We all know how glamorous a writer’s life is, right? We roll out of bed bright and early and the muse is already whispering in our ear. We breakfast on healthy and nutritious food which magically appears before us. We may wave farewell to family, and then sit down to pour out page after page of incredible prose, beautifully constructed dialogue and a magnificent novel. Emails pour in from adoring fans, royalty cheques from doting publishers and our agents and editors cheer and applaud when we hand in our draft.

Err… no. Not really. I mean it would be nice. Especially if the food would prepare itself and the house would take care of its own cleaning. If someone could throw in the odd massage it might sound like heaven!

Writing is hard. There. I’ve said it. The secret is out. Combining writing with Real Life is very hard. Instead of a work-life balance we’re more talking about a work-life-more work-mild insanity with added paranoia balance when few others will actually accept that it’s anything more than sticking some words on paper.

Add a full time job and perhaps a family into the mix and it really starts to get interesting. For example, right now, my four year old daughter is leaning over the keyboard suggesting that I should press some other buttons, the ones with the funny characters on them. Right at this moment! Her head is in my face and she’s determined to help.

For every writer, Real Life has to be dealt with. Sure your hero and heroine may be falling in love while battling legions of the undead, but if a pipe has burst in the basement, an urgent bill needs paying or “Binky the duck” is missing, you’ve got to deal, and quickly. Recently on the ‘net, there have been a series of articles and posts by eminent writers detailing how fans don’t seem to understand this, which boil down to when a book is late, there’s no point in haranguing your favourite author, telling them to sit down and write the thing and stop blogging, working on other projects, going to football games, or spending time with their families.

Writers need support – from friends, family, fans and anyone else willing to give it. Other writers often “get” the situation better than most people. Family and friends love us to death, but while launch days are exciting and they’ll plug your book to the ends of the earth, sometimes the grind of what writing means on a day to day basis is beyond understanding. I am very lucky. I have a husband who does get it and can ward off the attack of the small child with the over-eager typing fingers (He gave her a fuzzy felt game just now. She’s sitting on the floor making pictures. She likes him!)

Sites like Romance Divas provides this in a way few other venues can. It’s multinational – writers from all over the world meet here and exchange ideas. It’s a caring, nurturing environment where writers encourage each other from the beginner to the long-term professional. And at times, it’s a madhouse where you can just unwind with friends and have a laugh.

Everyone needs support. It can come from anywhere and can be the smallest gesture – from a cup of tea or extracting five children for the afternoon, or a friendly line or two in chat.

Where do you get yours?

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R. F. Long writes fantasy and paranormal romance. Her novel “The Scroll Thief” and her novella “The Wolf’s Sister” are currently available from Samhain . Please visit her at her website or her livejournal .