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So I was thinking a lot yesterday about how I feel like I never finish anything because my work almost never can be finished in one day — I can’t write a book or even a novella in one day. I could maybe finish a short story in one day, but that’s unlikely. So I can never set out to finish a project in one day and hope to accomplish it.
Well, that’s fine, that’s not different from what many people do.
But here’s the thing — I work at home. I have to clean my house. I write at home; my house is dirty. I clean my house; I don’t write.
I spend a lot of time thinking about all the stuff I have to do, and when I don’t have a set plan to do it, I end up doing a little bit of everything and finishing nothing! This is why I clean and run errands and stuff on Fridays. I know I won’t get any writing done, and I know I will clean my house. (which I can never finish, either, but I can hit the highlights.) So on Fridays I end up with a clean house, a cooked dinner, and if I get any writing done, it’s a bonus.
Yesterday, on the other hand, I meant to write and plotted instead, since the writing was stuck (because well, I hadn’t quite figured out where I needed to go with it, and how, and why and all that.) So I plotted, I tinkered. I came home and checked email. At the end of the day I felt like I hadn’t accomplished anything, even though I DID…
And now, today, I have my turkey defrosting. I know I have to write, or do something writing related, since hello, deadlines. Books to write! But I also know that starting tomorrow, I won’t have any writing time for AN ENTIRE WEEK. Holiday hosting, holiday travel, kids home from school…Oh, I might get some time but it wouldn’t be enough time. And I’m easily swayed from writing in dribs and drabs, which is how I used to write all the time. I’m spoiled now. If I don’t feel like I can write a full 10 or 15 or 20 pages, I figure why bother, even though I know that even if I write ONE page it’s better than nothing.
So. I need to kick myself in the pants, and accomplish something today.
I need to:
1. Clean off my desk
2. Pay the bills
3. Balance the checkbook
4. prepare my home for Thanksgiving (I’m not cleaning, I’ll make the family do that)
5. I don’t have to prepare food ahead of time since everything can be done tomorrow and my mother is making the mashed potatoes, which is the hard part, and I already have PIE.
6. My basement is a disaster zone, but I’ll make the kids clean that up since they made the mess.
7. WRITE — something, anything!
See? That’s not a very big list, and it’s not un-doable. Maybe part of my problem is I’m not sure *what* to write — I have a few things on the burner and while I had a large chunk of time that was free, now I do not. Now is the time to get to work, get started.
I know my problem: I stutter coming out of the gate. I look at all I need to do and I falter, I creak, I groan, I run in place — I knock into the walls and bounce back. I know *what* I have to do, but getting started doing it…!
But, in the spirit of this holiday, I’m THANKFUL for the work I need to do. And I know I will do it. I simply have to sit down and do it!
M
November 26th, 2008 at 10:10 am · Link
It sucks to have a long to do list and feel like you can’t get it all done.
I have five days of no work (well, I have to work for a little while tomorrow but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s gotta do)and I have a list for every day. I am thankful for my family but man! Time suckage abounds!
Use the next week to get all those things done that take you away from writing and if you get time to write, do it. You’re right. It’s a bonus! When it’s over, you’ll have a clean house and be sick of family and be full of ideas and can write write write!
November 26th, 2008 at 10:33 am · Link
@Patty: I have 12 working days in December, if I work on Fridays instead of cleaning.
TWELVE.
The other days are weekends (rarely get writing done then), days the kids don’t have school, doctor’s appointments, etc.
I have 12 writing days left for the rest of the YEAR!!!!!
Hmmm.
I should set a goal for myself. 10 pages a day x 12 days = 120 pages.
See? That’s not too shabby!
M
November 26th, 2008 at 11:27 am · Link
I’ve always been a bit of a waffler. If I have several things to accomplish I kind of sample around each thing until one settles in and feels right. Then I work it until it doesn’t. They tell me it’s a crazy way to go about getting a list done, but get it done I usually do.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:37 pm · Link
12 days? That sucks!
But you can totally do 10 pages a day. I know you have in the past. I can see your desk covered in post-its now!
Don’t worry about it. You’ll do it! Have a happy thanksgiving!
November 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pm · Link
@Patty: I forgot about some other stuff I’m doing, too. That brings it down to 11 days, maybe even 10!!!!!!
November 26th, 2008 at 2:46 pm · Link
I’m usually pretty good at getting my To-Do stuff done. But life and my family loves to interfere with my writing.
Hmm. I love your idea of writing 10 pgs per day. I’ve got 10 days in Dec to write and a novella I want to finish. I think I’ll also do a challenge for myself to get it done. Oh, and of course that will happen in between doing Thanksgiving dishes and putting up holiday lights on the house and the tree and endless decorations that seems to come out of the storage boxes forever, LOL.
Hang in there, Megan, you can get it done!
Have a great Thanksgiving!
~R
November 26th, 2008 at 5:44 pm · Link
I sometimes think I need to make a list of things I need to do, but then I know that it would just be a way of avoiding doing what needs to be done. The list of things I need to do is always in my mind and I do accomplish some things, but I never feel like I’ve accomplished enough. So, I’m hoping this 4-day weekend will be at least somewhat productive for me.
Good luck with your December goals, Megan!
November 26th, 2008 at 6:12 pm · Link
I completely sympathise with the feeling that there’s so much to get done that you get none of it done *looks uneasily round at the chaos*.
Thanksgiving! I’m giving thanks I don’t have to do Thanksgiving. Christmas is scary enough.
November 26th, 2008 at 6:39 pm · Link
Good luck!
I have no discipline :X But I do have deadlines. Eek.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:37 pm · Link
Happy Thanksgiving Megan! When you started getting stressed just think of pie, coolwhip, and Dean Winchester….ooooh the possibilities!!!
November 26th, 2008 at 11:36 pm · Link
^ that makes me feel better!
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 pm · Link
So catching up with your posts for the past month and which one grabs my attention? The one with the ‘To Do’ list. Why? Because I always have one. November was just killer, but I find a list keeps me focused and honest. I can’t ignore stuff and hope it goes away.
Anyway, I just wanted to write in sympathy for having lots to do and not enough hours in the day.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:51 am · Link
@Rosie: Awww, Rosie, it sounds like you’ve had enough to do over the past few months anyway, without adding more!
I find lists help keep me focused, too, even if I don’t actually DO anything on them! LOL