Did You Miss Me?

Hi there! Remember me? That writer who blogs and travels and writes and revises and then does it all again? I'm back! Well, sort of. I've been super busy writing and revising a new story which is highly important to me. It's a foot in the door and I can't squander it. And, to be honest, when everything is said and done, the books must come first.

This story has been kicking my little tushie. I've reworked the first three chapters so often that I think I want to kick it back! I have to write the story to know the people, so I wrote the entire manuscript in two weeks after I took the kid to college. Then I revised the first three chapters, reworked them. Then I revised the entire book again. Then I sent the first three chapters to my critique partners and they made me think about the conflict some more.

Ah!!! But now I think I have a better start to the first three chapters. And I know what I need to do to fix the rest of the book. But I really have to finish this partial and send it to publishing house. I do. However, I'm not rushing this opportunity to shine. I want the partial to be strong. Super strong and powerful enough to get that request for more OR a revise and resubmit letter. I've been getting a lot of R&R letters. A good thing, but certainly not restful or relaxing in a writer's world.

When I haven't been writing, I've been doing what we all do in the real world. Still guiding the College Kid, still supporting my friends and family, still working out and dieting, still traveling and attending writer's conferences.

And I've got fun events coming up. Celebrating three debut novelists on the blog, coordinating the Linda Howard Award of Excellence contest, going to the Southern Magic Readers Luncheon with my very own basket to raffle (stay tuned--photos will follow after I build it), and gearing up for a fantastic holiday season.

So I'm back, but I'll be flitting in and out of the blogger world like a manic social butterfly. Seriously, there are not enough hours in the day! But whenever I have to make a choice between writing, revising, or other writerly stuff, the book trumps it all.

James Scott Bell said it best:

What are the ten best forms of SELF-PROMOTION?

1. Your book.
2. Your book.
3. Your book.
4. Your web presence.
5. Reviews
6. Publicity (shortened for the blog-get THE ART OF WAR FOR WRITERS)Face time.
7. Face time
8. Your book.
9. Your book.
10. Your book.

If your books do deliver the goods, word of mouth will do more than all your self-promotion efforts combined. 

I'm not published yet. But I WILL BE ONE DAY. My way. I have an ongoing theory. If I don't have a product, then time spent on blogs and building web sites and frittering on social media is pointless.

So guess what I'm working on the rest of today?

MY BOOK.

Break Out the Bubbly and the Dark Chocolate: Celebrating Adrienne Giordano's Debut Novel MAN LAW

Hi Everyone. I'd like to welcome a dear friend to the blog today as we celebrate her debut novel, MAN LAW. I met Adrienne Giordano through the online motivation group GOAL IN A MONTH or as we like to call it GIAMx4. Adrienne's debut novel MAN LAW is available digitally and is sold through CARINA Press. The cover is super delicious. I know I will LOVE this book. Adrienne is taking over my blog and telling us all about her own distractions after she got THE CALL. The call is the elusive thing we unpublished authors dream about getting, but after the call, the real work begins! So welcome Adrienne. 

*pop* *pour champagne* and *sip*

My Attempt to Manage Distraction 

by 

Adrienne Giordano

This is Adrienne's cover. Nice Distraction!!

I'll admit I've been distracted lately.  I'm trying not to beat myself up over it because in the last four months I've been through nine rounds of editorial edits on three books.  I've also needed to revamp my website, set up author accounts on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Library Thing, etc.  And let's not forget I'm a co-founder of Romance University, a busy and growing blog. Oh, and I'm also working on a new book. Not to mention I have a life outside of writing.

The thing I've figured out is that I'm not special. Hard to admit, sure, but this chaos, apparently, is day to day life for published authors. Rather a scary thought, no?

After absorbing the fact that all the marketing aspects of promoting a book wouldn't go away, I had to decide how to manage my distraction and not let it get in the way of my writing. I had to make brutal decisions about eliminating some of my online groups because I was spending close to two hours each day scrolling through digests. I also had to cut back on the blogs I visited daily. It's hard to back away from things I enjoy, but unless someone could give me another five hours in the day, things had to go.

After cutting back where I could, I implemented a plan to work for a specific amount of time each day on marketing. Of course, immediately after implementing said plan I received edits on book three and had to go into my cave and ignore everything but the book in front of me. That was okay. I just picked up my plan when I finished the edits. The downfall was that I had to dig out from everything that piled up while I was in my cave. It's a never-ending balance that I will keep working at.

What I absolutely know for sure is that if I allow myself to go over my allotted time for each task, I will completely lose control of my day and get no writing done.  Why, you ask, don't I write first and do the other tasks later? I've tried that. Unfortunately, all those emails and tasks nag at me and it distracts me all the more. If nothing else, I've determined that I'm one of those people who needs to clear everything out before I can concentrate on my writing.

