I guess it's no secret that the publishing industry is evolving at lightening speed, making authors jump like panicked frogs from stones to lily pads in a fast-moving brook. Learning curves on new technologies have to be absorbed to stay leading edge… knowledge about which publishing house is collapsing under its own weight and where the next place to be is are now ever-present realities one must cope with in "the business," all amid the bookstore chain fallout of Borders–our jobs as authors ain't what they used to be. Meanwhile, with ever increasing demands that a writer stay abreast of social media (also imposed by shrinking marketing department resources within the publishing houses), by regularly blogging and FBing, and tweeting… maaaan… where does one carve out time to write any more?

It is the age old and quintessential question we all struggle with, whether we so-called write full-time for a living or write after our stable 9-5 occupation… time is always a fleeting resource because one's Muse can be so fickle. Yet, at the expense of fighting "her," and thereby alienating her from us–a writer's worst nightmare–I say if you give her a regular schedule and forum to express herself, most times she'll cooperate and give you a little something in return during the time you've carved out for her. But woe be unto you if you regularly fail her BIG SMILE! Social media can be an exotic, sexy, and very seductive lover… just like the telephone and TV can be. (Just say no! LOL) Cheat on your Muse all the time, and sooner or later she'll leave you high and dry. That said, this is why you see me in bursts on the various media, and then I hide… all so I can be true to my Muse and get that next book out that you want–so forgive the blog gaps, inability to answer all messages on FB, et al. Just keeping it real.

BIG HUG, Leslie!

Write On!

PS: And, yes, I got hooked up into yet another web venue, LOL… VYOU.com and posted a video response to a question I got about how one finds time to write! OMG!