Staying Busy
This week has been easier than the last Mind you in some aspects that’s not saying much. Editing has been continuing on two separate fronts by myself. I just went through all of Bad Karma making corrections to the manuscript and resubmitted it. I have gotten twenty-five more pages completed on book five. And I have less than a hundred pages to go on Bad Origins. The panic I was feeling weeks ago about Bad Origins has faded, which is a relief. I received the cover for Bad Origins this week, with three teasers. It all makes it so much more real than it did before. The panic over if I was going to finish editing this manuscript has slowly dissipated. The feeling of moving forward is present, makes me feel accomplished. It makes me start to look at what is next. Now I know I can’t move forward on any new manuscripts yet. I still have a lot of editing to do for book five. I still have two hundred pages to go for book five before I can start the manuscript for book six. Once the final edit of Bad Origins is complete, there will be a small break before we begin working on the next book. To say my plate is full is an understatement. I also plan to start working on my audio books. I am in the process of doing research on how to do it successfully. I am listening to different audio books as part of my research.
Sometimes when I think about my plans, I begin to worry that my plate may be too full. I have kids and a day job to worry about. I have karate for both kids, plus me and I work out everyday. The fact that I do all of that plus the stuff outside of my writing is crazy and makes even me question my sanity and how I do it all. It’s a lot of movement all the time with very little down time. I spend little time sitting around doing nothing. I am always bouncing from one thing to another. Truth be told even when I am sitting doing nothing, my brain is still working on what is next. It’s as if my brain cannot sit still. Maybe that is why I have insomnia during the weekends or when I have a break coming. It is my version of down time or maybe it’s my brain still wanting to work.
So why do I do all of this? Why do I keep myself obsessively busy? That is a good question that I’m not even sure I can answer but I’m going to try. I was raised with the thought that if you are going to do anything, do it well. Put forth every inch of effort you have. For me, that means working night and day on this dream of being a writer. It means I have to focus almost every part of me because if I don’t, then I can’t say I honestly tried. There are days I think boy I want a lazy day. I may even try. The problem is my brain is conditioned to work. So even when I try to take a day off or have some down time I can’t sit still. I need to keep going. I need to be working or doing something productive. I’m actually beginning to think that I am crazy because it is so difficult for me to sit still.
So what do you do? How do you learn to take the down time without jumping into work? The answer is by force. I have to force myself to take the breaks. They may only be a few hours but at least it’s something. I actually try to schedule my down time. For example, I made plans with my best friend. We are going out for a few hours, then I can come home and spend time with the kids. Once everyone is in bed, I can get some editing done. No it’s not a full day off. There is no way I can take one of those but I can at least take time off for a few hours before I start working at night. I have to get work completed otherwise, I feel like I have a burden on my shoulders and I feel it all week. That burden builds into panic. And I feel it until I make up for the work I failed to do.
Breaks are important. We have talked about this in the past. You have to have them or you will lose the joy of what you are doing. You have to decide how many breaks you need and how long they should be. For me, my breaks need to be small. I need to work daily to ensure my sanity is still intact, otherwise I feel a panic that may not be real for others but it is for me. Some would say you have to have a full day. That’s okay too. The only person who can decide what is right for you is you. Keep working hard. You do you and don’t worry about if anyone thinks you’re crazy. It’s okay we’re all a little mad in some way. Until next time!
Sometimes when I think about my plans, I begin to worry that my plate may be too full. I have kids and a day job to worry about. I have karate for both kids, plus me and I work out everyday. The fact that I do all of that plus the stuff outside of my writing is crazy and makes even me question my sanity and how I do it all. It’s a lot of movement all the time with very little down time. I spend little time sitting around doing nothing. I am always bouncing from one thing to another. Truth be told even when I am sitting doing nothing, my brain is still working on what is next. It’s as if my brain cannot sit still. Maybe that is why I have insomnia during the weekends or when I have a break coming. It is my version of down time or maybe it’s my brain still wanting to work.
So why do I do all of this? Why do I keep myself obsessively busy? That is a good question that I’m not even sure I can answer but I’m going to try. I was raised with the thought that if you are going to do anything, do it well. Put forth every inch of effort you have. For me, that means working night and day on this dream of being a writer. It means I have to focus almost every part of me because if I don’t, then I can’t say I honestly tried. There are days I think boy I want a lazy day. I may even try. The problem is my brain is conditioned to work. So even when I try to take a day off or have some down time I can’t sit still. I need to keep going. I need to be working or doing something productive. I’m actually beginning to think that I am crazy because it is so difficult for me to sit still.
So what do you do? How do you learn to take the down time without jumping into work? The answer is by force. I have to force myself to take the breaks. They may only be a few hours but at least it’s something. I actually try to schedule my down time. For example, I made plans with my best friend. We are going out for a few hours, then I can come home and spend time with the kids. Once everyone is in bed, I can get some editing done. No it’s not a full day off. There is no way I can take one of those but I can at least take time off for a few hours before I start working at night. I have to get work completed otherwise, I feel like I have a burden on my shoulders and I feel it all week. That burden builds into panic. And I feel it until I make up for the work I failed to do.
Breaks are important. We have talked about this in the past. You have to have them or you will lose the joy of what you are doing. You have to decide how many breaks you need and how long they should be. For me, my breaks need to be small. I need to work daily to ensure my sanity is still intact, otherwise I feel a panic that may not be real for others but it is for me. Some would say you have to have a full day. That’s okay too. The only person who can decide what is right for you is you. Keep working hard. You do you and don’t worry about if anyone thinks you’re crazy. It’s okay we’re all a little mad in some way. Until next time!
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