It's a process that's evolving. It will probably never be seamless, but if I stay focused on keeping at least a little control over my day, maybe a routine will develop.

I hope.

Thanks so much for coming and sharing the pitfalls of social media after one is published! And you're right, Adrienne, this is a time when the focus has to be on promoting your books. I am very excited that you're debut novel is out and I can't wait to read it!!

Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and women's fiction.  She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest. She is a co-founder of Romance University blog. Adrienne's debut romantic suspense, Man Law, will be released by Carina Press on July 4, 2011. Her second book, A Just Deception, will be available from Carina Press on September 5, 2011. For more information please visit www.AdrienneGiordano.com.  Adrienne can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Ah Ha! The Goals Must Reflect the Task

Well, I have had a major breakthrough today. At first, I slogged through negative emotions about outside world pressing in on my inner world of writing. Then I cleaned bathrooms. The dirty work didn't jar any new thoughts. Neither did banishing the outside forces.

I cleaned up myself, planned to go to B&N and then the phone rang: hmmm my DH's surgery center with more estimates for his surgery costs... great conversation with the lady in charge. A bit of laughter... needed it. Then I got a call from a friend in DC... and I needed friend time so I took it. We talked for an hour. By the time I hung up, I had an hour till DD came home from school.... see the distractions? Mounting up? Oh, what a big shovel I'd need ...

But there is a reason for everything. My CP in DC called me regarding my first 30 pages. And she solved the problem for me: I am trying to stretch a category length book from page 50 when I need to stretch it from page 1. I need to relearn how to write according to ST length.

AACK! I need to not worry about word counts. I need to worry about the structure. Redo on the goal list. Good thing I factored in the whole FLEXIBILITY goal LOL.

So here is the plan: slog away through first three chapters... first 9 scenes, light revision. Then move forward again. Oh. And painful cutting and repositioning of exposition, emotion. Oh. And layer in action etc. Oh. And. Oh.

Redo my thinking. No more worries about word count. Now I worry about true revision. Numbers don't count.

The good news is she loves my writing. And my characters. And my voice. Whew.

Sometimes it really is like one step forward and two steps back. But she reiterated a MAASS illumination: unpublished writers have time to learn.

Hmmmm... still learning and growing.

My Very Distracting Day

First of all, I had GREAT intentions this morning when I got up. I was ready to ROLL. This my disclaimer. I have my first draft neatly bundled into scenes, index cards waiting for ideas, my story bible at my right hand, and my computer turned on.

First distraction: emails about the HOA. BLAH BLAH BLAH. Second distraction: a long walk that should have been positive, but became draining due to the first distraction. I don't want to visit the discussion again. I keep trying to steer it to better, fun topics. But right now it's like trying to take a bone from a pit bull. It ain't happening. I will find a way to get around it, or avoid the walk. Third distraction: doorbell ringing with contractors who want to dig in my yard and move sprinkler heads and lines. Now why can't they CALL FIRST? Argh again. Fifth distraction: a school commitment. I signed up to help at my darling daughter's high school. It's hospitality stuff. Easy right? I think so. I'm already missing the first big shin dig due to my MOONLIGHT & MAGNOLIAS Conference (WOOT!!!!!). So they may fire me -- one can hope.

Despite all the distractions, I managed to work on my revision. I added a scene, worked on the original first scene (now number two), and brainstormed ways to up the ante/tension. Then I read through all my lecture materials for my SEX BETWEEN THE PAGES workshop. Lots of notes made on my index cards for future incorporation into another pass through of the book. Layering layering layering.... I read through my last blog comments and replied, and now I am gearing up to finish reading the rest of my friend's first 45 pages of her first draft revision. Woot!

I managed to get a lot done despite the distractions. It is amazing how much one can do in an hour here, a half an hour there, and a bit of time later at night. Uninterrupted stretches of time don't always occur in this household, but I have learned how to squeeze the most out of the time available.

When we are raising families, wives, school parents, and friends this is vital. One day I may have lots and lots of time, but I tend to do better with a busy full life. It impacts my writing in positive ways (well, except for the HOA stuff--but I know it'll find its way into a book--somehow-- so it's not a total waste of time.

A Lot to Juggle and A Lot to Write

As I head into the next week, I know I will be unable to focus all my energy on my writing. A part of me is very frustrated by that knowledge, but the truth is, I have to run my household. I have fallen behind on filling out paperwork for my daughter's and my eligibility to regain my Dutch citizenship. I have got items to return to BB&B. I have to hunt for missing receipts for taxes. I have to do tons of laundry, clean house, cook meals, and finish planning my vacation for spring break.

