Make the time to Play #AuthorTip

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Make the time to play by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold writer tip
Writing a book takes a lot of time. Make sure to play along the way!
As writers, we have so much on our to-do lists, and as professional authors, we have even more. The last post touched on just twelve tips that lead to self-publishing success, but there are so many other things involved. And implementing those twelve tips are time-consuming. (See post: 12 Things You Need to Know for Self-Publishing Success.)

So how do you find time to take care of life’s other responsibilities as well as find time to play? You add it to your calendar!

That sounds easy, but it can be a lot trickier adhering to it! But just like you schedule time for writing, you should allocate time for other aspects of your life as well. And play is very important.

I think in today’s world where indie authors are encouraged to produce, produce, produce, it’s too easy to get caught up on the hamster wheel thinking that all sales will stop if we don’t have a new book out every two months. Isn’t it better to focus on producing high-quality product and marketing that product well than run yourself down?

Without getting into the health risks associated with stress, in my experience my writing speed slows when I’m worried about this and that. Writing is something that requires your dedicated attention and focus. But, if you’re like me there are times things pop into your head that have nothing to do with your manuscript. Take the time to jot down the thought if it’s not going away and tend to it later. This will allow you to empty your mind of what doesn’t matter at that moment and it won’t distract you too much from your writing.

And if you think that play and downtime are over-rated, think of it this way: As an author it’s imperative that you get out and have fun, fresh experiences. It feeds your creativity. We all know the phrase about Jack who works all the time… And we don’t want to be dull!

Because our ability to write and create is a gift, I actually view it as abusive to force oneself to sit for hours on end chugging out words—especially when the soul longs to play.

So the next time you’re starting to feel rundown—or even better before you do—get out! Dance in the rain, smell the flowers, and do whatever brings joy to your heart. Your writing will thank you and so will your readers.

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CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series--Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures-- and has written nearly thirty books. For more information visit CarolynArnold.net.

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