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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Winding Down


I had my first pre-Christmas meltdown this morning. I’m sure there will be more to come. It seems no matter how hard I try to organize and plan – and re-organize and re-plan, it always comes down to this. As my children move the Star of Bethlehem on the Advent calendar to yet another pocket and joyfully announce how many days left until Christmas—I feel it. That squeeze of panic in my chest, and then I can’t get my breath. How many days? How many? And then I start mentally recalculating the list of “things that have to be done”(the baking, the shopping, the wrapping) then the list of “things that need to be done” (the cards, the visit to Santa, taking a cookie tray to the senior center where my dad goes) right on down the list of “things I really wanted to find time to do.”

Writing, of course, is on the last list. Right up there with crawl into a corner and cry and pull my hair out. None of which I ever seem to get time to do.

As the year winds down, I find myself reflecting on the things I didn’t accomplish rather than the things I did. I suppose that’s normal. Twice I’ve pushed back the release date for The Model Man – for no reason other than I am too busy to do what it takes to finalize it and get it off to final production. (I have a very understanding editor. Maybe too understanding!)

This was one year where work really came first, and while I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions, it’s my goal for the coming year to put writing ahead of work. I’ve been working on little ways to get my kids more organized, get the household more organized, get the work situation more organized--now hopefully, I can get the writing more organized.

Since I doubt I’ll get time for another December blog, I’ll ask now. What accomplishments did you see in 2007? What do you hope to achieve in 2008?

PS: in case you missed it, I blogged yesterday with my friends The Scandalous Victorians. Stop by and check it out!

2 comments:

Susan Macatee said...

I feel for you, Nic!

Christmas really crept up on me this year, too.

Of course, now that my boys are all grown, I've got a lot less to do. But I remember all those school pageants and voluteer activities that took up all my time and energy, as well as the endless baking, searching for those must-have toys and trying to keep everything hidden.

While I still have extra holiday things to do, it's a lot less hectic than it used to be.

I accomplished a lot writing-wise this year and have my Christmas present, my contract with WRP.
My GH entry is safely where it should be after I'd thought it was MIA a few days ago.

Now, I have to decide where I want to go in 2008. I think it's going to be an awesome ride.

Paty Jager said...

This holiday has been easier for me because there aren't any parties at my house, and the only people coming for Christmas are my dad and mother in law. They don't need a decked out house. The tree, Christmas stockings, and goodies will be enough for them.

My shopping is done. Mainly because I did the majority of it before Thanksgiving. I bought the Anchorage family presents while I was there in October to save on shipping and I sent the Kodiak family there's home with them when they were here in November. Which cut down on a lot of the shopping early. I have to do the last of the baking today.

I did a pretty good job of balancing the work and the writing, but would have liked to have kept the balance throughout instead of in spurts.

I, too, wish you more writing time. You deserve to have your work out there for people to read and admire.

The only thing that would make my 2008 any better than 2007 would be to final in the RITA and capture an agent or editor for a two book contract.

We'll see what happens. And you know I am always pulling for you. And pushing you! You are going make 2008 your year- I can feel it!

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