Mike Geffner asked for guest blogs, and I told him I was actively searching for a writing/editing/PR job, and I could post about that if he’d like. He liked: Welcome to the Buyer’s Market–Where All my Buyer’s At?
Haven’t updated for awhile because I haven’t had many links to share. The N&T seems to have skipped one of my columns and I don’t want to post it unless/until they do first.
As for writing, as you’ll see in the link above where I’m guest-blogging on Mike Geffner’s blog, I’ve been looking around to see what’s out there in terms of jobs. I’d prefer something work-from-home, and to that end, I’ve had a couple of interviews, so I think I’m doing something right! We’ll see what happens. The latest position I interviewed for I def. do not want to jinx, so more on that later.
Other things I’ve been working on: writing every single day. It seems I DO write everyday, but I don’t always spend my alloted 15-30 min. on my novel. Why is it so hard to squeeze that time in? I really think I need to build a habit of writing every morning, but very serious things get in the way.
Take today, for instance. I have two sick kids. I planned on being at my local coffee shop deeply ensconced in an overstuffed armchair with a Black Currant tea (new fave!), my feet kicked up on the fireplace, putting away at:
1.) Chap 28 & 29 of Troll or Derby
2.) A list of Allergy Moms for a book project
3.) Turning in a freelance assignment for the N&T
4.) phone calls for Current
All of that would have been doable this morning, if I had dropped off the kids at school and been able to claim my usual spot at the coffee shop. But that didn’t happen, so I settled for working from home and getting my deadline work turned in.
When I get the above finished or (considering the aspect of writing the novel), in between current chapters, there are some other assignments/projects I want to get to, as well:
5.) book proposal for Complete Idiot’s Guide line of books
6.) reading through a non-fiction book-editing project and deciding if I can do the work for what they want to pay (I have a deadline for deciding this)
7.) an editorial I pitched to Joe Bob Briggs ages ago, that he told me to go ahead and write for The Door
8.) start thinking about what to submit to about five other outlets where I think it would behoove me to publish
I’m also thinking of another book project, that I don’t want to write too much about at this time.
There are tons and tons of things keeping me busy, work-wise.
The trade-off of finding a full-time job (or even a part-time job) is less time for all these projects–but less speculation, as well. Writing so much without getting paid is honestly not that motivating.
Doing some PR, social media stuff, blogging, promotion would be ideal work for me right now. It doesn’t detract from my energy for writing fiction, and it’s something that uses a different part of my skill set, and energizes me. That’s the kind of work I’m looking for, if I get my first pick. I’d like to be twittering/facebooking/blogging on behalf of something really awesome that I can get behind. Some organization or product/service that will make people say “Thanks for letting me know about this!”
It’s kind of like that movie where Christian Slater owns the flower store, and he delivers the flowers himself, because he likes seeing people smile. THAT’s the kind of social media/PR/promotional/advertising/marketing/whatever position I’d like to have. And I am totally capable, so we’ll see how it goes.
I’ve known so many writers who no longer have the energy to work on their own stuff because they write all day. I’ve found that having a desk to sit at (or an overstuffed coffee shop chair!), a routine, a schedule, some kind of order really helps me to fit my work in. Like my friend Barbara DeMarco-Barrett says in her book Pen on Fire, sometimes all it takes is knowing you’ve only got a few minutes–then you can really write productively. I’m okay with that.
For me, the trick is making a habit of using that fifteen minutes, and habits come with routines for me, personally. My routines seem to be tailored to my obligations. I’m a freelance writer, so I don’t go to an office and work 9-5. My biggest obligation on an everyday basis is taking my kids to and from school, so my writing falls around that schedule. Having floating deadlines and writing on a project-by-project basis is convenient, but doesn’t force me into a routine.
Am I saying I need to be forced into a box? Not exactly. I still want to work at home the coffee shop, if I can. I’d just like to have the obligation to perform–knowing I’m going to get paid and I need to earn that keep drives me to fit in all my work. That’s just how I work.
I think about this often–but it takes more than thinking to make something real come from it! Looking for an ongoing gig *in earnest* is a good move on my part. It’s a good move for my income, but most importantly, it’s a good move for my writing. With the exception of God & my family, there is nothing more important to me than that.
