Thursday--Day 4 of a Week to Write

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Yesterday’s short post elicited a number of comments. So good to hear about projects and plans and process. I appreciate your words; I had a sense of sharing workspace even in the solitude. Maybe the world is just one big artists’ studio…

Wednesday didn’t have any sizable surprises, but it did fall into the rhythm I was hoping for, and I accomplished what I needed to, and found a cleared path ahead of me. I think.

Something I have not spoken of in the past couple days—because I take it so for granted—but that is the need to continue with “promo.” It’s such a part of writing life once work is published.

The time spent has been fairly minimal, which is what I was hoping. But still, it goes on, even on the most writing-focused days. One phone conversation, and a number of emails, setting up how to send out audio and pdf samples of my memoir, and to whom. Trying to figure out which awards the audio version has been sent out to. The narrator of the audio, reaching out—not knowing what I was doing!—but to let me know where she is sending it, and wanting reading suggestions.

Each one of these pieces takes a bit of time. But I like to deal with them as they come in. Somehow that feels to rtake less time. Maybe because it means not having to write apologies for lapsed time in emails… I don’t like waking up, knowing I have a virtual “stack” of mail. If it’s going to interrupt the writing flow, I put it off until I need a break. I responded to your comments here at a “break” time. And enjoyed.

What I do find a challenge now is knowing that very soon I will have to read s-l-o-w-l-y through this entire 425 pp. manuscript again, knowing how immersed I am in the story, knowing I am missing pieces. I’m not yet ready for this read-through—I still have pieces to complete. Hoping that once I feel all pieces are done, I’ll be ready for the go-through. I generally can only do such work in 90 minute chunks with walks and other forms of break in between. Naps and showers and food… and more walks. But after 90 minutes, I am not alert enough.

Anyway, I can’t think ahead too much:

Today is pieces day.

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Favourite line of the work day yesterday:

Time was a friend who knew when to show up for coffee.

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Do you want to share your favourite line of the week?