Being Busy
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| Okay, so I haven't been THAT busy. |
Let's be honest. There is a point during the process when you have to stop and ask yourself if it's all worth it. The writing, the editing, the marketing...all mixed together with all the real life stuff you've got to get done...
It's a great ways to lose sight of your sanity.
My son once pointed out that I am trying to do a job that has no finite end. I could work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and still, I would not complete all that I want to get done.
There have been times that knowledge almost drives me nuts. Makes me wish we were creations built to function on caffeine instead of sleep, so I could get more done.
Since I've tried that and it's a total, flu-inducing fail, I've decided to simply pace myself. To give myself credit for the things I do get done. And of course, I will make my lists and try to triage the things that need done...things like the paying the electric bill and buying food for the kids.
I suppose I'll get done what I can get done, and call that good enough.
Stephen Tremp, Fundy Blue, MJ Fifield, Loni Townsend, Bish Denham, Susan Gourley, and Stephanie Faris!
Also from the IWSG team...
Coming Soon!!!
Parallels:
Felix Was Here
An Insecure
Writer’s Support Group Anthology
Enter the
realm of parallel universes!
What if the
government tried to create the perfect utopia? Could a society linked to a
supercomputer survive on its own? Do our reflections control secret lives on
the other side of the mirror? Can one moment split a person’s world forever?
Exploring
the fantastic, ten authors offer incredible visions and captivating tales of
diverse reality. Featuring the talents of L. G. Keltner, Crystal Collier, Hart
Johnson, Cherie Reich, Sandra Cox, Yolanda Renee, Melanie Schulz, Sylvia Ney,
Michael Abayomi, and Tamara Narayan.
Hand-picked
by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will expand your imagination
and twist the tropes of science fiction. Step through the portal and enter
another dimension!
$14.95 USA, 6x9
Trade paperback, 218 pages, Freedom Fox Press
Science
Fiction/General ( FIC028000) and Fiction/Alternative
History (FIC040000)
Print ISBN
978-1-939844-19-4 eBook ISBN 978-1-939844-20-0
Order through
Ingram, Follett Library Resources, or from the publisher
$4.99 EBook
available in all formats
“Pensive and manifold views into parallel
earth not without a glimmer of hope.”
- Edi’s Book Lighthouse
Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure
Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It
provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, two
Facebook groups, and a monthly newsletter.
Thanks for the shout out for Parallels! So cool to be part of such an amazing group of writers!
ReplyDeleteI too am asking that question, why, what's it all for. The result is sometimes so, well almost imperceptible. So I'm off for a break. Time to do the thing that makes me happy, whatever the hell that is. :)
We should get together and wine. All we need is a designated driver.
DeleteYou enjoy your break, but don't get too comfie. You're expected back to work in a few weeks.
I really think your son has a valid point! What a clever remark. So pleased you are praising yourself for the great things you've accomplished. Even remembering to feed the kids amidst everything else is fabulous :) Keep going Elizabeth. You're an inspiration to many of us.
ReplyDeleteHe is a clever child. And bless their hearts, my kids are so supportive. Unbelievably so. Until I forget to feed them. LOL
DeleteMe inspiring? Ah shucks. Thanks :)
That's true. There is no end point. The work goes on forever. And that can make us nuts if we let it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning the IWSG anthology today!
And every now and then, I do let it drive me a little nuttier than my usual nutty self.
DeleteBest of luck with the new book!!
You should totally give yourself credit for all the things - big AND small - you accomplish!
ReplyDeleteLove the quote about mastering belief in yourself. I'm not there yet, but I'm trying. :)
It can be hard- especially when we're looking at our end goal- that perfect moment when the checks start having extra zeros on them.
DeleteYeah, watch that. Zero watching...that's dangerous thinking!
Oh yeah, I'll never ever get all the stories I have up there written if I lived to be a 1000. Just have to do what we can do.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely the most prolific guy I know!!! Keep at it.
DeleteBeing an author is like being a parent. You're never done. Ever. =) Awesome advice today. You're one author I know who appears to have a grip on the balance, but I'm sure you tip one way or the other all the time. We only let people see the best, eh?
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, never let them see you sweat. It's like when your baby smack their head on a table and you know stitches are coming and it's gonna hurt- you just smile and tell them they're getting a new toy. It's all in the spin.
DeleteWe have to try and do what we can. Then jump beyond that when possible. Stories never stop coming.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Most of us can't stop, even if we want to. I've always said- it's not a job; it's an addiction.
DeleteThanks for the Parallels promo. I feel you on the rest of it. There are only so many hours in the day. Your son sounds like an insightful soul.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. Best of luck to you all. I can't wait to read it.
DeleteHe is a bright kid, if I do say so myself.
Great post, Elizabeth. This is something I often forget: Writing is as much about process as product (except for those few on a publisher deadline). I love the process; it's what happens when I'm done that isn't so exciting.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jacqui. I agree the process is the fun part. The rest is just work. Sigh.
