I started writing this post as a list of all the ways I'm overwhelmed right now, but it sounded a little pathetic so I erased it and started again. The point was that a lot of things are in flux right now for me, and none of it is bad, just changes. Some of it is even exciting- like we're going to be closing on a house any day now!
The hard thing is that while I get used to the increased pace, I'm not getting a lot of writing done. The good thing is that if I can make it through the adjustment period, I'll be much more involved in my kids' activities and time with them is never misspent.
Organization has never been one of my strengths, but I'm trying. I'd like to be able to be a cub scout leader, homeroom mom, writing workshop member, blogger, chaffeur, child care expert (my own kids plus two extra), new home owner/amazing designer/renovator and not go crazy, but it is feeling pretty crazy. I'll let you know how it goes.
I'm laughing as I think about my overly generous estimates on how much time I would have to write every week. Can you hear me? Because it's pretty loud, and a teensy bit on edge. 25 hours a week, I thought. Too funny.
I try not to get annoyed when life happens, like this morning. Two yearly checkups for the kids plus a snafu with the appointment scheduler (not a mistake on my end, amazingly) means I spent all three of today's precious free hours today at the doctor's office. Grrr. At least we had a whole bag of library books and Eli is well on his way to becoming a member of the celebrated Hundred Book Club. Three hours is a long time to read picture books.
But, an exciting thing- I signed up a while ago at Around the World Blog Tours- it's an ARC (an advance copy) sharing site, and I got the first book today, Hunger by Jackie Kessler. I will let you know how I liked it on Thursday. Around the World Blog Tours is pretty cool- you join the site, pick which books you would like to review, and you get a book in the mail. It's a pretty cool system and an easy way to get ARCs for those of us who can't make it to Book Expo or wherever else it is that people get them.
Another good thing- the dream that I had where I got my book published by a vanity press, only to have an agent contact me the day the boxes of books arrived (and the covers were AWFUL!) ended up not being real. Whew! I was really really relieved that I wasn't going to have to hand sell them all. It was almost as bad as those dreams where one of my kids is drowning or about to fall off a cliff and I can't stop it. *shivers* Okay, it's not in that league at all, but it was really upsetting.
I've got one partial out right now to an Ms. Agent, someone that Mr. Agent referred me to, and have started a new edit, which I hope to finish up within two weeks. That will be well within the 4-6 weeks Ms. Agent said she would need to respond, so hopefully this won't backfire. I keep thinking it's perfect (enough) and I'm done, but it's not and I'm not.
Have a great day and write a little for me. I have to go finish my child protection training for cub scouts.
A Tale of Two How-Tos
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As a connoisseur of writing how-tos (and yes, I had to look up how to spell
connoisseur – and okay, “addict” might be a more accurate word), I have
read ...
1 day ago
You're too busy! Just reading your list makes me want to fall on the floor like a limp noodle. These days I most enjoy the revival of childhood role-playing... "I'm rubber and you're glue" but with the new spin of "whatever you ask me to do bounces OFF of me and sticks to YOU!" In fact my husband is taking off a day from work to *help* me clean up our disgusting house. ("You missed a spot over there, honey.") But don't tell anyone at RSES that. My vote is that due dates should not simply "come and go"...The next time I see you I'll be sure to stand still and applaud while you run circles around me :) And if you had to give anything up, my vote for the first to go would be homeroom mom because it seems like the only optional thing on your list. Except I know you can do it, and you'll be great at it!
ReplyDeleteYes, Kelly ... why do we try to do it all? I don't know. I've been asking myself that question lately, too.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the partial out. Sounds promising. :) With my first book I got ONE partial request, so you're doing fabulously. Congratulations!
Have fun training. :)
Amy
Thanks guys. The homeroom mom thing should be easy- emailing parents a few times a year to coordinate for parties. Teacher assured me it would be a piece of cake.
ReplyDeleteIt's coming together. I put everything I could thing of on a calendar, so at least now I won't feel like I'm forgetting something all of the time. Which I am. :)
It's hard to do it all and you just can't feel guilty if the laundry doesn't get done, as long as your accomplishing something.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a cool blog. I'll have to check it out.
Hey Patti- I've never been inclined to put laundry in front of my writing or my kids:) Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHey Kelly- I have similar days where I am taking the kids to doctor's appointments, running to their school, and trying to finish my first draft of the ghost novel. I am very excited about you sending in the partial, I hope it works out! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen! Good luck top you. How's the cowriting working out?
ReplyDelete