News

21
Nov

Time Tracking

Hi! Two weeks ago I started tracking my time – well, not time exactly, but but what I accomplished each day – because I am always interested in balance and how I can structure my days better. I don’t know if it will be of interest to anyone but me, but I am always fascinated by others’ writing habits and routines, so here goes:

MON, NOV 5

work: finished the Cahill Witch Chronicles story bible; finished tweaking the end of STAR CURSED

other: found super-cute Friendsgiving place card craft

TUES, NOV 6

work: did STAR CURSED edits; caught up on reader email

other: voted!, hour walk, watched election results with twitter

WED, NOV 7

work: spent 2.5 hours on marketing stuff (mostly updates for website)

other: emails, found recipe for Friendsgiving (cheddar-jalapeno stuffing which was delicious)

THURS, NOV 8

work: brainstormed Cahill Book 3, talked to Editor Ari, set up a school visit for March, emailed contest winners

other: emails, hour walk, blog stuff for Corsets & Clockwork, phone interview for Writopia (an after-school mentoring program for young writers I’ll soon be joining!)

FRI, NOV 9

work: drove to Lititz, PA for KidLit Festival, did first TV interview, CB3 brainstorming dinner with The Playwright

other: lots of reading

SAT, NOV 10

work: taught tween writing workshop, did panel talk & signing at KidLit Fest in Lititz, wrote 1125 words

other: giant email, read lots

SUN, NOV 11 – OFF

other: read lots, caught up on blog comments, emails

MON, NOV 12

work: edited book 3 synopsis

other: hour walk, blogged, went to Smitten Kitchen cookbook signing with a friend

TUES, NOV 13

work: wrote 800+ words, talked to Agent Jim about synopsis, fixed synopsis, emailed re: secret Breathless Reads stuff and potential Cahill Christmas short stories

other: hour walk, blogged, dinner with BFF

WED, NOV 14

work: sample critique for Writopia; Writopia interview

other: hour walk with friends

THURS, NOV 15

work: created swag packs, wrote 1800 words

other: hour walk, made dinner, made Friendsgiving place cards, started reading potential blurb book

FRI, NOV 16

work: kind of off? boxed up books for giveaway?

other: doctor’s appointment, grocery store, laundry, shopping for friend’s baby’s present, called Mom, emails

SAT, NOV 17 – OFF

Friendsgiving plus Pinky Swear Productions fund-raising gala

SUN, NOV 18

work: hammered out 4-act story structure

other: emails, read lots, talked to BFF in CA for 2 hours

 

What does this tell me? I feel like so far this month I’ve been good about making time for reading, exercise, and friends. I also email with lots of writers and I treasure that; I feel like we’re sort of coworkers, even divided by distance. And I tend to start writing books slooowwwly, with lots of time spent walking and daydreaming and napping and brainstorming that is hard to track. I’ve been really excited about CB3 but I’ve also been hesitant to dive in with abandon before finding out whether Editor Ari and I were on the same page, and she’s been off at NCTE. But Monday I got the official go-ahead from her, so now I can write my little heart out. The trick now, of course, is not getting distracted by all the holiday stuff. I love this time of year – Christmas cards, shopping, parties with friends, baking!

2 Responses

  1. Loie

    That was a very interesting blog post 😀 I think I might try that as well! And true say about the balance, am needing some more of that. My BFF and I were talking about that last night (hadn't seen each other in a looong time) about how the second part of a school semester is always so mcuh busier and our well-balanced lives go up in the air haha.

    Loie xo

    1. Thanks for reading, Loie! I feel like this time of year is always crazy-busy – especially when you're in school with finals and all – but there's such a mad rush of social stuff and planning that goes into the holidays!

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