Today's topic may be one of my favorites. How to perform the balancing act of full-time employee, wife, mother, and aspiring author. More specifically how to make sure you're spending enough time in the places that count, like your marriage.
I'm not going to lie, it's not easy trying to 'do it all' and it definitely helps that my husband is my biggest fan. I try to include him on things involving the book, things I know he'll be interested in and make sure he knows that his input (while not always used) is still important to me. For example, I'm brainstorming cover art for my WIP after a request from the designer who's working with me for the When Words Count Pitch Week event later this year and his opinion was the first I asked for.
Also, my husband loves computers and tech. He plays and streams video games and spends a ton of time on YouTube. So, what better way to include him in helping me 'build my author brand' than to let him help me start my very own authortube channel. He edits all my videos, helps me pick and edit thumbnails, and makes sure everything is synced and working great. I mean, hey, I'm just the book nerd... I don't even know how to turn my TV on half the time without his help.
I put a lot of pressure on myself. I have deadlines on deadlines and the stress can get overwhelming at times. My husband helps me balance my life, tells me when its time to slow down and when to take a break. On the rare occasion that I get to take a break or slow down for a little while, I try to make the most of that time by spending it with him and our son.
Taking family pictures or buying a cheap bottle of wine, renting a movie, and snuggling on the couch. Taking a walk or just eating together, even if its in silence. Sometimes i'll edit right next to him on the couch while he reads a book and even though we aren't talking, we're leaning on each other, touching, every now and then he'll brush some of my unruly hair out of my eyes. I love the little moments like these.
At the end of the day we're a team, when he broke his hip and needed someone to help him shower and put on his shoes, I had his back no questions asked. Now that i'm pushing myself and attempting to get published, he's in my corner. Every obstacle that we overcome, we overcome together. His successes are my successes, his failures are my failures and vice versa. So, I guess the best advice I can give you is that if you have a passion (like writing) your significant other doesn't share and you want to give time and undivided attention to both parts of yourself... find some overlap in those two worlds. No matter how small the overlap may seem, it could make a significant difference.
Also, have the best husband in the world. Just not mine. He's already taken ;)
~Lauren XO.