Finding the Write-Life Balance in a Hyper-Connected World

With more companies than ever requiring their employees back in the office to connect in person, the topic of “work-life balance” has returned with a renewed focus.

- BY CHRISTOPHER STOLLAR

It’s in the news, on social media, and even in popular shows like “Severance,” where the lead character surgically divides his personal life from his professional life.

But for authors, there's an added layer to this tension called the “write-life balance.” It's never been easier for writers to connect with readers through social media, virtual events, and other digital platforms. Yet that’s also made it harder to find the balance we all crave between our writing life and every other aspect of life—especially those who are neurodiverse and make connections in unique ways.

“We often think of work-life balance as an aim to keep work separate from our personal time,” writes Heather Clement Davis in Indie Author Magazine. “But as writers, our stories are almost always on our minds. For us, the traditional work-life balance might not exist; instead, aiming to separate our creative time and non-creative time may help us better transition between these two states.”

Countless tips could be provided on this topic, so this column will focus specifically on what I have learned from my own experience as an award-winning indie author who also works full time and has obsessive-compulsive disorder. That diagnosis has helped me find balance and make meaningful connections with other neurodiverse writers who were interviewed for this story.

We often experience “balance” as something almost elusive, like a fairy or will-o -the-wisp that disappears the moment we grasp it. So, instead of striving to achieve this perfection narrative—a fantasy that’s impossible to maintain—embrace real life's progressive course.