Last week I blogged about finding balance in your personal and professional lives. Now I want to discuss the crucial balance in your artistic life—for me, my writing.
I’ve learned from experience that I grow faster when I’m working on multiple projects simultaneously. Right now this means querying one novel, writing another, preparing to publish an anthology, and working on a short story here and there. It means not only writing and revising, but also researching agents and publications and regularly submitting my work. It means reading books, going to classes and conferences (even if they’re virtual this year), and staying in touch with my writing friends.
But—as with everything in life—this multitasking requires balance.
I firmly believe all writers should try new things. Just like hammer curls and bench presses work different muscles in your body, different genres work different muscles in your writer’s brain. You can learn a lot by reading other people’s work, joining a critique group, or teaching at a conference. Sometimes your best story is also the one that intimidated you the most when you started writing it.
So don’t be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone. Take advantage of new opportunities, even if they scare you a little. Put several food groups on your proverbial plate.
At the same time, don’t let your plate get too crowded. Learn your limit. If you feel overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to put a project aside for a while if that’s what it takes to preserve your sanity. Don’t be afraid to quit something altogether if it’s no longer serving you.
Remember: It’s your life, your art. Only you can decide what you should be working on. Don’t be afraid to be a little selfish—I guarantee you won’t regret it.