10 Ways to Balance Your Writing Life

Is it awful to admit I cringed as I typed the title? A balanced writing life? Me? That’s funny.


Up until this February, I’d been steadily gaining weight and growing dissatisfied with my writing output. I was envious of writers who seemed to have books releasing all the time while I was barely meeting my goals at the end of each day. I felt like I was working harder than ever. What was I doing wrong?


When I took a hard look at my daily habits, the problem became obvious. I was eating too much, exercising too little, wasting too much time on social media, and letting myself off the hook with light daily word count goals. The worst part? In my free time, I was spending hours mindlessly playing games on my phone, convinced I didn’t have time to do the things I wanted to do.

Little by little, I overhauled my day. I set higher word count goals and scheduled time for the writing projects I’d pushed aside. I started logging my calories and exercising to DVDs. And I deleted every game from my phone. *gulp*

These steps terrified me! But they worked. I’ve lost fifteen pounds, my body is toned, and I’ve doubled—doubled!—my writing output. Instead of releasing two books this year, I’m on track to release four.

Maybe you’re thinking, Well, goody gumdrops for you. You have no idea how challenging my life is. You’re right. I don’t. But I know all about excuses because I’ve used them all.

Ten Ways to Balance Your Writing Life

1. Believe your goal is attainable. Even if it feels impossible.

Sometimes jealousy can be a good thing. When I was still in poor-me mode, a few of my writer friends told me their upcoming publication schedules. My head reeled. These ladies had big goals. Yet, they didn’t seem to think what they were doing was all that special.

Instead of devouring a bag of Doritos, I played the what if game. What if I squeezed in half an hour each day to work on the book I’d been talking about for three years? What if I added a thousand words to finish my contracted books faster? What if I limited my time on social media? Committed to logging my calories? Deleted the game apps? Stuck to an exercise routine? Suddenly what felt impossible seemed possible and exciting.

2. Be consistent.

I knew I was going to have to change my habits. I already had contracted projects taking up the majority of my working hours. I forced myself to carve out thirty minutes every weekday to work on a side project. After two weeks, I was stunned to realize I’d written three chapters. All because I devoted thirty minutes a day to the manuscript.

Consistency made all the difference in helping me attain my health goals as well. My goal was no longer to “lose twenty pounds.” It was to exercise for thirty minutes five days a week and to stay within a calorie range by logging what I ate using the MyFitnessPal app. I knew if I exercised regularly and ate less, I would stick to the plan. I’m never hungry, and, though the numbers on the scale fluctuate, I continue to lose pounds because I’m consistent.

3. Find a role model.

Remember the writer friends I mentioned? I kept a mental snapshot of them in my mind. I told myself if they can do it, so can I. If I’m trying to hit a big goal and need an extra boost, I have a go-to friend I can text with updates on my progress. She updates me as well. We push each other simply by checking in.

4. Identify your time wasters.

Remember those phone games I’d play at night? And the time I spent on social media during the day? They sucked up far more time than I wanted to admit. They were a distraction. Easy.

I’m not one to sit down at my laptop and think, I can’t wait to write! Usually, I stare at the screen with a solid round of du-u-u-u-h playing in my head. Checking emails, Facebook and Instagram could be justified. I was building my platform, after all. But scrolling through angry political posts, book deal announcements, and friends’ vacation pics often made me feel worse about my life.

When I cut out the phone games and limited social media, my mood improved and my time was free to get more meaningful work done.


5. Replace your time wasters.

I replaced my social media habit with my beefed-up writing goals. Rather than scrolling through Facebook, I wrote an extra thousand words or added an hour of revising. At night, I read from a stack of books I borrowed from the library. Bought an art journal and fancy colored pencils. Recorded the television shows friends had recommended. Suddenly the list of things I never had time to do was getting done.

6.  Combat exhaustion.

Making changes takes energy. At some point, the initial excitement wears off and you get tired. Very tired. This is a danger zone. You’ll want to slip into old habits. No! Take a ten-minute nap. Grab a coffee or hot tea. Drink more water. Go to bed earlier. Be extra nice to yourself on the hard days. Consistency isn’t glamorous, but it produces results.

7. Give an extra 10%.

On the days you’re feeling good, push yourself to do more. Write another hundred words. Tack on five more minutes to your revising session. You’ll never regret that extra 10%.

8. Invest in the tools you need.

I purchased a footstool to keep my feet at the right height when working at my desk. I also invested in a wireless printer, extra toner cartridges, reams of paper, business cards, bookmarks, mailing labels, envelopes, and a day planner. I buy Success magazine every few months to keep me motivated. These are the tools I need. What tools do you need?

9.  Track your progress.

Every Monday I step on the scale and log my weight in the fitness app I mentioned earlier. I use Microsoft OneNote to log the words I write or the pages I revise. I also have a simple spreadsheet where I jot down my exercise for the day (you can download and print a blank copy HERE). Tracking my progress keeps me accountable and it also shows me how far I’ve come. It’s a huge motivator. Can’t recommend it enough.

10. Pray.

I listed prayer last not because it’s at the bottom of my priorities, but as a reminder that we’re not in this by ourselves. When I began making these changes, I prayed daily for God to give me the strength to meet my goals. It isn’t easy to overhaul our habits, but with God’s help, it is possible.

I have one more tip, and you probably already guessed it. All the changes you’ve made? Make them permanent. I changed my life because I wasn’t happy gaining five pounds a year, pushing uncontracted writing projects to the side, scrolling through social media feeds, and wasting precious hours on games that left me numb. 

I will likely always log my calories, exercise each weekday, limit my time on social media, and push myself to write or revise more every session. Why? Because it’s worth it.

I’ll say it again. It’s worth it.

If there’s an imbalance in your life, take one step today to change it. Tomorrow, take another step. And keep going! I’ll be cheering you on.

How do you find balance in your writing life?

Thank you, Seekerville, for letting me be your guest today! And happy tenth birthday!

Jill is giving away one signed True Large Print copy of The Rancher’s Mistletoe Bride to one US reader and an e copy to an international reader. Leave a comment to be entered. Winners announced in the next Weekend Edition.

The Rancher's Mistletoe Bride

Coming Home for Christmas 

Wedding planner Lexi Harrington needs a manager for her inherited Wyoming ranch. Clint Romine is the perfect man for the job, but the ruggedly handsome cowboy soon presents a new dilemma—distraction. Lexi can't fall for a small-town rancher when she's planning to return to her big-city career after the holidays. Home has always been elusive for former foster kid Clint. Working alongside Lexi at Rock Step Ranch feels too cozy—and too risky. Opening up to her means revealing a secret about his past that could jeopardize everything he holds dear. This Christmas, can Clint learn to trust Lexi with the truth…and with his heart?

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  | iBooks

Jill Kemerer is a multi-published author of Christian romance novels for Harlequin Love Inspired. Her essentials include coffee, M&Ms, a stack of books, her miniature-dachshund and taking long nature walks. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. Jill loves connecting with readers, so please visit her website, jillkemerer.com, and sign up for her newsletter.

And because this is the very last day of the BIG TEN YEAR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, Seekerville brought along another giveaway. Winner of the writer mug announced in the Weekend Edition too! 

This is your last day to comment and get your name in the drawing for the final $50 Amazon gift card and a Kindle Fire with Alexa.
 Two winners announced on November 4th.

We leave you with birthday greetings from Jill!