Resolutions, 2011 Edition

2010 has been quite a year. I had my first professional fiction published, got my first academic job and my first real interview (coming up in January!), finished and received my PhD... All that has been wonderful. I have also spent the entire year living hand to mouth without a job, scraping and dodging, and trying to come up with every month's rent like a crisis. I guess you could say 2010 has been the best of times and the worst of times. I'm kind of glad it's over, but I have done a lot and made a lot of progress, so I am happy it went the way it did. It could have been more comfortable, but we survived.

So, now, in the last week of 2010 - some goals for the upcoming year.

1. To continue writing and improving at my writing, since i does make me happy, but to make it a smaller part of my waking hours.

2. To increase my academic publishing and conference record for the CV.

3. To continue to strive for a permanent teaching job, or, failing that, to secure term-by-term contracts all year so I don't have to deal with unemployment in 2011. Or, failing even that, to save as much as I can during the good times so the lean times won't be so stressful.

4. To do really, really well at my teaching - I need good evaluations for the job hunt, and I want to make myself proud of me.

5. To generally live a better life. Be healthier, keep a better home, stay on top of things and be less stressed. To enjoy my time with the tot more, and be a happier person. To have a better life, in all the big and small ways I can do that.

Happy 2011!

s'okay

I have a really nasty headache - right in my left temple - so I am not working or doing much of anything at my usual speed. However, other than that I am generally okay. My syllabus is coming along fine - I just have a few more readings to find and add.

Oh, and I got my sales report for October 2010 - my short book released on Oct 10 sold 20 copies in October. Now, that only adds up to about $4 for me, but a copy a day is not that bad. A little sad if you compare it to Oprah's book club, but, for me, I'm not too disappointed.

Going away from the computer for a while to let my head rest.

pray for mojo

I might be scarce for the next while.

I am, as always, trying to work as much as I can for money - got some typing to do, so that is good stuff I can do from home. Plus, I really need to work ahead on my courses. I have my course outlines due to the dept for next term by the 1st-3rd of December, and a heck of a lot of writing to do on top of that.

I want to have two short stories, my novel and an academic chapter all ready to submit by the end of December. I will also likely soon have the edits on my novel to do, whenever they send them to me. (Tonight, I have a novella galley to proof.) As usual, I should also be promoting my available works whenever I can, which is a pain in the butt. I have to make a trailer for my upcoming release this weekend, before I forget to do it.

blaaaaah.

Work Work Work

You know, for an unemployed person, I sure am busy these days.

My NaNoWriMo project is steaming along, at about 36.5k - only 15k until I meet the minimum requirement, which I should reach this week (fate and toddler willing), but the book is meant to be more along the lines of 60-65k, so it will take me a bit longer to reach that. I am also looking for interested publishers. I thought I had one in mind that seemed terrifically ideal, but with further research I am not so sure. I am thinking of playing with the big boys and sending it to Harlequin's e-book off print. We'll see how that goes.

This week, one of my short erotic romances releases for sale, and on December 10th my Christmas romance comes out. I have to remind myself to do those book trailers, ASAP. sigh. In December, I will have to write a couple Valentine's stories if I can find the time, as well, since next term I won't have the time to write much. (Planning one novella for all of next term, so I have to make hay while the sun shines.)

In other writing news, I finished off one freelance gig for a mag in the UK, and some editing work (some for money, some for my upcoming fiction releases), and am now off to re-write an academic chapter I submitted for an edited volume. The editor said he wanted the topic in the book, but didn't like my "flow." So, we'll see what we can do about that. He offered to call me to discuss it, but given the tot's obsession with the phone, that is so not a good idea at the moment. The editor has AIM, so maybe we'll go that way. Though it will be a ton of work to re-write the thing, I have hopes of doing it before the New Year.

I continue hoping to squeeze in some time to convert the dissertation for publication, as well. High hopes, indeed!

In terms of work, I submitted a really important job application (for a Real Job, yo), which was a lot of scurrying. I also applied for another class here for next term, which I actually got (YAY!), so now I am busy trying to prepare for two courses running from Jan to April 2011. It's hard work, and a bit stressful, but really exciting. I am starting to look forward to my courses. Check in again in February, though, as that excitement will likely have worn off by then. The finalized syllabi are due to the dept by December 1, so that is my task for the next while. Then I can start stockpiling lectures and materials, and start working on the course websites. I have a couple more applications for Sept 2011 due in January, and I am hoping the job ads for summer courses will come out soon, so there will soon be that fun, as well.

Aside from all that, which I think is a lot, there has also been the day-to-day mommy/life stuff, but that's a lot less interesting, so I shall spare you. Soon, I need to start preparing for the holidays, as well, so FUN FUN FUN there. sigh.

I hope everyone is well, and bears with me as I often neglect this poor old blog. I will return when I can.

There's my completely uninteresting, utilitarian post. Enjoy!

working forward

I have a week to decide on a dissertation chapter for a project a scholar asked me to contribute to... Which means I have left it too late to ask for advice on which chapter, which sucks. However! I am resolved to make the effort... So now I will be forced to look at the dissertation again. blah.

