I had such good intentions at the beginning of summer. I
really did. But they all went to Hell in a handbasket in no time. Here’s the
sad story. The summer started out at the end of May when I spent a week with my
Bunko buddies in Key Largo. We do this every
year and we had a blast, as usual.
Somehow, I managed to get through June without too much
drama and I did get a little writing done. Then July came along and the proverbial
fecal matter hit the fan. BEEF STOLEN-OFF released July 3rd, and although
I didn’t do as big a promotion tour as I did with LIVER LET DIE, there were a
lot of blogs to write and time spent marketing the new book. Did I mention my 3
sisters and 3 nieces came for a visit the day before BSO released? They were here for a week, and although we also had a blast (I
have the most fun family ever.) I went nonstop.
After the sisters left, I had a week’s reprieve for more
marketing before we left on a week’s family vacation at Canyon Lake.
That was also a blast, but it was so activity-filled that I felt like I needed
a vacation when we got back.
But Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo. I had another week’s reprieve
but I spent it trying to catch up with everything. Then I got my two
granddaughters (ages 1 and 3) while their parents sail off to the British Virgin Islands. As of today, we are in Day 4 of a
10 day babysitting gig and we’re surviving. Actually, the girls are so much fun
to be around, but like all kids their age, they require your undivided
attention. When they go to sleep at 8ish, we fall into bed ourselves.
I have pretty much declared the entire summer as a
no-writing time since I am one of those authors who need total concentration. I
wish I could sit down for thirty minutes at a time and write, but I’m not. I
decided that a long time ago and I don’t torture myself trying to change my
writing ways just because someone else can do it that way.
So, this summer has flown by, leaving me exhausted, happy
and WAY behind on my deadline for CHICKEN CACCHIA-KILLER. And you
know what? I’m okay with that. If I need a deadline extension, so be it. When
the girls go home next Sunday, I will put the pedal to the metal and get as
much done as I can before I run off to Italy for a writer’s conference
where I will be rubbing noses with European publishers and writers. (That's 5 cliches if you're counting!!)
And oh yeah, our house is on the market, so I have to keep it clean every day!
Hello. I’m Liz and I
have a new attitude. What about you? How’s your summer going?
6 comments:
Sounds like an interesting and fun, not writing, filled summer
OMG!!! I WAS actually counting your cliches! Only because you usually point them out! ha ha.
Oh Liz! I can sooo sympathize. My summer writing has been in the crapper as well. I don't know what happened to June. July was all about soccer tournaments. Now here we are jumping into August and I'm behind my self-imposed deadline schedule. WTH!?!?!
We are about to leave on a family vacation Sunday through Wed/Thurs (we haven't decided exactly when we are coming home). I'm not ready, but you can be sure I will be bringing my laptop!! I need car writing time people cuz I'm not getting any at home! Although this is our first FULL week of having absolutely NOTHING going on at night.
And what have a done since dinner cleanup?? Yup, looked online to finalize vacation plans because I haven't had time until now! Ugh.
I LOVE your new attitude and I have about come to the same conclusion myself. All I can do is the best I can do. And I'm happy with that. :-)
Your stories rock! So hang in there, Labor Day is right around the corner!!
Hello Liz, I'm Anita and I need a new attitude too. But I'm so like you in that I need large slots of time to write. Writing in thirty minute bursts are worthless to me. I get nothing done but shifting a few words on the page. My hat is off to the writers who can write a book one hour a day. I can't do it. I need uninterrupted time to get my head in the story.
Enjoy your non-writing summer and then bust your butt when you get the time. you'll get it done.
It definitely was both, Lindsay. Thanks for commenting.
LOL on the cliche counting, Barbie. And I know your summer has been like mine. Deadlines, self imposed or not, suck!! Have fun on your vacation.
You and I are sisters, Anita. And I know I will get it done--maybe not right on the deadline, but my editor doesn't get to it for two months anyway.
We'll keep on keeping on.
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