How to Write a Novel While Running a Business (and Still Sleep)

There’s a moment that hits me most nights, somewhere between closing the bookstore’s register and settling in to write, when I ask myself, “Are we really doing this again?” The answer, of course, is yes. Writing a novel while running a business isn’t glamorous. It’s not the kind of thing people write think pieces about where everything aligns perfectly and you magically find balance. It’s more like walking a tightrope while juggling flaming copies of your to-do list. But somehow, it works.

For me, the key has been treating my writing time like it matters just as much as any business meeting. I don’t wait for inspiration to tap me on the shoulder like some ethereal muse. I schedule it. I show up for it. I write when I’m tired, when I’m distracted, and even when I’m not entirely sure I remember what my main character’s name is. That’s the point. I don’t wait to feel ready. I write anyway.

Some of my best scenes have come out of the weirdest headspaces. I’ve written dialogue while reheating leftovers and plotted entire chapters in the shower. Creativity doesn’t always clock in during regular office hours, so I’ve learned to meet it where it is, even if that means scribbling on a receipt behind the counter. When I do sit down to write, it’s usually with a cup of tea in hand, a notebook nearby, and the gentle hope that no one calls me for at least an hour.

Running a business demands a lot of mental energy. It’s easy to feel like there’s nothing left to give when the day ends, but I’ve learned to separate the two in my mind. My business brain handles inventory, marketing, and payroll. My writing brain just wants to tell stories. When I let them take turns, they both work better.

I also stopped trying to do everything at once. Multitasking is a lie we tell ourselves when we’re too tired to make decisions. So I quit answering emails while outlining chapters. I stopped editing while scheduling social media posts. I gave each task its own time. The result? Less burnout, fewer typos, and a much better night’s sleep.

And yes, I do sleep. That might be the part people find hardest to believe, but it’s true. I don’t function well when I’m exhausted. I write better when I’m rested. I run the store better when I’m not silently weeping into my morning tea. So I honor my bedtime the same way I honor my deadlines. Sometimes that means saying no to one more task. Sometimes it means stepping away from a scene that just isn’t working and trusting that it will be there tomorrow.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is this: you can do both. You can be a writer and a business owner. You can serve your customers and your characters. You can hustle without becoming hollow. And you don’t have to give up rest to be creative. You just have to be willing to keep showing up on the page, at the counter, and in your own life with a little grace and a lot of grit.

Now if you’ll excuse me, my characters are calling. And I still haven’t folded the laundry from three days ago. But that’s a story for another night.