We all hear it so frequently in the writing community. “Real Life Got in the Way.” The demands of day-jobs, family, personal health and a million other things get in the way of meeting writing deadlines, whether they’re contractual or self-imposed.

I hear it from myself too often. I have the luxury that my day-job is a very flexible one, being a homemaker and mom to two great girls, one of whom has special needs. Yes, sometimes there’s a problem related to my daughter’s special needs that requires me to put everything down and handle this issue right now. Other times, it’s my goobear who needs something, or is just having a bad day and wants some Mommy time. That’s one of the advantages to having a career as a writer. I have control over my schedule, and I don’t have to ask a boss for time off whenever I need to handle something that pops up.

I also hear variations on the phrase “If it’s important to you, you’ll make time for it.” I’ve observed in my own life and those close to me that we often say “I don’t have time for that” when what we really mean is “That is not important enough for me to make time for.” It’s no one else’s business what I make time for, outside of the commitments I make. Of course, I have a commitment to my family. I sometimes have volunteer commitments. Hopefully soon I will have a publishing contract that comes with certain commitments. Everything else is a balancing act.

This past week has been one of ‘those’ weeks. Looking back, I’m not sure how to judge myself. Could I have done more? Of course, I could always do more. Did I balance everything the right way? I can’t be objective enough to answer that.

I will soon be switching gears from writing an Incorporeum rough draft to taking my beta readers’ comments and revising my Kingdom Come duology. This is part of my balancing/juggling act. Although my OCD may want to continue with what I’m currently working on, I planned to do the next revision on Jubilation of the Southern Cross and Hearthsong at the end of March, and I’m going to stick to that.

And then…

The query.

Wish me luck. With the query and all the juggling that comes first.