whenever I see a first novel dedicated to a wife (or a husband), I smile and think, There’s some one who knows. Writing is a lonely job. Having someone who believes in you makes a lot of difference. They don’t have to make speeches. Just believing is usually enough.

And so I offer this little bit of thanks to my husband. He has put up with me ignoring him and leaving him to play WOW or Madden night after night. He has let me sit at home weekend after weekend rather than going out a doing something fun because I have a deadline approaching. And he has leveled up WOW character after Wow character without me because I need to write rather than play video games with him. He has let DVDs languish until I have the time and energy to watch with him. And he has put up with me only half-heartedly watching our favorite TV shows with him because it’s really hard to see over my laptop. Sometimes I think he could sue my laptop for alienation of spousal affection.

Rather than getting mad, he lets me do my thing without bothering me. He sometimes even helps with the laundry and the dogs so I can focus.

What about you? Have you also neglected your partner because the muse was after you hot and heavy? Or because that deadline doesn’t care about the state of your relationship? Or have you found a great way to balance writing and your relationship?