How to Balance Your Writing Time When Launching a Book by Barbara M. Britton

When Valerie asked me to write a blog post and the topic of “balancing writing time and promotion” was on the list, I jumped on this topic. I was living the blog post with the launch of my eighth book. I could speak to the realities of the book launch whirlwind while refreshing my computer to check reviews and recommendations. You laugh, but it’s true.

Launching a book successfully is important. I’ve learned over the years that if you put the time and energy into your book launch, it will save you time later. No author wants to hear from their agent or publisher to round up more reviews months after their book has launched. This conversation does happen. I will say honestly that during the two-week span before my launch and the one-week span after my launch, I wasn’t gaining much ground on my work-in-progress. That’s okay, because launching a book successfully impacts your career. Agents, editors, and publishers check book sales.

I did make some small steps with my writing while I was busy releasing a book. Here’s what I recommend:

♦ Establish a set of critique partners. When people are waiting to read the next chapter of your book on a set date, you have motivation to get pages to them.

♦ Build accountability into your author life (see above point). Besides my critique partners waiting to read my story, I knew interested professionals would want to see pages. It is difficult to sell a book with nothing written. I also have a planner on my desk and too many blank spaces without word counts scribbled in the square are a glaring reminder to write.

♦ Take paper or a laptop with you wherever you go. 2022 started with me writing in an urgent care parking lot, an emergency room waiting area, and at a car dealership. I began to wonder what the year had in store for me, but I was making progress on my book.

♦ Find a place in your house or out of it, where you won’t be bothered or distracted by phone calls, social media, or children. You may have a nook in your home where you can go for thirty minutes to write. Pre-Covid, I met with writing friends for years every Wednesday night at a Barnes and Noble to get some writing done. If life was crazy, I knew I would gain ground on my book on Wednesday night.

♦ Set a timer and do writing sprints. There is something about being timed to make you focus on your chapter.

♦ Make a playlist for your book and play it before you sit down to write or if you need to get in the mood to write. A time will come when your gas tank is empty, and words are failing you. Music can reshape your thinking and get your creativity flowing.

♦ Healthy patterns can give you more energy to write. Drink water, take vitamins, eat healthy, and get your rest. Feeling drained doesn’t help your writing mojo.

Every writer is different, and we are motivated by different things. Try one or all of these tips to stay focused on Book 2 when you are launching Book 1. Give yourself some grace when all your promotion, marketing, and publicity is in full swing. Enjoy the release of your story. You’ve earned the rejoicing. When the confetti is flying, be mindful of ways where you can make progress on your next story.

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She is published in Biblical Fiction and loves bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Her WWI Historical Until June released in 2020. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Romance Writers of America. She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more on Barb’s website www.barbarambritton.com

Barbara is active on Twitter, BookBub, Goodreads, Facebook and Instagram.

About Barbara's Latest Book: Defending David

When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors.

Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman's niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land.

Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir's betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?

You can purchase Defending David on Amazon, B&N, or wherever books are sold. My other titles can be viewed here.