The Trials Of An Indie Author: 24hrs Isn't Enough

The Trials Of An Indie Author: 24hrs Isn't Enough

I know one big thing for me as an indie author is finding enough time in the day to get everything done. It's one part of it that I really struggle with, not just because I'm disabled and chronically ill, but also because sometimes there is SO much to do and so little time to get it done. Like, right now it's four in the morning and I needed more time to write, I was in the "zone" and I didn't want to stop in case I couldn't pick my thread back up when I'd had some sleep. And now that the chapters are done, I'm left with the thousand other things that I'd been putting off.

One of the big differences between indie and traditionally published authors is that for indie authors, we pretty much end up with a lot of the jobs landing in our laps. I can't speak for those who are with small presses, but I know that those with the Big Six have other people to do some of the smaller jobs for them. Marketing has its own department, as does PR and all the other little things that, as an indie author, I just don't have access to.

I made the conscious decision to become an indie author, and while I don't regret it, it does leave me wishing some days that I could squeeze in a few extra hours here and there without having to worry too much about not getting enough sleep! Right now, for instance, I have about six other blog posts that need writing, four more chapters to do for a new fortnight and a few other jobs that need my attention. There just isn't enough time to do it all and still get my required twelve hours sleep a night.

It makes me wonder how people with a full time job manage it! To me, being an indie author is a full time job! I have spoken in the past about all the different hats we have to wear (found here) as well as how at times it seems that sleep is optional (found here). However, working through on your bad days isn't always an option either and so there is always a serious deficit in time. I know it's not just me either, one part of being an indie author as well as a spoonie is learning not to stretch yourself too thin and learning that saying no occasionally is not a bad thing.

However, when you need to market yourself and sell your brand, as it were (a piece on which is coming soon!), you then find that you do need to work things out and stick to a schedule. Mine is never set in stone because I have other issues that prevent me from spending x amount of hours on one thing at any given time. With a job such as writing, it becomes a case of working when you can and doing the best you can with what you've got. While I didn't plan to spend the night happily typing away at my computer, that's the way it's gone, so why not make it work for me?

Writing, for me at least, is my passion. It's something that I wake up in the morning happy to do, but sadly, sometimes life gets in the way and I find myself scurrying around trying to find an extra ten minutes here or there to be able to get what I need done at the right time. Your mileage may, of course, vary.

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