I still find it very difficult to manage the day job/writing balance. My day job can be quite draining even when routine. But when major changes happen--rearrangements of personnel, business realignments, changes/additions to workload, etc.--and things are neither quite secure nor settled, I am left with no energy to spare after work beyond dinner and passive activities like watching movies or t.v. shows (I generally spend very little time on the couch and in front of the 'idiot-box').
There have been some major changes at work over the past few weeks that have resulted in little reading, and even less writing getting done. I don't get paid for the writing I do (though I'm always open to offers/requests), so it might be said there's no pressure. There is pressure, mainly self-imposed, but pressure nevertheless. My stack of books-to-be-reviewed is growing, as you can see in the 'Upcoming Reviews' module, and I feel bad about keeping the publicists/publishers/authors whose books are in the pile waiting. I also feel bad about disappointing readers who come to my site to read about specific books. And then I feel bad about not writing enough, about not making enough progress as a writer--I haven't published an article or review in almost a month, nor have I sent out any queries.
The recent changes at my day job--there have been quite a few--resulted in a major case of writer's block. Even on nights when I sat down at my computer and opened a page, determined to get something written, I could not even think up a simple lead-in paragraph to an article or review. Completely blocked. So instead of wallowing in self-pity, which I hear is not uncommon among writers, writers generally being a disturbed lot, and to make myself feel better, I'd love to hear from other struggling writers who have a non-writing day job. How do you manage the balance? Please do comment!
Now back to my writing...