It's frustrating. I want to just jump back in, but it'll be tippy toes first. And to top it all off, I am very tired. I think I am getting a sinus infection and I know that will bugger up my good intentions. Because I still have to do the house stuff. And if I am sick, all my leftover bits of energy will go into those chores.

And my brain is sort of full of stuff I don't need in it and I want to pull it out and park it somewhere else so it all doesn't distract me from focusing on my writing.

How do professional writers without maids and personal assistants manage to do it all? I guess they are like me. How do other writers manage, ones like me who aren't paid? I could see my husband's eyes glaze over when I moaned about wanting to get back into writing. He's seen the entire household turned upside down for two weeks now and he is missing my being able to juggle house and writing and child for him. But I don't blame him. He's been great and has picked up the most important balls for me and kept them in the air.

Now they are tossed back to me.

Hope I manage to keep them up in the air long enough to get through this week without getting sick.

Cold Snap

Yesterday I had another major distraction: cold snap from an Alberta Clipper. Here I am in the Southeast, and it is 6 degrees outside! Argh. And the heater wasn't working properly. So once again, I awaited a technician to come and fix it. At first I worried I'd not get any writing done at all. But I discovered heat upstairs in the bonus room, so I carried my laptop, notes, and MS up there and worked until I got the pesky scene I'd been fighting into submission properly beaten down.

Now I have about seven thousand words to write -- about 40 pages. That's ten a day, but that sounds easier than it is because I have to rip out my outline notes, rewrite poorly written stuff/cut and move it to me autosave if I deem it completely unworthy, and then write from scratch. Revising is a process not for the weak of heart.

It's not journalism, or blogging about it, or writing about writing in random free flow form where grammar and plot and characterization don't matter.

It's hard work. But I am almost there. The stack of papers next to the laptop is signifcantly smaller than the stack of papers I've turned over during the revision. Forty pages instead of 240 pages. And for me, that's like seeing the goal post or the finish line in a race. I want to sprint to the end, but I know I need to jog. Jog well. Jog smart. Jog and take it one step at a time.

Today I probably won't write. My daughter is heading to DC and we're gearing up for that goodbye and see you later moment. Today I will read the next scene and make more notes toward getting it revised properly (or as properly as I can).

Tomorrow I will need to write. I know it.

The Week Moves On

I managed to work over two hours on Saturday, then pushed over an hour on Monday. I skipped Sunday--one day off isn't awful. I am slogging ahead and seeing the book progress forward. This one hour a day goal is a good one because even if I want to skip it, I tell myself, "it's only an hour."Then I want to work. And it is amazing how sitting in front of the computer, working through the "gee I don't feel like it" feeling leads to getting words on the pages! Wahoo.

Today I have to battle the printer to make labels, run to the bank to deposit a check, go to the Post Office to buy stamps for the Christmas cards, and then do the Christmas Cards!

I got smart about the Christmas cards. Ordered them with my new address on-line. Now all I have to do is print labels, add a few checks, a few personal greetings, and off they go. Voila, more time to write!!

An hour is my goal today. I also want to read through my workshop lessons and make notes for the revision.

Weekend Warrior

Well to commit to the one hour a day during the holidays, that means writing on the weekends as well. Yesterday, despite being sick, I managed over two hours. Today I hope to add another hour. And this will mean writing through a pizza delivery for 7 girls who are celebrating a birthday for my daughter's friend.

Talk about distractions! 7 squealing girls in my home, singing on Singstar, and bouncing around upstairs while I pound the keyboard. And then my Dear Husband is home pounding on his keyboard.

And I am still battling a cold. But I promised myself an hour a day so after I am done writing this tiny blog, I will start the next scene!

December Distractions

Up until last year, I took the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas OFF. I enjoyed getting ready for the holidays and spending time with my friends. Last year, I changed the routine, but found myself feeling guilty every time I wrote or every time I didn't write. It wasn't a good feeling. This year, I decided to follow the 100 words a day advice I got from the Wet Noodle Posse. I feel that way I am not taking away time from my writing or from readying for the holidays. No more guilt!!

Writing 100 words a day isn't really what I am doing. I am shooting for an hour a day. And it is amazing how much you can accomplish in an hour. Since Monday I have plowed through 21 pages of my MS for the revision. Spending an uninterupted hour in front of the computer means getting at least 1 scene tweaked in the MS. If I get stuck, I use another trick and write XXX so I can look for that later on in a seek/find throughout the MS. The point is to get SOMETHING done. Perfection no longer is the key. If I keep going at this pace, I should be able to plow through another 90 pages before Christmas hits.

I know that once my daughter is home for the break, I won't get much accomplished, but I am planning on utilizing my Lark tendencies to my benefit. I'm up before everyone else, so I can chop out an hour before the lazy ones arise.