When is enough, enough?
These days we’re all going in nine million directions.
Between writing, editing, promoting, working, family (Don’t get me started on
this one. Have you heard my daughter and husband are on a national team
representing the United States this summer at world championships? friends,
exercise, eat healthy, don’t do this, don’t do that. Where is the line? When
can we say — or should I say, when should we— enough?
Every day I hear friends saying, “I don’t have enough time”
or “I’m stressed out” or “Damn it, I forgot”. I’m guilty of it myself except my
go-to phrase these days seems to be “I’m exhausted”. I’m by no means an expert
but here are a few points that I’ve been thinking of for the past few months.
·
Somehow find a few minutes every day that you
use to re-center yourself. Up until a year ago, if you’d told me that I’d
meditate every day for ten minutes or so, I would’ve laughed my tush off at
you. I found an app (yes, there’s an app for everything right?) that works for
me. Calm has daily ten-minute meditations that are more about taking a pause in
your day than the omm (not that there’s anything wrong with them).
·
Take care of your health. I’ve seen way too many
of us that are plopped behind a computer all day have health issues. See your
doctor. Eat relatively healthy (chocolate and coffee aren’t bad for you in
moderation). Exercise, even if it’s just walking around the block or doing a
yoga session.
·
Try to remember why you started writing. I’m
sure there are some that think “oh I’m going to write because I want to make
money” but I’m surer that the majority of us started writing because something
inside of us said “you need to tell this story.”
·
Evaluate how much time you really have for the
business side of writing. We all need to be “there” somehow to make this work.
It would be great if people read our stories, right? Pick your platform and use
it to your advantage. There are many ways to promote your writing without
spending tons of money. If you can afford an assistant, there are some amazing
ones out there (I love my PA) but don’t stress if you can’t.
I know I stress daily about not getting stories out fast
enough. I just hope that readers enjoy my stories enough that they’ll wait the
few months between releases.
Above all else? Have some fun.
BIO:
Kris Jacen grew up just north of
Boston, Massachusetts, met her soldier in high school but didn’t marry him until
almost ten years later. She moved around with him and their daughters (born in
two different states thanks to the Army) for the first 19 years of their
marriage (they celebrated their silver anniversary in 2018) before settling in
western New York.
She has been the Editor in Chief
and Formatting Director for ManLoveRomance Press and its imprints since January
of 2008 and has never looked back. Working with the amazing authors at MLR has
allowed her to both hone her editorial skills and indulge her inner fangirl.
She also acts as editor, mentor and sounding-board for newcomers which lets her
“pay-it-forward” and help authors realize their dreams.
You can find out more about Kris
on her website www.krisjacen.com.
Amazon: smarturl.it/KrisJacen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kris.jacen
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Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1027160227461354/
Always with Me
Book 6 in With Me Series
MLR Press
Contemporary MM Romance
Available at Publisher
Calvin and Camden Luna -- why yes, their dad is a big baseball fan-- have moved around the world with their parents. Their father has been in the military since before they were born. Proud of their father and uncles and all they've done, neither of them is sure the military is for them. Cam is a fantastic baseball player and Cal loves the science of everything. Haven't they given enough?
Tristan Nolan and Maddy Holt both grew up as military kids too, but neither of their fathers moved them around as much as the twins. Maddy wants to save the planet and capture the heart of Calvin Luna... if he'd only open his eyes. Tris has grown up wanting to follow in the footsteps of those before him. But can he be himself -- out and proud --serve and protect his country and end up with the one he's loved for as long as he can remember?
What can happen when you grow up a military brat with the ties that they have with their fathers' close friends and their families? Find the love of your life almost from the start? Or find out that maybe you're all too close for anything else?
1 comment:
Great pointers!
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