In other (good) news, I finished writing my holiday short a bit ahead of schedule, and ill be trying to burn through my other two short writing projects this month, so I should see some release dates coming up soon. I got very positive feedback on the guest lecturing I did last month, and have two guest lectures coming up soon. I also think I finally finished that Chaplin project, so I should see that released in the near future - and that one pays! Huzzah.

I also have some job/postdoc apps and things that look ok - or at least with trying range - for the next little while - mostly starting next summer or fall.

Just wanted to let everyone know everything isn't all bad. I'm working on things.

october's safe... now for november

Well, paid the last of the bills for October, so now I will have a couple of weeks without harassing calls, etc. This is my favourite part of the month. The calm before the storm starts up again, as it were... Now, I have to start worrying about making the last week of Oct/first week of Nov gauntlet run, but it's at least not to a stressful point, yet.

Also still keeping in mind that $115 I need to attend graduation, if I can... Not a huge concern compared to the others, but still important to me.

Work, however, is getting rather fever pitch. By October 15th, I am hoping to have the Xmas novella and an Xmas short ready for submission, a chapter for the dissertation ready to send to a fellow editing a volume, and my bookstore order in for the class next term. I also have the Chaplin article to edit this week, some job apps, and some editing work coming up, as well as two lectures to give later in the month. That's a lot of words to produce in just a few short weeks. Let's hope the squid doesn't run out of ink any time soon.

All that and the fun of regularly scheduled human survival maintenance! YAY!

So, nothing to do but to do it, I guess.

Aaaaaaannnnnddd... GO!

sand monster got me

When my system works, I manage to put the tot to bed and then to stay up and write at night. In this way, I am able to put away 1-4,000 words in solitude. The system, when it works, is great.

When it doesn't, I accidentally fall asleep while putting the tot to bed, and wake up feeling discouraged because it is 7am, and I got nothing done.

I think the system needs tweaking.

behind

Recent tasks and upheavals (and, I'll admit it, too much sleep and slacking) have left me behind on my current writing projects.

I meant to have my 15k holiday short done for tomorrow, but as I only have about 2k done, that ain't gonna happen. I managed to get an extension until Oct 15, but I can only afford to give myself until Oct 5, or it will knock out my 5k holiday erotic short and my 7k Valentines Day short.

So, 15k short for Oct 5 (which means about 4k a day in order to find time for editing and maybe a beta reader); Oct 15 for my 7k Valentine's Day short; Nov 1 for my 5k holiday erotic... and then Dec 31 for my full length novel.

(Not to mention the job apps I want to do, and the academic chapter I want to submit for October 15, which will require me to select and renovate a dissertation chapter. And course prep for next term, of course, and some editing, etc, for money, as well as another lecture to do for October.)

Yowzers.

WRITE WRITE WRITE! GO GO GO!

TCB

I working on problems, and trying to keep on writing. I feel I am making progress on both scores. I hope.

I am hoping I can juggle grad fees, rent and bills, while not starving... We'll see about that.

Just wanted to give you an update, in case you were concerned the stress finally pushed me off the deep end.

:P

Update: Still Alive

I am hanging in there. Trying to get my work done, and feel ok.

Spent a good portion last night helping my advisor complete the application package for the award I will not be there in person at grad to receive, even if I win it by some miracle. (sigh.) Today, I worked towards banking some posts for the author blog, to free up my week a bit for "real writing." I've also got a butt load of academic stuff to do this week - a lecture or two to write/prepare, a chapter of the diss to modify for publication, a couple job postings to address.

So, yep - that's about it. Nothing fancy, but I'm hanging in there.

happy friday!

Woke up at 4, found an acceptance in my email (!), did the edits, and sent them back... all before 6am... all before my morning coffee!


ETA: I'm going to enjoy having my story accepted, and not let people get to me, or think about things I'm behind on, etc. Or get bogged down in guilt over anything. I'm going to enjoy this, and I am going to enjoy this day.

hump day

Today, I have to tame this messy living room down a bit, and I have to scrounge up some groceries on a very little money. And I have to do some major writing, since I have been really groggy and slacking these past few days.

I also want to think about sending in the short story by the end of the week, if possible - I think I need the motivation another acceptance would give me. I've used up the motivation from the first one, I guess.

I'm a bit glum today, but I'm hoping some coffee and productivity will help with that.

Just keep on rolling.

perspective

You know what's crazy? I never did give myself a pat on the back for finishing my PhD. I spent no time celebrating that or savouring it. I went on to job hunting and the teaching portfolio. And then I got a course. And I didn't pause to enjoy that, either. I then moved on to getting my novel published. But then you know what happened? It got accepted, and I didn't really feel good about that, either! Now I am on to getting some short pieces published and my full length written, etc.

It's crazy, when you think about it. I never appreciate my laurels. I only see "what next?" I'm like a shark who'll die if she stops.

