Change isn't always a bad thing

I hate when my routine changes. It takes me so long to get "back on track" when something comes up and changes things. That is mostly because I fight the schedule change or life routine change. I think I will always do so, but I'm learning to adjust with the change.

Writing full time is harder. No, that's not right. Working from home, is hard. People around you think because you are home, you can just stop what you are doing and do for them. Or you have those you think you are mooching off you husband so you don't have to work. But that is a rant post for another time. lol.

In April, my daughter and I got 50/50 timeshare (Florida doesn't call it custody anymore.)  of my granddaughter (long story). We have her one week on, one week off. Well on the weeks she is here, My writing time has gone back to early mornings and late nights, just like it was when I worked a day job. You'd think I can catch up on weeks we don't have her, right? Wrong. I have errands to run and "people" in my house have things that need to be done. This is a change I'm still fighting. I'm real close to renting me an office so I can leave the house to work. Then I'd have to get dress. and I love working in my PJs.

Another big change that is coming, and I'm looking forward to has to do with the genre that I write. I've reached the point where I'm real close to being burnt out. Sales have dipped this summer. The trends in the romance industry is changing, again. So after talking with a couple of great author friends who have noticed the same things as I did, I've decided to add a new series and a new pen name.

In 2016 I'll start writing cozy mysteries under Aleah Raynes. I'm looking forward to this. I love mysteries and I love adding humor and twists to stories.

Lia Davis is not going away, so don't worry. Lia has a few new things coming in 2016 as well. I am dipping my toes into SciFi Romance. I spent the last few days, while playing with Bella, building the world and the characters. I'm so excited to start it, but I have to wait until I finish what is on the schedule first.

So change is good. And I feel good about where I'm heading in my writing career for 2016.

Schedules, routines, and the chaos that effs it all up

You try to set a schedule and develop a routine to help stay with that schedule, but Chaos is lurking, waiting for you to get into the grove. Once you think everything is on track and you are finally making some kind of headway, BAM! Chaos, in the form of a loved one (aka grown kids in my house) comes along and destroys all hope of meeting that deadline.

What do you do? Killing real people isn't an option. I don't have the time to go to jail... Wait, could I have a laptop and free internet...?

Okay, okay. No going to jail. That means those grown kids of mine get to live another day.

Disclaimer: The above statements are my twisted sense of humor working and not actual plans to kill or harm anyone. Unless it's the nasty villains in one of my books series, then its fair game.

My numerous interruptions during what should be my "normal business hours" force me to work all the way up to bed time.For some reason the grown children in my house thinks I don't have anything important to do because I work at home. Yeah, I know.

Then there are the life things that no one can control. So what is there to do? Make it work. Learn to say NO. And stop catering to grown kids that should be getting jobs and finding a life. (Oh, sorry that last one was for me. LOL)

1. Make it work: I try to take weekends off from writing. I usually catch up on admin/office duties like balancing Quickbooks and checking on contest. That way I have time to spend with Hubby. But there are times when I need to set a few hours aside to make up word count for a book that was due to the editor a few days before. Plus like I said above, I work in the evening and many times work up to bedtime writing.

2. Learn to say NO: Say it with me NO. That's N...O. Doesn't that feel great? Now go to your kids and just say NO. They will look at you like you've lost your mind. That's okay. Mine do that to me all the time. My hubby told me once to shut my door and put a note on the it. I'm working on a quirky saying to put on it. In the mean time, I put my headphones on and turn up the music!

What are somethings you do to keep Chaos from crashing in on your routine or schedule making plans?

Have a Chaos free weekend!
Lia