I realized today that I have exactly 34 days until THE GATHERING is released and… the book isn’t even ready yet! I’m still dallying around with edits, as usual.
I loathe edits with a fiery passion. I’ve seen some writers say they love them because it means the book is done. Well, yeah, I get that, but writing is the fun part. Or it is for me. Since I don’t outline ahead of time, writing is the adventure. I live it along with the characters. Edits are just rehashing the already known. It’s not fun. It’s quite boring, actually.
I’m a procrastinator, everyone who follows this blog, knows this. I can’t help it. My attention span is very short. I’ve often said I suffer from Adult ADD. (I’ve not been diagnosed, but I think I should have it checked out!) I flit from thing to thing and my “To Do” list gets longer every day. For every task I mark off, I add two because I’m constantly ‘doing’ things other than what I should be doing.
It’s a never ending battle over here, folks! I envy those authors who have every minute of their day organized and know exactly what to do when. I schedule my time like I write… by the seat of my pants! It’s a wild, wicked rush at times but, it’s how I roll. Unfortunately, at the moment, it looks as if I’m rolling headlong into a brick wall.
I’ve got to get a handle on my time management. I don’t work outside the home, writing is what I do, so I have no excuse really. I guess I’ll just ban myself from the Internet until my ‘work’ is done. That’s the only thing I can think of at the moment!
What ‘time management’ advice do you have? Surely someone knows a better system than I have.
All material ©2005-2012 to Lily Graison
I’m an at home writer, so I struggle with using time well, too. Not in an ADD way, but definitely procrastination. Some people are self-motivated, others need a rigid schedule to keep them productive.
Editing for me can be two ways – OMG I have so much work why can’t I write it well the first time; or yay I was close and now I get to make it prettier because I’m having good ideas and feel so smart I’ll plug it all in and the book will be awesome. There are famous quotes about art or novels never being finished, only abandoned. Every published writer I know is sick of looking at the mss by the time it hits the shelf.
I don’t know…try scheduling your writing? And set alarms for each of your tasks?
Good luck, Lily. Sooner you get it done, the sooner you don’t have to look at the book anymore!
Kim
@Kim – The ‘looking’ at it is what I hate. LOL I’m sick of this book. It took me a year to write so, I’m over it. LOL
Timed tasks may actually work. I do that when I write. My trusty little egg timer is set for one hour and I don’t stop writing until it goes off. Something about the ‘ticking makes it (me) go faster. Works for me then, if may work for the editing as well.
Thanks for commenting!
Oh the dreaded edit eh?
Maybe reward yourself for the looming task? I have been tied to my computer all weekend and I am going to treat myself to get a massage when I reach my goal. Not only becauce my back it killing me (writers back) but sometimes you need light at the end of the tunnel especially when it seems that tunnel has gone on FOREVER!!!
Good Luck! Hopefully by the time you read this you will be over the hurdle and on the downward run???
C.J
Have you ever considered farming out the task or better word – delegating it ? Always helps to have more hands complete the job. Also – the team that supports you can push you to meeting your own deadlines.
Think about it …
I do actually have others who help out. I have a set of test readers/critique partners who help with all the technical stuff…finding the typos and what-not but I still have to make sure its a clean doc myself. I’m just lazy at times. LOL And, I like to complain on occasion! Especially when I’m doing something I’d rather not be doing. Writing is much more fun than editing. *wink*
Wow, I thought I invented the term “Adult ADD” but evidently not!I’m the world’s best (worst?) procrastinator (in my own opinion).For instance, I can spend countless minutes doing this type of writing instead of working on a manuscript that should have been ready weeks ago. Hm….
Betty, we should start a support group!
Like you, I can write all day on various things…just not what I’m supposed to do. I’ve done that today. I created an entirely new page on my website, something that took a few hours of ‘writing’ and I’ve yet to open this MSS today. And now, I’m blogging. Point made! LOL
You know what’s funny? Sometimes I procrastinate from writing by editing. 😀 I know. INSANE. I do enjoy the editing process–something about which I hope to post soon. I like finding moments of brilliance where I wrote something with twofold power and I didn’t know it! Especially when the edit makes it more powerful. I’m sick.
I’ve read the synopsis of The Gathering and being a werewolf lover, I’m VERY intrigued. I will read and catch up so I can read #6 when it’s ready. WOOT!
Thank you for following my blog. I’m now a follower of yours.
Ellen
http://mymotherstuttered.blogspot.com/