How Zack Argyle Juggles Fatherhood, Career, and the Secrets Behind His Writing Success
Ever tried juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle? That’s kind of the vibe when you’re a full-time dad, writer, and professional trying to squeeze every last drop of time out of your day. For over a decade, I’ve been tinkering away at an epic fantasy novel, only to find that life—especially fatherhood—rewrites your schedule in ways you never imagined. Two toddlers later, the idea of “writing whenever inspiration strikes” feels like a quaint fairytale. So, how does one carve out creative space amid the relentless demands of work, kids, and partnership? That’s exactly what I explored in a candid chat with Zack Argyle, a fellow software engineer and award-winning fantasy author who’s cracked the code on balancing these worlds. Get ready to dive into the gritty, inspiring details of making storytelling thrive even when the clock’s ticking faster than you’d like. LEARN MORE
I chatted with award-winning author Zack Argyle about balancing fatherhood, writing, and work
For the past decade, I have been slowly chipping away at writing an epic fantasy novel. I’m on my 6th (or 7th or 8th) revision and, frankly, don’t know when I’ll stop.
A lot has changed in my life over that time. Not least of all is that I became a father over three years ago. A year and a half later, I had another kid. Everything in my life changed. My relationship with my wife, my work-life balance, and my ability to get anything done.
How was I supposed to fit writing into a life where every minute was accounted for?
Somehow, I’ve found ways to squeeze writing in. I typically manage to get a submission into my writing group every other week.
Finding the time takes conscious effort, though. Before kids, I could write when inspiration struck. When you have two toddlers, you don’t have that luxury. You can’t schedule inspiration. I had to learn to motivate myself even when I didn’t feel like writing.
There were times when it felt it was impossible. Working full time, raising kids, finding time with my wife. All of these could easily consume every free minute. All of these deserve to consume every free minute.
So how does someone balance being a father, working full time in a demanding industry, spending time with their significant other, and writing?
As I was putting my own thoughts together, I had the chance to chat with Zack Argyle, author of the Threadlight Trilogy — an award winning, epic fantasy series that is very much worth your time.
Like me, he is a software engineer and father of two. It was inspiring to see someone writing in the same genre, working in the same demanding industry was able to publish three great novels.
