Okay, you remember I made no resolutions this year, right? Obviously not, or I would have resolved to be more organized. To write more things down on my calendar. To *look* at my calendar!
My excuse (and you knew I'd have one) is I just finished a book. So what's new, you ask. Well, nothing, sadly. Meaning the deadline snowballed, getting closer and closer and the pages were not coming and my muse was on a beach in Tahiti drinking Mai-Tais.
I spent the last two weeks writing *one half* the book. That's right. 226 pages in 13 days. Sound like fun? Actually, it wasn't as bad as it sounded.
Because my muse flew in about that time, apparently refreshed from her beach time and pretty much just told me the story and I wrote it down. There were a few stumbles along the way, of course. She didn't have *all* the plot points figured out. But the story went in at 4 AM Monday morning.
I'm still a bit sleep deprived, and given my lapse today obviously the gray matter hasn't recovered! But I'm ready to de-Christmas my house before starting the next book. And I'm thinking next year I am definitely *not* going to have a deadline over the holidays. I can do Christmas OR I can do a deadline. Not both.
What stresses you out the most? Is it a time of year or an event? Any ideas for staying more organized?
16 comments:
Hey, can you strap a GPS on your muse and send her my way? Amazing output!
Well we'll see what my editor says about the *quality*!
If and when I EVER see my muse again (that's right, she flew the coop again leaving me hanging with a 1-15 deadline to tackle all by myself) I'm going to stuff her in a bottle and set her on the corner of my desk.
She will only be allowed out for brief periods - chosen at my discretion - and she will be entitled to NONE of my chocolate stash. That'll fix her.
Congrats, Kylie, on finishing the book. amazing.
As to stressers - I think I just covered that. Deadline. OMG
We can keep the fickle little wenches hostage like genies in a bottle. Just have to get my hands on her first!
What's a muse? :)
Stresses- a messy house, and mine is alwayyyyyys messy.
Good job on the book, Kylie. Go you!!
It's all the events at a particular time of year. Say, Thanksgiving-Christmas, or end-of-school-year. I'm trying to get better about scheduling my deadlines, Kylie, but when you're looking ahead it all seems doable.
As to staying more organized. I'm telling myself when the current bk is done I'm going to tackle closets and cupboards, but just one each day or so in order to not overwhelm myself.
Stress? When everything piles on at once! I finished my submittal packet for my newest manuscript and was ready to send it in - WHEN - the box from RWA came with the Golden Heart submissions for me to judge - AND - I received the first round edit from my publisher.
I have to triage, decide what needs to be done first. But gee, when do I get to write????
Kylie, do you rent out your muse? I'm dizzy over a deadline, too. I'm keeping my head down when I walk through the house. That way I don't see the Christmas decorations.
Laura, best laid plans, LOL. The things you *don't* have control over always seem to come when you have the least amount of time to manage them, don't they?
Christie, I had a deadline of Dec. 1 originally. Then my dad had five skin cancer surgeries so I had to push my deadline back. Even when I try to schedule more sanely events gang up on me. And closets? You're a domestic goddess!
Lois--need a drinking buddy after deadlines like these. And where were you????
Hey, I think Christmas-ish deadlines were what led to my less-is-more holiday decorating style.
I knew there was no way I was going to make my 1/20 deadline and already asked my editor for some room. The crazy thing is this book should be done. Finished. I have no excuse other than I seem to have forgotten how to write!
Kathy, I feel so much better knowing someone else still has decorations up!
Deb, I keep muttering next year...I really promise myself no deadlines over Christmas!
Helen, that happened to me too, and I feel like that's why this book was slow to come. I actually turned in my last book in March and did nothing but edit four books through various stages and promo until the contract was settled in Aug. That long a break is not good for me, obviously!
Maybe stress is good...don't throw stuff. But in small amounts it is what gets us to do things. Right?
I can't get over you writing half a book in two weeks, I mean that is brilliant, so yeah, it was stressful, but then you got it done.
New Years day my husband and I emptied all the drawers in the living room and kitchen (lots) and threw out and organized -- it felt great. So I decided to do my office, and it felt great too, then I took down all of Christmas...yay...did I get any writing done? No.
But, now-now I'm ready. Seriously.
Okay. I'll fess up, too. My house also still looks like Christmas.
Next week. AFTER i turn in this book. THEN we'll get back to normal. Whatever 'normal' is
I try to be an organisded person, but these days that can fly right out the window. Trying organising Christmas, getting mother into a nursing home.. The paperwork would choke a horse and keeping my own personal appointments.. Now that is stress. But I can see where a deadline can cause added stress.. But that's life. We just have to go with the flow.
I get stress when I try to do more than a day will allow. I have too many irons in the fire so to speak. susan L.
Post a Comment