When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, every day a little, suddenly the work will finish itself.
-- Isak Dinesen (1885-1962) Danish writer
While my desk looks like a paper bomb exploded on it, I have more important things on my list than housekeeping. Yesterday while I was hiding from the WGH and his spring cleaning binge, it occurred to me that to the casual observer it may look like I don't do anything all day but play on the computer. Little Bit asked me that once - "Mommy, what do you do all day?" Had the WGH asked me that I might have taken my wounded ego, retreated into my hidey-hole and given him the silent treatment for a day (the not-quite-comic/stereotypical/pat response). The innocent question from a 12-year-old was not such a barb.
I spend most of my days on the computer. My chosen career as a writer not only involves writing, but also involves keeping myself in the literary loop. I troll somewhere between 15 and 20 blogs on a daily basis. I check out other authors' websites. I'm on DorothyL and have the daily digests to keep up with. Not to mention the emails I get on a continual basis. Plus, I do a lot of research online or through emailing questions to those I consider experts on the subject at hand (like my doctor friend who is my resident resource on all things kosher).
There has been a thread on DL over the past few days about "day jobs" - what writers do for a living besides write, or what we've done in the past. I used to work full-time. After nearly 15 years of stress and misery, I quit. Now I'm a stay-at-home Mom with a part-time job - I type for a living (I do medical transcription). So, when I'm not on one computer (this one), I'm on the other (both are in my study and are less than six feet from each other). This is what I do all day. It's all part of the gig, part and parcel (PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWERS, itty-bitty living space).
Sometimes I really do have to make myself a list, just so I don't forget something. Provided I don't lose the list, I usually have no trouble getting everything done.
Today's list:
1. Finish reading ARC.
2. Write & submit review.
3. Revamp query letter. Send to next agent on list.
4. Watch latest arrival from Netflix, Mrs. Henderson Presents.
5. Work on latest edition of the SinC-MidTN newsletter.
6. Polish interview with Brett Battles and prepare to post (TOMORROW!).
Does that seem like a lot to you? It's little stuff to me. Just like Ms. Dinesen said - a little at a time.
Music of the Moment: Carmen Suite No. 1: Les Toreadors, Bizet
Tomorrow: The long-awaited, much-anticipated interview with author Brett Battles, whose debut novel is due for release next spring. You don't want to miss this one, folks!
In the meantime, read a book! It's good for you.
=) JB
4 comments:
Ooooohhhh, tomorrow Brett exposed? With the tattoos and body piercing pictures, right?
I love lists. They motivate me to get stuff done.
Er ... um, no. No pictures. I just ... no.
How funny you should mention tattoos and piercings though, Sandra, because the ARC I'm reading has that as its underlying theme. You'll understand when I post my review on it (coming soon to a blog and listserv near you!).
Two of the six things on my list have been accomplished thus far. I keep having to refer back to it to see what I'm doing next. ;)
2 out of 6 is good! Someone sent an email this morning that's messed up my list for the day, so I'm not happy. One simple thing has thrown my schedule back likely 1.5 days on that item, anyway.
At least it's not my fault. But I'm still not happy.
And I look forward to the review.
Mna, that's a good blog topic -- how I got sidetracked and set back for days. Haven't we all? Sorry Sandra, hope you're back on track soon.
Keep knockin' off that list, JB. I'm doing the same!
Amo!
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