Finding Time to Write...

I’ve wanted to be an author ever since I was a little girl. It’s been a faraway dream, kind of like the dream of becoming a princess one day. Unless you’re Meghan Markle or Kate Middleton, that dream probably won’t come true. When it came time for me to choose a career, I thought that I had to do what was most important at the time, which is to make a steady income. I grew up in South Georgia without a lot of money. We had food and a roof, but we always knew we were one step away from transitioning from lower middle class to official poverty. My house was the one people made fun of on the block: the one with the peeling paint and sagging porch swing. My parents worked hard, blue-collar jobs: my dad in a factory, and my mom as a postal carrier. So, I knew when it came time to choose a career that I had to choose one that made a decent income, not only for me, but for my family. I chose a career in healthcare.

My shifts are long and sometimes brutal. Twelve-hour days back-to-back, followed by a few days off where I want to do nothing but sleep. I have two small children who still need their mom so that’s not possible. I never thought I could fit writing into my schedule, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to separate my days into blocks of time. And most of all, I’ve learned that writing to me is worth putting in the time. It’s not at all about the money, because in case you don’t know, most indie authors don’t make much. Sometimes, we operate at a loss. But writing feeds my soul and gives me an opportunity to explore a part of myself that I let remain hidden for a long time. My dad’s death in 2020 taught me that we only get one life. If we have a dream, we should pursue it now. Sometimes that later that we keep talking about never happens.

I try to prioritize. My kids are always first, but when they’re in school and I have a day off, I sit down and write. Sometimes, I have to make myself because yes, muses are not always readily available. That means that the laundry in my house may pile up, the dishes may sit a little longer, and the vacuum may not go vroom-vroom for a few hours. I know it’s annoying as hell to my husband at times, but I think he understands that in a busy mom’s life, something has to give and sometimes that has to be the housework.

I wish I could say I’m always disciplined and that I have a strict regimen. My writing isn’t like that. Some days it will flow, and I can write thousands of words. Other days, I’m lucky to spit out 200 words. But I’ve never missed a deadline and I aim to never do that. It’s a promise I made to myself when I first started this. 

I’ve got a lot coming up so please stay tuned, you guys. I’m going to release both my Growing Pains and Coming Home series in anthology form with extra content so I’m really looking forward to that. I also have the long-awaited (at least by me) sequel to Keeping You (Crestwood University series) coming out in May. I plan to have it up for pre-order within a month or so. You’ll be the first ones to know! As always, I love you guys and thank you so much for your support. You keep me going!

Love,

Harper Michaels