Another brilliant day for writing. The clouds are full and hanging low. There is something electric in the air. Nature is tugging at my soul. The intoxicating smell of coffee drifts across my laptop screen. Patrons are coming and going, stopping and walking, carrying on. This is fantastic because people, everyday people, being as mundane as they can be, supply an author with ample characteristics and mannerisms and body language and … I digress.

This moment is what it’s all about.

I take a deep breath and time myself, initiating the writing process. I’ve been waiting to finish this scene for weeks. It’s vital to be in the right mood to write, especially when you are a 55-year-old farm worker waking up in a pool of blood, looking at a panga lying next to your head, your eyes sticky with sweat and tears, no clue as to what had happened or who had attacked you. I envision myself lying on the ground, opening my eyes and seeing what my character is seeing, feeling what he is feeling, doing what he would be doing.

Less is more. Show, don’t tell. I’m ready. The fuse is lit.

As my concentration peaks, my phone vibrates and rattles across the table. I sigh and take the call. I massage my temples as I listen to the voice at the other end. One of my clients has had a heart attack, and I need to file the paperwork at the office. I finish the call and sit for a few seconds, looking at the empty screen in despair. The blinking cursor is begging me to start typing, but I can’t. There goes another brilliant opportunity.

Since my first novel was published, I’ve been doing this unbearable balancing act between careers – flipping between the one I must do and the one I want to do. Unfortunately, there is no middle ground or one correct option for now. Sales of the first novel have not yet justified the shift in careers. I have to follow up with another novel or else I’ll be stuck in quicksand for the next five years.

An average day might see me going to my office and making appointments, doing paperwork, mailing publishers or reviewers or other authors, eating lunch while completing an interview for a fellow author’s blog, seeing clients, doing more paperwork, writing wine articles for magazines, or, in a more personal capacity, looking after the kids, spending time with my wife, making supper, taking the dogs for a walk, or preparing for the next day. When I sit down at the laptop, it’s almost eleven o’clock, my eyes falling shut.

As an author, you want the world to know that you are an inspired voice with something useful to say, something of value to those who care to listen or read. With that in mind, there is only one effective way of promoting yourself: constantly. That’s difficult, especially when all you really want to do is write. I have four books trapped in my mind and no time to pen them down. So many things keep getting in the way.

Here are the three most prominent hazards for a new author attempting to complete his second novel, while still trying to promote his first one.

First, location: We relocated to George, where very little occurs from a literary point of view. I’m out of touch with the writing community.

Secondly, vocation: Generally, first-time authors don’t step into the position of full-time author overnight. Even with a couple of books under your belt, you’re probably still stuck working several jobs to keep the wolves at bay or put food on the table. Sadly, this eats into your writing time, not to mention the loads of research time that precede the actual writing.

Lastly, inspiration: Here lies the snag, the ever-present thorn in the side, the ultimate counter-weight that always tips the way you don’t want it to. Inspiration drives the creativity of what we do. Without drive, you will find yourself looking at an empty Word document.

If writing is not all you do, then the world quickly gets in the way and steals away your time, your inspiration. Luckily, I have a very supportive and understanding wife because, let’s face it, authors are no day at the beach. At times, we can be our own worst enemies.

How can you overcome these terrible pitfalls that face aspiring writers every day? How can a first-time author complete that next novel and get his or her book into the world?

There are only three possible solutions: determination, determination, determination.

This article first appeared in LitNet