I have less than a week to do everything I need to do before the next trip. The list is smaller than it was when I started three weeks ago, at least. It still feels like I’m not getting anything done.
Part of this is the curse of multitasking. At one point last week I had three story files open, a file of blog posts, two different e-mail accounts, various online discussions I was following, and my phone on my desk, which I’d been using for various housekeeping/administrative calls. I wasn’t doing everything at once, but I’d do a little piece of each — a phone call, a blog post, check e-mail, work on a story, another phone call when I got stuck, etc. Everything gets done, eventually. But it sure feels haphazard.
I know, I know. I ought to finish one thing before moving on to the next. But you know what ends up happening when I try that? When there’s a thing I need to do that I don’t want to? I play solitaire for two hours. This is not a good use of time. Instead, I tell myself: answer five e-mails, then work on the story. Or, if I’m stuck on the story, I have permission to go do something else on the list because at least I’m getting something done. Baby steps, Grasshopper.
I’m one of those writers who discovered that I don’t produce much more now that I’m writing full time than I did when I had a job. When I had a day job, I was much more careful with my time. I really wrote for that hour or so between work and dinner because that was all I had. I’m still writing about the same amount, but spread out over the whole day now. And I’m pretty sure I didn’t have nearly as much writing-related administrative crap (e-mails, blogs, interviews, travel, contracts, post office runs, etc.) to do when I still had a job (I only started blogging after I quit the job, for example).
But you know what? I’m a whole lot less stressed about it all than I was when I had a day job. I really do have the whole day to get things done instead of just a couple of hours, and that’s nice.
Something I started doing off and on last spring: if I’m feeling useless at the end of the day, I make a list of everything I did. Everything. This includes laundry, filling the dishwasher, taking the dog for a long walk, answering e-mails, writing 800 words, updating the website, making trip reservations. Usually, the list is anywhere from 5 to 12 items long. Which means I’m getting a lot done, I just don’t often feel like I am.
So, lesson learned: Spend a bit of time contemplating how much I’ve actually done, rather than focusing on the list of things I still have to do. I may not feel very efficient about it, but the stuff is getting done.
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Congrats on the sucess that you can have a full time writing career. how does that feel? Is it harder or easier now, (without the stress of a job, but what about the stress of money.)
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I’m much happier now — writing full time was always my goal, and I love being my own boss. I’m in a pretty fortunate position right now of having a low cost of living — it’s just me and my dog — and making enough to cover bills and sock some away.
Here’s the thing — I had a really sucky day job that didn’t pay great and had no health insurance or benefits. Quitting to write full time was a step up.
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congrats on the success. I hope someday this will happen to me, but didn’t realize editting a book was just as time consuming as writing it. How much though time, lets say working hours do you average a day? I want to make sure I am not becoming a sissy writer.
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Well, every writer is different so I’m not sure you can use me as a benchmark or guidepost. I probably spend 3-4 hours of actual writing/editing time.
I’m sure there are writers who don’t spend a lot of time editing, and some who spend way more than me. Most of my books have gone through two major revisions (one with my notes, one with editor’s and beta reader’s notes) and a copy edit (which not only fixes grammar and spelling and typos, but continuity, stylistic quirks, and so on). Editing is how you make sure the pieces/parts actually add up to the whole you want the book to look like.
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Hey Carrie, I do the same thing when I need feel productive. I make lists of everything that takes up my time. Do dishes, check. Take a shower and shave, check. Then at the end of the day, even though some of the stuff is completely inane, I know I’ve gotten tons of stuff done.
Also, I think it’s especially important to put fun stuff on the list. I always include naps on my weekend lists. That way they have as much importance as the chores.