One Chapter at a Time: Juggling Writing and Life
Finding Grace in the Chaos of Everyday Life
Dear readers,
Lately, I've been feeling like my days are disappearing faster than a cup of tea at a lively gossip session. I sit down with the best intentions to write, but somehow my time slips away. Between laundry, dishes, driving my kids to and from activities, and those never-ending appointments, my writing window shrinks smaller and smaller. And then there are the business tasks: marketing, emails, updating social media—all the things that come with being an author beyond simply writing the books. Some days, it feels like my creative time is swallowed up before I even get to open my laptop.
Conversely, there are times when inspiration strikes, and I find myself completely immersed in my writing. The words are flowing, the characters are talking, and I can barely look away from the screen. It's wonderful... until I emerge from my writing cocoon and realize the dishes have piled up, the laundry is spilling out of baskets, and my family has been surviving on frozen pizza for three days.
Finding balance is tricky. I don't have all the answers, but I'm learning that giving myself grace is key. Some weeks, my house will sparkle, but I'll barely touch my manuscript. Other times, I'll hit a writing streak that feels unstoppable, and I have to be okay with dust bunnies multiplying in the corners. I'm working on finding better rhythms—maybe setting timers to switch between tasks, or reminding myself that "done" is better than "perfect."
If you're also juggling multiple roles, know that you're not alone. Whether you're balancing work and family, creative pursuits and daily life, or simply trying to keep your head above water, I see you. We'll get through it together, one day (and one chapter) at a time.
Happy reading,
Amanda Kai
Audiobook Kickstarter update
Help me reach my stretch goals! “Not In Want of a Wife” was successfully funded in the first 24 hours, but I’d love to see all the books in The Other Paths Collection turned into audiobooks, and we are on our way to funding a second book in the series. You can help be a part of this by contributing to my campaign, which runs through April 1. As of today, the campaign total sits at $3547. If I can raise an additional $453, I can turn either of the novellas, “Elizabeth’s Secret Admirer” or “Miss Bingley and the Baron” into an audiobook, and if the total amount raised hits $6000, I can produce the next full-length title in the series, “A Favorable Impression.” It’s up to you which book you’d like to see recorded next!
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Have you read all the Pride and Prejudice variations in The Other Paths Collection yet?
Congratulations Amanda. I'm enjoying the books so far and look forward to the next.
Life is complicated, but we thrive in it's mystery with His blessing.
Oh, I feel this one so much! Spring is the hardest time of year in many ways, at least for me, since my husband is at work so much more, and that means I have to pick up the slack with the rest of the kids :)
Having time to write means that other things are getting ignored, spending time on marketing means I'm not writing nor am I doing the cleaning and laundry and all the other stuff. It's a Catch-22 always, trying to figure out what is the most important thing in the moment to get done.