Friday, January 30, 2015

Time

The days already seem longer and January is just about gone. Not that it vaguely feels like the midst of winter here in Southern California.

I got the edits for WOUND UP IN MURDER with a very short turn around time. A week. My editor really liked the manuscript and said it was “funny, moving, well plotted and filled with heart.” The changes she suggested are
minor and all easy to address, but I always take this opportunity to go over the whole manuscript and give it a polish. Since there has been quite a bit of time since I have worked on the manuscript, I have a fresh eye.

All of this takes time, which made me think about time in general. In the past when I’ve had about the same amount of time to go over a manuscript, I have freaked out a little and put everything on hold while I worked on the manuscript.

This time I can’t do that because of our family business. We have seminars next week and I have to prepare all the materials we give out, while dealing with appointments we have this week. I hate to miss out on the gym as it makes the rest of my day so much better.

I have it figured out that if I go over 50 pages a day I will be able to send it back on time. There is no set time that it takes as sometimes I can read over page after page without changing anything, or I can spend over an hour trying to rewrite a paragraph.

The funny thing is I’m not freaking out at all, but have discovered that it is true that the busier you are, the more you are able to get done. I’m not sure how it works for others, but I think I waste less time. I move from one task to another more quickly. Also I think I am more realistic about how long it takes to do something.

Well, times up for blog writing - my manuscript awaits.

5 comments:

Linda O. Johnston said...

It's definitely true that time is a precious commodity that needs to be handled well, Betty, and it sounds as if you're doing a great job of getting everything accomplished!

Planner said...

I love your editor's description of Wound Up in Murder--something for your readers (as in me!) to look forward to.

Good luck with that short deadline and balancing all those balls in the air. You're going into it with a great attitude, and I know you'll do it all beautifully.

Betty Hechtman said...

Linda, I think I will make all my deadlines, but everything else like laundry has gotten pushed to the sidelines.

Betty Hechtman said...

Planner, I am a little frazzled by now, but I always seem to get a second wind.

Miss Merry said...

I totally agree. When I was working, I had to get things done, both at the job and at home. Now that I am unemployed - I get distracted and the whole day gets away from me. I accomplish less at home than when I was only here part time!