For writers, and most other people, this is an individual question. How many things you work into your schedule, and how much time you choose to spend not writing, is predicated by your life and will never be like anyone else’s.
If you’re like Corrine O’Flynn, the coordinator for the Colorado Gold Conference, you must be working in your sleep in order to put together that massive, amazing event, take care of kids in all kinds of activities, work, keep up with social media, write…I’m tired just thinking about it.
For me, I hit that wall a lot earlier. The RMFW Annual Event with Traditional, Indie, and Self Publishing tracks, is coming up on the 29th (like, right now!) and I’ve been working a lot on it over the last couple of months. My day job has been very busy for the past year, even though everyone keeps saying it will slow down. My husband has been gone more than home lately for his job, leaving me to manage some of the things that are out of my comfort zone. I’m writing this at 4:00 a.m. on a Saturday, because I woke up at 2:00 and realized how many things are not done that need to be.
Did you notice that I didn’t mention anything about writing in that last paragraph? I did, and that’s the problem. It’s been all work and no write and it’s making Terri a very grumpy girl. I’m looking at the weather and know that it’s time to get the garden ready, massacre the already-prolific weeds, and generally get the yard in shape before it gets out of control, so I find myself looking at this tunnel of yuck when I want to be looking at my WIP.
After I submit this blog, I plan to drag out my calendar and start scheduling myself – you know, that thing where you put stuff on your calendar today so you can move or delete it tomorrow when you realize life got in the way again. But at least I’m going to try, because Colorado Gold is coming up and I want to submit for the contest, I just found out I’ll be presenting again this year, and I really, really want to have at least one story submitted to the Anthology. Not to mention I need to enter all the edits I made on the hard copy of my most recent Bad Carma manuscript.
If any of you have found the magic bullet (not you Corrine – you must have cheated and got a clone or two made of you!) that allows you to keep on task for your writing, and get everything else you need to get done, please shoot me with it. I’m sure there are lots of you out there who are like me. What do you do to help keep on track?
Hope to see you all in Golden on the 29th, but no matter where you are, Write On!
Terri, I’ve been admiring your promotional work for the PubCon this Saturday–the blogs, the notifications, your interview with Mark Stevens on the RMFW podcast, all of it–and I wanted to add my “Thank you!” to the chorus of those who appreciate all you’ve done. I’m looking forward to the event. My tip for time management is nothing new, but when things get hectic it helps me avoid the rabbit hole of social media: first thing every morning, list what must be done, what’s most important to you, and then prioritize the list with numbers. For social media: a timer, 30 minutes, max. See you on Saturday!
You’re amazing!
Thanks Janet and Julie! I think I’m just feeling overwhelmed because my “day job” seems to expect me to actually do work ALL THE TIME and my husband still wants clean clothes and an occasional meal, and sometimes I’m just plain lazy and need a kick in the pants. See you Saturday!
What happened to snack time, recess and lunch?
Love the work you do for RMFW, Terri!
I think we should all go on strike for snack time and recess. Who decided we outgrew them?
LOL, Terri! I just saw this now, as I am catching up on the blog, squeezing it in between a cup of tea and a flight home after a weekend recharging in MA. 😉 I think we are all on a constant quest for that elusive writing-nonwriting/work-life balance thing that so many talk about. I wonder if it truly exists?! Personally, I suffer from the “yes, sure I can help with that.” problem and tend to find myself juggling one-too-many things way too often. I am no stranger to feeling overwhelmed.
Kudos to you for what I hear was a fantastic PubCon Event! I think you do an amazing job running all the things on the Western Slope! You can always be counted on for excellence. I look forward to seeing you at Colorado Gold, if not sooner!
And, for those of you watching at home, there is an opening for Conference Chair for 2018! It’s time for me to let that spinning set of plates be handed off to another lucky soul. Inquire within!
I think you’ve found the elusive Holy Grail, or a very amazing facsimile thereof, in your life. I just don’t know how you do it! I will see you at Gold, and if you’re at the board meeting this weekend. Thanks for the kudo – despite the 8″ of snow, we had a really good turnout, and great speakers.