Trying to Focus

It's Saturday afternoon and I'm supposed to be working. I've been to the farmers market, cleaned the bathroom, finished two loads of laundry and scrubbed the kitchen. I haven't written a single word. 

I have two articles due on Wednesday, a huge corporate project due on Thursday and I have to write two chapters per week in order to meet the deadline for the Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Careers. I need to be working. For some reason, I can't focus. 

One of the biggest difficulties I have as a freelancer is forcing myself to write. Sometimes, the words flow easily: I sit at the computer, start typing and can write 4,000 words effortlessly but other days, it seems impossible to write 40 words. I can only stare at a blank computer screen for so long before I have to take the dogs for a walk, search the cupboards (again) for a snack or call a friend/freelancer to see if she's doing the same thing. 

The fact that I sometimes struggle to put words on paper is one of the reasons I work odd hours. I have to write when the mood strikes. So, I take part of the afternoon off to recharge my batteries. I work late at night. I spend Saturday afternoons in front of the computer. After years of trying to squeeze inspiration into a 9-to-5 schedule, I've FINALLY learned to write when I feel like writing. Of course, it doesn't always work. Deadlines often necessitate working a regular eight-hour day (or an irregular 15-hour day). Even though it's not always easy to find the right words, I love the challenge.

Working on the Weekend

It's a sunny Sunday afternoon in the South and I'm working. I peer out the window every so often and daydream about all of the things I could be doing: hiking with the dogs, sitting on a patio sipping iced tea with friends, reading a good book under a tree at the park. Instead, I'm hunched over my computer, writing furiously.

The first chapter of the Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Careers is due tomorrow. The deadlines for this book are TIGHT and I'm scrambling to finish writing. 

The first chapter is due long before the rest of the manuscript so the editor and publisher can review it to make sure I'm on the right track. Their comments on this chapter will help shape the rest of the book. I want the chapter to be as polished as possible but I also recognize that it will probably change a lot from the first draft to the chapter that appears in the published book.

Next weekend, I'll still be working on the book. The first chapter will be finished and submitted but there are 18 others to go (plus a glossary and an appendix). Still, I'm hoping to find some time to do a few loads of laundry, go to the supermarket and eat a healthy dinner (followed by a decadent dessert. After all,  a girl needs a reward for working all weekend). 

Back Home, Back in Business

After two weeks in Toronto, I'm back in North Carolina and working frantically to get caught up. I'm working under very tight deadlines but wanted to post a quick update.

One of the first things I had to do when I got back to The Queen City was write the dedication and acknowledgements for The Green Year. The dedication was easy; I'd been thinking about it since the moment I signed the contract (I'm keeping it a secret though, so don't even think about asking). The acknowledgements were much harder.

A lot of people took the time to provide suggestions and support while I was writing The Green Year and countless others have been supporting my writing career from the beginning. I really struggled with what to write. In the end, I felt like I acknowledged a cast of characters who play a huge role in my life. I'm sure there will be people who feel slighted for being left out; others might be surprised to see their names in black and white. It's going to take six more months before I'll find out.

Stay tuned for more updates...

Working Remotely - Sort Of

I left Charlotte a week ago with big plans to spend the next month working remotely. Now, just a week into my trip, I'm planning my return to the Queen City. 

It turns out that it's almost impossible (at least for me) to get anything done when I'm not in my own office. I've never been one of those writers who can compose a query in a coffee shop or craft an article in a bookstore. I need to work from home, sitting at my desk, surrounded by my files. I'm thinking a lot about work but getting nothing done. To complicate matters, I'm having technical issues with my new computer. So, I'm heading back to Charlotte next week -- 10 days earlier than planned.

 

Why the rush to get home? I JUST SIGNED ANOTHER BOOK CONTRACT! I'm writing the Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Careers for Alpha. It's scheduled for publication in Spring 2009.

Here's the back story: Several weeks ago, my agent contacted me about a project she was scouting for. She was looking for a writer and since we worked together on The Green Year, she thought I'd be interested in another green title. In my past life, I was a career counselor, so this book was a perfect fit. I'm working with an expert, Barbara Parks, a career coach who specializes in helping clients find jobs in eco-friendly fields. Just like The Green Year, the deadline is tight. I'll be spending the next few months writing furiously to get the book finished.

Tomorrow, I'm off to Colorado for the Magazine Conference in Boulder. I've been preparing the curriculum for the classes I'm teaching. One of the classes is FIVE HOURS long so it's taken a bit of planning to create an outline. I've heard amazing things about the conference so I'm really looking forward to presenting.

The biggest news (although it's not work-related, I can't resist sharing) is the arrival of my niece: Charlotte Elizabeth was born at 8:50 p.m. on May 31. She was 7 lbs 5 oz and has a full head of 

black hair. She's the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen.

I've spent the past few days snuggling with her and marveling at how tiny she is. I'm so grateful that I was able to be there when she was born.