Balancing and juggling

Okay, one week to go to the next deadline, and this one is a doozy!  Sorry, it kind of dominates my life right now, except . . .

Yes, I'm getting excited about the book signing, even though the new book isn't out yet.  I have a new chapter down for Epitaph and another chapter "brewing."  I'm anxious to spend some quality time with my keyboard, and yet, I'm at least getting intermittent time so I can keep my hand in it.  It's a precarious balance, this working full time gig while entertaining the writing muse.  Some days it's near impossible, and yet, here I am.

Taking deep breaths, knowing that soon the balance will shift.

Billy Joel said in a lecture that people who wondered if they could be musicians weren't.  If you don't know, then you aren't.  I believe the same applies to most artists.  It's in your DNA.  That being said, writing is something I've done all of my life.  It took a while to get to where I am today, and I still have a ways to go (along with more juggling and more balancing). It's a part of who I am - the best is yet to come.

Welcome Sweet Spring Time

One more week until Spring has officially sprung.  The weather is giving us indications of the changeover, warmer temperatures, RAIN, crocuses.  My favorite thing about spring is the sense of renewal, rebirth, reawakening.  Things go from drab to technicolor in the space of a few short weeks.  Its a great time to shake off the dust and lethargy of winter and jump with both feet into new projects, new starts, renewed motivation.  For me, it's a gigantic boost for the mental state of mind.

Yes, there is still busy season to contend with.  And daily life.  This past weekend, I took a drive 75 miles away to watch One Young Son play volleyball (thanks for riding with me, sis!).  I went to a baby shower for my niece.  Action packed, these weekends.  With the time change, I feel like I missed this weekend altogether, even though I still enjoyed those parts of it that I wasn't working . . .

There's a light at the end of the tunnel and a writer's conference on the horizon. And Springtime to refresh the attitude.  Never mind that they're threatening snow for next weekend (they might be wrong, you know!).  And then, hopefully, I'll have more interesting thoughts to blog about again.  More projects to keep you posted on.  More publishing news! 

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Deadline: a double 4 letter word

Yes, I've been in this business longer than I care to admit, and every year as we hit deadlines it's bedlam and mayhem all over again.  And yet, there's a certain amount of adrenlin that goes with it.  Each year has it's own personality at deadline times and this one is no exception. 

I've been wound up, preparing for this year, anticipating what's coming and how to meet the unreasonable demands.  You do what you can ahead of time, and then when time runs out, you hope you make it through.  Well, we did make it through the first round, my team and me. (pats on the back all around).  Ready for the next one.  It's rapid fire this time of year.

Along with the day job, there is the writing deadline aspect of things.  Yes, some of us thrive on the adrenalin rush, and yes there are times you don't think you're going to pull through.  Riding on a wave of achievement, I'm reflecting on the writing tasks ahead of me.  I'm still editing Epitaph, I'm nearly finished with the one after that one and I have one "on the shelf" that continues to tug at me to make it more saleable.  Then, there's my first book, which I've had a number of recent sales on and which I believe is outdated (almost ten years since its publication date).  The thought runs through my head to update it.  All projects that vie for my attention.

The most important part about deadlines, however, is prioritization.  Knowing what has to go first and what can wait.  With the Chicago conference coming up next month, there is some preparation I have to do.  With a little luck, I'll have an agent/publisher meeting to pitch Epitaph, in which case I'll need to finish those edits (for my own peace of mind - they won't be looking at it at the conference).  I have to pull together promos for the book signing and yes, I'm still juggling that pesky day job that pays the bills. 

Sometimes life works in concert with you, though, and you have to take advantage of those opportunities.  This is one of those years where things are in alignment, so the deadlines aren't quite so scary this time around.  It's just a matter of pushing through them and making sure you get done what needs to be done ahead of time so that when that last day hits, you're ready for it.

This year - I'm ready!