Post by Admin on Sept 9, 2016 14:13:37 GMT
Its been a crazy week. Trying to get caught up after being on vacation for 2 weeks. Nothing is organized but I'm trying. Just got the kitchen caught up and laundry started. That feels good. I'm hosting the mystery book club next Wednesday so I have to pull the house, and yard, into some sort of order so I'm not embarrassed. I'm not a good housekeeper but I want them to at least think I try.
Joshua had speech yesterday. He didn't have a lot of time in his wheel chair due to an ongoing intestinal problem. He has to be out of his chair more than he's in it. Its frustrating for both of us because he wants to work, and I want him to progress on his goals.
We did manage to see Marcella. She wasn't herself but I suspect this will continue until she finally passes. Her mind has been shutting down for years but now her body is following. She's not hungry. Not wanting to eat. She's upset with the leg that has the immobilizer on it. She's call it 'iron'. She says the iron hurts her. And it probably does. Her muscle tone is completely gone. She's calmer and not as angry. I'm not used to seeing her so passive. I will try to make more time to go visit her. Its all I can do.
I had a scare the other day. Thought my edit was gone. It simply disappeared off my screen and I could not find it anywhere on the computer. I didn't lose the work but I had been so excited to be getting close to contracting with the editor. And the idea of having to start over very nearly did me in. It felt so unfair. The computer forced an update on me and a shut down that I couldn't stop. I figured that would lose the work forever but when Word came back it had the auto saves. and I was able to find one that was on the right date. and it told me it was the original auto save. Work back. I've been saving it to the computer and to my passport so its on two different systems. I should break down and get myself more space on the cloud but I don't like money going out when I don't have enough coming in to cover the expenses.
I'm getting several chapters a day edited but I want ten a day. And the week is so busy. I miss having the household help. I'm wanting to do artwork. And illustrations. and writing. and promoting. and keep up with the house and yard. and...and...and... it goes on forever.
I got the Writers Guide for 2017 and the Guide to Literary Agents 2017. I've been thumbing through the Magazine Market book 2014. Anything I mark there will have to be thoroughly checked out to see if the magazine is still in existence and still taking non-staff submissions. All time-consuming things to do. Ideally, I'd like to take one day a month and query the magazine market. All that would require is a list of magazines, what they require for submissions (and that part can be on file. it would only have to be done once) and then send off my article idea. It's a toss the line in the water and see if the bobber moves. I often visualize submissions as fishing. the idea is the bait, the query is the bobber. If it lies quiet, I ignore it or check it once in a while to see if the bait is gone. Maybe re-bait if the market seems viable. If I get a response then I give the project more of my time and energy.
One day a month for magazine queries doesn't seem so hard. What I need to do is make use of my monthly calendar. I have a big desk calendar on the wall in front of my computer table. I also have a big dry erase board with squares for the month. What I should do is on the first of the month jot in the writing chores I want to accomplish that month. And then try to stick to the schedule. The writing has to come first and all the other stuff fit in around it. Making myself plan it out isn't easy. I am not left brain dominant.
My #1 goal to accomplish this week (besides get ready to host the book club) is to finish the edit, contract with the editor, and send it out. This is completely do-able.
Joshua had speech yesterday. He didn't have a lot of time in his wheel chair due to an ongoing intestinal problem. He has to be out of his chair more than he's in it. Its frustrating for both of us because he wants to work, and I want him to progress on his goals.
We did manage to see Marcella. She wasn't herself but I suspect this will continue until she finally passes. Her mind has been shutting down for years but now her body is following. She's not hungry. Not wanting to eat. She's upset with the leg that has the immobilizer on it. She's call it 'iron'. She says the iron hurts her. And it probably does. Her muscle tone is completely gone. She's calmer and not as angry. I'm not used to seeing her so passive. I will try to make more time to go visit her. Its all I can do.
I had a scare the other day. Thought my edit was gone. It simply disappeared off my screen and I could not find it anywhere on the computer. I didn't lose the work but I had been so excited to be getting close to contracting with the editor. And the idea of having to start over very nearly did me in. It felt so unfair. The computer forced an update on me and a shut down that I couldn't stop. I figured that would lose the work forever but when Word came back it had the auto saves. and I was able to find one that was on the right date. and it told me it was the original auto save. Work back. I've been saving it to the computer and to my passport so its on two different systems. I should break down and get myself more space on the cloud but I don't like money going out when I don't have enough coming in to cover the expenses.
I'm getting several chapters a day edited but I want ten a day. And the week is so busy. I miss having the household help. I'm wanting to do artwork. And illustrations. and writing. and promoting. and keep up with the house and yard. and...and...and... it goes on forever.
I got the Writers Guide for 2017 and the Guide to Literary Agents 2017. I've been thumbing through the Magazine Market book 2014. Anything I mark there will have to be thoroughly checked out to see if the magazine is still in existence and still taking non-staff submissions. All time-consuming things to do. Ideally, I'd like to take one day a month and query the magazine market. All that would require is a list of magazines, what they require for submissions (and that part can be on file. it would only have to be done once) and then send off my article idea. It's a toss the line in the water and see if the bobber moves. I often visualize submissions as fishing. the idea is the bait, the query is the bobber. If it lies quiet, I ignore it or check it once in a while to see if the bait is gone. Maybe re-bait if the market seems viable. If I get a response then I give the project more of my time and energy.
One day a month for magazine queries doesn't seem so hard. What I need to do is make use of my monthly calendar. I have a big desk calendar on the wall in front of my computer table. I also have a big dry erase board with squares for the month. What I should do is on the first of the month jot in the writing chores I want to accomplish that month. And then try to stick to the schedule. The writing has to come first and all the other stuff fit in around it. Making myself plan it out isn't easy. I am not left brain dominant.
My #1 goal to accomplish this week (besides get ready to host the book club) is to finish the edit, contract with the editor, and send it out. This is completely do-able.