You know how some people look in the mirror and see themselves as fat, no matter how skinny they are? I am like that, but with brains or accomplishments, or personal triumphs, etc. I am just never satisfied, no matter what I do. I never have been.

Anyway, this song helps me pause and put all this in perspective. It reminds me that I really need to take a moment and enjoy my grad this time, since I have never bothered going to any of my previous university graduations. I always just got them to mail me the degree, because I was already off to new goals.

That's a problem. I need to do something about that.

NaNoWriMo? Anyone?

Folks, I am considering joining up for NaNoWriMo for November 2010, which challenges writers to complete a new 50,000 word novel in one month... Am I insane?

Pros:

• I have finished my paranormal erotic in draft, and now have to do my holiday novella for October, which means my planned full length novel (of 60,000-65,000 words) will be done entirely (aside from the 1,400 prologue I did in August and the outlines) in November and December, anyway, so I can start my winter 2011 full length project on time in January 2011. (I would, of course, not include the already written prologue in the 50,000 words for November, and just start with Chapter One.)
• NaNoWriMo would force me to write the rough draft in November (so I can then edit/re-write in December) in a way that makes the panic somewhat fun.
• Deadlines are good, and since this novel has no publisher yet, it would be useful to have a fire under me. Otherwise, I might falter.
• I can encourage donations to a worthy cause.
• I think I can do it, as it is reasonable to assume I can aim for 1k per day, with at least one or two days a week resulting in 4-5k. (This has been my average so far.) Ergo, 30 days x 1k + (4 days x 5k) = 50k, give or take.
• There's no loss if I don't make it, other than Pride Wounds.

Cons:

• I have a toddler, so any formal obligation is hard to commit to.
• I am anxious about what kind of quality writing NaNoWriMo usually produces.
• I have a toddler.
• I dislike Pride Wounds.
• I have a toddler.
• I would be forced to wait until Nov 1 to get back to the full length if I made this commitment, even if I finished the holiday novella well before that. (Though, this might leave me time to squeeze in another short, or even take a little break to work on non-fiction stuff.)
• I have a toddler.

So... any thoughts?

three current projects

This term, I have three writing projects on the go:

• A short holiday romance (10,000 words, approx.)
• A paranormal erotic short story (ca. 4,000 words)
• A contemporary full-length (65,000 words, max)

The holiday story is due for November 1, and the short story can be done "quickly," and the full-length is not on any deadline except my own, but I want it done before the new year so I can start shopping it to publishers and start my winter term novel.

So, I guess I should hit the holiday romance first, do the erotic one in some burst of sudden enthusiasm, and work steadily at the full-length throughout the term, right?

But I find myself so lax in energy and motivation right now.

I remind myself of Philip Roth's wise advice:

"The amateur waits for inspiration; the professional just gets up and goes to work."

So, I'm just going to get up and go to work...

Watch me go...

sleep is my nemesis

I've been sleeping way too much.

Not sure why, but possibly the nice weather, or the fact that I've only been drinking coffee only during the day, and none after supper. Whatever it is, I always mean to stay up after the tot goes to bed so I can write, but I just don't make it. I fall asleep with him while putting him to bed!

So, I've been getting 8 hours a night, which is nice for my body, but not so nice for my three writing projects I want to get done this term. Seriously not nice for the 1K word goal I have per day. Writing during the day is not always possible, so I just need to forgo sleep.

Coffee, it is.

Getting By

I'm writing when I can, though not as much as I should, and keeping things on an even keel. Trying to avoid negativity and keeping to myself.

In general, a nice, rainy weekend.

survival

Well, it looks like right now I have covered the essentials of my budget, except for about $50, which might not be too hard to scratch up. So, another month is nearly conquered. Now, we just have to eat until we get more grocery money... Oh well, I have always excelled in poverty-based home economics.

I finished editing and sent in the new draft.

Also, it looks like I now have a release date of May 2011 for the book! I must admit it's pretty exciting to have a tentative date - it makes it that much more real, like they won't change their minds now.

We're making due. We just have to keep it up for a bit longer...

missive from the front

Editing today.

Took me an hour and a half to improve 10 pages. The book is 151 pages.

Now I understand why I hate to re-read my own work.

Writing

So, yes. I have sold my novel, and am expecting it released sometime in 2011. I am currently doing a final edit before giving it whichever editor has been assigned to me, and a friend is working on the cover. And I have the teaser campaign launched now. I am hoping to do another teaser around Xmas, hopefully including a semi-firm release date. The full campaign will go a month or two before release, with a sustainer campaign going after release and beyond. I'm rather excited about it.

I now have some future projects, as well. Another contemporary romance for Fall 2010, a paranormal/contemporary for Winter 2011, a novella in Spring 2011, and another contemporary for Summer 2011. I think then I might try a historical - perhaps something involving WWI, which is a time that fascinates me. My paranormal plot may also lend itself to a series - I haven't decided, yet. I'll be able to tell more once it is written.

Each of these projects are being written for specific series and publishers, but I can't guarantee any will sell. All I know is that it's good to work on something again. And it makes me a bit of scratch, all the better.