Changing How I Work

Generally when I send in a manuscript I take some time off from writing while I wait to hear from my editor.  But once I realized I had three books to write before the fall, I started working on the next manuscript in the writer- for- hire series before I even got editorial comments on the first book. 

I also realized I had to change how I worked.  I needed to find more hours in the day that I could depend on being able to work.   I’ve had the habit of writing in a journal in the morning while I drink coffee.  A couple of hours can go by without me even noticing.  So I commandeered that time to work on the next manuscript.

My initial plan included getting dressed first and that worked for a couple of days, but for the past two I’ve started out still in nightwear.  It’s an effort to change habits, but I put the coffee on and push myself to the computer.  I drink coffee and write, just something different.  I know that it will take a few weeks, but then it’s just feel like the normal thing to do.  Already the time has gone from two hours to three or four.

And then when someone interrupts me with something, or I find out when he arrives that Jakey is coming over, I don’t get that horrible feeling that I should be doing something else.

Today it was the coronavirus thing and the CDC person’s advice to stock up on things in case there is a problem with supplies.  My son and I went to Costco and left with two full carts of things like toilet paper and peanut butter.  I’m supposed to go to Chicago next week.  I wonder how that’s going to be?  There’s so much information floating around but nobody really seems to know what’s going on.

I flew a week after 9/11 and as I recall the plane wasn’t very crowded. I wonder if this flight will be the same.  The information about flying and illness is all over the place.  On one hand I read that its flying in a metal tub full of germs and then the next article talks about how the air is so filtered.  Knock on wood, I’ve never gotten sick after flying.  LAX is getting sprayed with some kind of disinfectant every hour.  I’m wondering if the cure is worse than the problem.

My attitude is we got supplies in case there is a problem, but other than that let life go on.

More to Come

I have something really fun to blog about--but I've got no time or energy for it this week, unfortunately.

Next week, though...

More to come.

It's All Happening at the Zoo

Last week I was consumed with finishing MURDER INK.  I lost track of time and the days melted.  I finished it and sent it off on Sunday. Now I wait to hear what my editor thinks.

So, now it’s time to take a short breather and read.  When I’m in the throes of finishing a manuscript I tend to stay away from reading since I feel like it’s time I should be spending writing.

Ever since I got my Kindle Paperwhite I started paying attention to the BookBub offerings.  A week or so ago, I got a book called When, The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink.  He happens to have the same last name as one of my characters, but that’s not why I like the book.  It’s all about how our judgement and abilities are affected by the time of day.  The point is to plan things according to where you’re going to be in your day.

I certainly found it was true last night when I tried to write my blog.  My fingers just sat on the keys with no inspiration to punch out any words.  I could feel that my mind was dull.  To tired to think much. 

I tried.  I really tried to get something going, but it wouldn’t.  But then I’d add another serendipty day.  I had planned to spend it on starting on the next projects I have which turns out to be three books in the next six months.  I had other things to attend to that are part of life like laundry and bills and cleaning the floor.  But it all changed when my grandson came over and a trip to the zoo was in the works.  Exercise is good and the zoo is a great place to get it.  The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden is draped around the mountains in Griffith Park.  There are views of green ridges covered in damp haze.  Trees and flowering plants are everywhere.  The city is forgotten and it’s quiet except for the lions roaring when it’s dinner time.

Of course, going with a three-year-old I filled with pushing a stroller up a hill and rushing down a hill to catch up with a toddler on the loose.  Afterwards we went to IKEA for food.  It’s a toddler fun zone.  There’s a cart with trays for him to push through the cafeteria line.  And then a table by the window with a fabulous view of the mountains of Griffith Park, the freeway with creeping traffic (it was rush hour), Metrolink trains rushing by and  the sky turning pretty colors as the sun set.  He liked the view of the desserts on the cart of trays pretty well, too.

This morning it’s easy to write about my day, but last night there wasn’t a chance.  Timing is everything.  By the way KNOT ON YOUR LIFE is going to be a BookBug selection on March 12.  Tell your friends!

Travel Show

I went to a local travel show last weekend.  Wow!  There were representatives from all sorts of locations and tour companies and cruise lines and more. 

I picked up a whole lot more information than I need, but some of it was for friends and family, some of it gave me new ideas of places I'd like to see--and some of it was to give me ideas for tours and visits I could go to for researching a current idea I'm working on.

Will I go visit all the areas that impressed me?  Unlikely.  But  maybe a few.  Someday.  Maybe for research--and maybe not.

But definitely to have fun!