.
Denise :)
Lila, thanks!
ReplyDeleteWords, glad you have a supporter.
Hi Alex .. well done on 512 to time and date!! Congratulations .. these things grows like Topsy!
ReplyDeleteAs for the family and writing .. I'm so appreciative of the time everyone puts in - but it's your passion, and we should all be encouraging our passions ... so delighted to hear your family are your "A" supporters ..
Have a great week .. Hilary
Hi Alex, I've been reading your comments over at Rayna's coffe rings for a while. Nice to meet you! In a leap of faith I've joined A-Z for April. I'm a wanna be writer just looking to make time in my life as Mom and Wife...so appreciated your thoughts on this subject!
ReplyDeleteI might look for Megamind on Netflix, but aside from that there's nothing which catches my fancy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Hilary!
ReplyDeleteHi Tina! You won't regret it - we had a blast last year.
Congratulations on 500 followers. Here's to four digits!
ReplyDeleteAs it is, I feel guilty about giving my family as much of me as I should be doing. So I will continue to sneak around them to do my writing. Or not.
I'm a bad follower. It took until today that I came across your post in my google reader. No, I don't tell you how many unread items I have. It is a shame :((
ReplyDeleteBelated Congratulations!
The number of followers is an expression of the quality of your blog.
Kudos!Keep up the good work and thank you so much for weekly visits of my blog.
I hope to post more frequently in near future.
Rayna, it doesn't sound like you are neglecting your family.
ReplyDeleteEdi, don't worry about it! I can't get to all the blogs either. And thanks!