Reading time: About 2 minutes
Leah Miles cherishes a little metal tag she keeps stuck to her computer. It says: “Write like you’re running out of time.”
Leah Miles grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and planned to have a career as either a television anchor or a successful author. After getting a bachelor’s degree in English and communications, she worked at CNN for more than a dozen years in technical news production. Her second career is managing an insurance agency in rural Georgia, along with six brand-new Airbnb-style rentals, with her husband. When not writing insurance or cleaning cabins, she cherishes quality time with her hubby and their cocker spaniel, Hootie. They have three adult kids — a doctor, a lawyer, and a journalist. Leah is currently writing a series with military elements involving take-charge heroes and women who stand up for themselves and the people they love. For updates, visit her website.
I was excited to talk to Leah about how she approaches writing.
Q. Roughly how much time do you spend writing every day?
Time is money, and right now, mine is stretched thin. I work a full-time job, and in January of this year, my husband and I opened a six-cabin Airbnb-type business. Since then, my writing time has dropped from roughly three hours a day to about an hour on weekdays, though I try to make up for that on weekends. This doesn’t account for the time I invest in the business side of the author business: promotions, interviews, social media, newsletters, and cross-promotions, just to name a few.
Q. What’s a simple activity or habit that makes you a better writer?
I set a goal to write one short story a month, in addition to my novel projects, to keep my brain churning with new ideas. And I regularly take classes and workshops, as there is always more to learn, whether it’s craft or the business side of being an author.
Q. What interferes with your writing?
Honestly? Just about everything. (But I show up anyway.)
Q. How do you persuade yourself to sit down to write on days when you really, really DON’T feel like doing it?
Fifteen minutes at a time. I set the timer on my watch to 15 or 30 minutes and try to put down only new words during that interval. It’s a way to commit to the project even when I’m incredibly busy with other things.
Q. Is there a particular motto or saying that you’ve found helpful for writing?
I have a little metal tag stuck to my monitor — I have no idea where I picked it up, but it reads: “Write like you’re running out of time.”
Q. Which stage of the writing process do you enjoy the most: researching, writing or editing/rewriting and why?
I love writing the first few chapters, where the characters meet, and the romance emerges.
Q. What’s one of the best books you’ve read (either fiction or non) in the last five years?
Most recently, I read The Call Game by Graham Elder and Laura Cody. The twist caught me off guard, which doesn’t happen often. On audio, I’ve been working through Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter series. This week, I’m reading Over the Edge, (book 3), about a Navy SEAL and a female chopper pilot. Brockmann is a masterful storyteller of contemporary romantic suspense with action, steam, and some beautifully woven flashbacks. Highly recommended.
Q. What book are you reading right now?
Suzanne Brockman’s most recent release, Jules Cassidy, P.I.
Q. What do you think is the biggest misperception that new writers have about the act of writing?
Don’t count on making more money than you spend on editing and covers, especially in the beginning. Write because you love it and because your brain won’t let you stop.