DeleteElizabeth, you have an uncanny sense of humor. I enjoyed reading this!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dixie! I'm glad you enjoyed.
DeleteSeems like a lot of us are suffering from life right now. I had to laugh, which "job" is the one with no end? Mother or writer? Both! No wonder we go nuts.
ReplyDeleteVery good point!! I once read a cartoon in Reader's Digest...a new mom calls her mother and asks, "Mom, when will my baby stop waking me up in the middle of the night?" And her tired mother responds, "Evidently, never."
DeleteHi, Elizabeth! I'm visiting today as an IWSG co-host, and I enjoyed this funny post so much, the visuals as well as the writing! I must get "Parallels" in hard copy! You and other IWSG writers have featured this book and I am champing at the bit to read it! Happy writing in May!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting! I need to get my copy of Parallels too. I can't wait!
DeleteI can't think of this as working toward an end. There are too many circles and too many side roads. I'm seeing a lot of stir for the anthology and it's exciting to know so many writers who've contributed to it.
ReplyDeletePerfectly put! Accepting there really is no end makes the work more like an incredible journey to be enjoyed along the way.
DeleteIt does seem like the work is never done, and that can really drive a person crazy. I think we just have to do what we can, forget the rest, and then have a glass of wine. And I love that writer definition. Describes me perfectly:)
ReplyDeleteI think you're a genius. I will second that approach. Work until wine time.
DeleteAs writers, we need to be kinder to ourselves. We can't do it all.
ReplyDeletePiper Presley
Returns: Insecure Writer's Support Group
I agree! We need to stick that on a post-it note.
DeleteI love that qoutation, so very true.
ReplyDeleteAlso I enjoyed reading about the Anthology, in fact Elizabeth a wonderful post in it's entirity.
Yvonne.
Thank you Yvonne!!
DeleteYour son is right! There's no endpoint. There are miniature endpoints for each step, but then we're on to the next thing.
ReplyDeleteSo true. But at least we can say, we're never bored.
DeleteIt can be a hard job but we really do need to pace ourselves for risk of burning out! Most (non-author) folk think writing is an easy job (the actuality of sitting at a computer all day, I don't mean the creative side of it) but in actual fact it requires so much effort and brain power, right? You're doing a great job!
ReplyDeleteSuzy x
www.suzyturner.com
My favorite quote about the work involved in writing is from Stephen King where he said, if you want easy, be a painter, they just throw paint on a canvas, right?
DeleteSo excited for PARALLEL!!! Congrats to all the authors involved ;)
ReplyDeleteLove the quotes. All great. And yes, I do enjoy turning caffeine into books, thank you very much :P lol
Caffeine. The wonder drug.
DeleteI have something like 30-40 article assignments in my inbox right now. At some point you just laugh. I don't even get stressed about it anymore. Each client gets one piece every 1-2 days. If they don't like it, they can go get another writer to maybe pick up some of the slack. And that's in addition to the writing and revising I'm doing on my books. No end is right!
ReplyDeleteAnd you hit the 15,000 step a day mark on your Fitbit. Lady, are you an alien? How are you getting it all done?
Deleteexactly what I needed to hear. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. Glad it helped :)
DeleteAlways nice to have a reminder. I feel I've fallen of the face of the blogging world right now, that I have nothing fun or of importance to write about. Thank you for the pep talk... Now I have to go back to reading more blogs!
ReplyDeleteAnd I know your personal life has been busy. It's hard sometimes to come up with stuff when our lives are moving so quickly, our brains don't get to slow down.
DeleteOkay, we'll try this again! Like those above said, so nice to have a reminder about real life and what is actually possible. Love especially the first quote! Your son is soooo smart! And that "never-ending" thought terrifies me sometimes.
ReplyDeleteJust take a deep breath and do what you can do. (which is an amazing lot of stuff...just remember you're the gal who put together weddings in weeks!!!)
DeleteEvery time I think about how hard it would be to accomplish the goal of writing and selling, I'm reminded that I watched a friend do it from "I've got an idea..." to "hey, I'm on the New York Times best sellers list!" in what seemed like a short period of time to me (because I didn't have to do all the work - and she DID work).
ReplyDeleteIt's not an easy job, but if you're doing what you love, go for it.
Some people do look like they get there by magic, but I've met those people who succeed and it's not luck and it's not magic. It's focus and drive.
DeleteYassss to everything you said!! Not even 10 cups of coffee is helping me right now.
ReplyDeleteTen cups? I'd be spending all my time in the lady's room. Cut back to five ;)
DeleteIndeed. Just keep on writing and it'll be turn out well one day.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you love what you're doing, enjoy the process. We are so focused on the success quotient, we forget to remember to enjoy.
DeleteDude, you've accomplished so much that I'm often standing in awe of you. Keep up the good work! You rock!
ReplyDeleteAww. You made my day. Same to you, lady!! We're proof that gals with scattered attention spans can get some things done.
Delete