To find out more about this double life of an author, I managed to procure an interview with Struan Sinclair, who on top of being a professor at the University of Manitoba, has published three books, with a fourth currently in the publishing process. For Sinclair, writing has always been a big part of his life. When asked why he …show more content…
Knowing your own habits and when you write best are important in deciding how to divide up your day. Not at his most productive creatively in the afternoon, Sinclair writes in the morning and tends to his teaching responsibilities afterwards. Organization is also defined by personal conditions: Sinclair 's idea of keeping a long novel organized is by keeping a few notes. However, he keeps an overall sense of where his pieces are going to keep himself on track. He takes care to note though, that every writer is different; some may keep much more detailed outlines of a piece before writing the bulk of a story.
Contrary to what people might think, however, writing a book is much more than putting interesting words on a page and sending it off for a life of fame. Often the publishing can take just as long as or even longer than the actual writing process. Not even a decade before, the publishing process was much simpler- eight months from the time an agent first touched it until publication. Now, a book can take two to three years to be ready to hit the shelves, and a whole team of agents and other people are putting in their two cents. In today 's marketing-lead environment, published stories are a little less mould-breaking and a little more commercial, sometimes making them much different than they started out. Often they are revised many times to make them more closely catered to specific audiences. Even with all …show more content…
Which raises the question: how does he fulfill all the responsibilities of his life, and still find time for family? The secret, Sinclair confided, is in a strict regime of little sleep. Again, time management, and a clear set of priorities help Sinclair get from day to day. In terms of how he determines his priorities, where he is needed is where he is. On top of that though, his genuine love for writing keeps it from hitting the back burner even when teaching or things like health issues or family visits take over more than their fair share of his life. When a passion for the actual activity of writing exists, nothing can prevent you from fitting at least some of it in every day. Relaxation finds its place in Sinclair 's life, an important part for someone so busy. Walks, trips, and watching sports are a few of the things Sinclair indulges in, just like anyone with any job. Though the lifestyle of a writer may differ in some ways from people with more conventional jobs, the basics remain the