Family time versus writing time

Trying to figure out how to balance family demands and writing is not fun. I end up making weird choices and frequently explaining what I’m doing. There’s just not an easy way to do this when you have a full time job and your writing is something “extra” that you are doing. The only time to write is when you are not working, which then cuts into plans with family should any becoming up.

Last weekend and the next two weekends are prime examples of this. Last weekend was spent helping my wife with a project. This weekend is a family gathering up at Bear Lake. Next weekend is my brother-in-law’s wedding. It seems it’s just part of the challenge.

Writing progress

Tonight I did some work on my map of the world. My little sketch was fine to give me an idea of directions and stuff, but I want to firm things up and build a better picture of it in my mind. I‘ve got an outline of the land, some mountains, and ideas of where the rivers will be. I took an idea that I heard of from George R.R. Martin about how he built the Westeros by taking a map of Ireland, turning it upside down, and then modifying it. So I’ll see how that works for me. I’ve picked a body of land and then started working on it.