I'm of two minds. On the one side, I have the creative mind. It writes books and does covers and pretty pictures. On the other, the business mind. It does all the other stuff - accounting, marketing, formatting, publishing, editing, etc. And they can't seem to work at the same time.
Most days, I can keep them apart. Business works in the morning. Creative works in the evening.
But when one of them is particularly focused on its job, the other one takes a vacation. When I'm deep into the writing, I can't seem to get Business to do the stuff it needs to do. When I'm deep into work chores, Creative doesn't want to work and laughs at me when I try.
Like when I get a bunch of spreadsheets to do for the pay-job... I can't write that day. Unfortunately, it doesn't work the other way because the pay-job stuff is time-sensitive. It comes in and I do it, regardless of where I'm at with the writing. Lucky for my writing, it doesn't happen too often. I get the spreadsheets done in the morning and by evening, I'm ready to let Creative loose.
Right now, I've been wrapped up in post-publication stuff. Business has taken over and Creative is at the beach napping under an umbrella. I want to write. I have ideas. But I can't seem to get that part of my brain in gear.
Occasionally, the two minds have jobs that overlap. Marketing, for instance. It's a job for Business, but in order to get snazzy copy, Creative has to cooperate. Trying to wake her up to write ad copy for FB posts first thing in the morning is like waking a hibernating squirrel. Gah. I should set those things up at night, but try and get Business awake enough then to remember to prod Creative... Gah.
Unfortunately, Creative is easily derailed. Of course she is, she's creative. She gets distracted by everything. Like I said... squirrel. If Creative had half the focus Business does, I'd be cranking books out all over the place. But no. Then again, if she was focused, she wouldn't be creative. Or something. I guess.
Not sure what the answer is. Muddle along? I do have 16 books out now, so it's not like it isn't working entirely. Some days I just wish it would work more efficiently.
What about you? Do your creative and business sides work together?
Note: I am not insane. Really, I'm not.
LOL! No, you're not crazy. I least, *I* don't think so.
ReplyDeleteMy creative side has been on strike for -- I don't know how long. Too long! Right now I'm deep in hermit mode, and that makes it hard to work, or even post on your blog. I do read each and every one, though!
Busines side? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🐿🐿🐿 (those are chipmunks/squirrels)
ReplyDeleteYeah. I try to think Business and Creative sticks fingers in her ears and sings LALALALALA at the top of her lungs. I mean, you'd think when Creative wants a vacation, she'd leave Business in charge. Nope. They both run off to Cancun and sip umbrella drinks.
And FYI? You're no more crazy than the rest of us. 😆