Monday, October 27, 2008

So, It's been a while...


And yes, I can claim busy as an excuse. Family, work blah blah blah...


But I have to admit the real reason I've been MIA... Complete and utter procrastination.


Why? Well, that's a little harder to pin down though I can say most of it is due to being in limbo.


For writers, limbo is hell. It's that time between finishing the book and selling (or not selling). When you're waiting for that one editor (or two or three, hey, I can dream) to say "I love this, here's a contract. Write me ten more."


Limbo is hitting your email button every five minutes, even though new email alerts pop up on the screen automatically. Limbo is hoping the weekends pass quickly because no one does business on the weekends. Limbo is pouncing on the phone then swearing at it because you have Caller ID and that isn't your agent's phone number.


Limbo sucks because while I'm waiting for news, I'm should be writing. And I do. I force myself to write but my heart's not in it. I even have a new story to work on and I can't quite get motivated. So what do I do?


Well, today, I'm starting a new project, something completely different, allowing myself to have fun. Even though I have revisions for a completed manuscript to work on and a new EC story halfway complete, I need to give myself that breathing room. Even if it's just for the day or the week, just let myself go and see what happens. Hopefully that will free my mind to go back to my other projects. And maybe I'll end up with something totally new and fresh and great.


Hey, we can all dream.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Steph,

If you have an idea to work on, a half-finished MS and you're waiting for a call, that doesn't sound like procrastination; you've been pretty busy! To me, procrastination is going shopping when I know I should be editing. Besides, you have to let your mind empty out once in a while so it can refill itself with new, fresh ideas. That's not procrastinating, it's recharging. Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

But yeah, limbo sucks. It drains the mind of all its energy, doesn't it? I hope your limbo ends soon!

Adele Dubois said...

I agree with Carla. Sometimes we need to decompress from the many pressures of publishing. It takes a lot of energy to keep all those balls in the air!

That said, I've got to get back to my own projects. I have a new book to finish and a requested full ms. to polish before sending it out to an agent. I've been decompressing by reading your blog!

Best--Adele Dubois

Robin Kaye said...

I agree with all of the above, Steph. Sometimes you just have to step away or do something new to get a breath of fresh inspiration.

I've definitely with you there on the limbo line. I'm in limbo waiting to see if my revisions have passed muster.

Hugs...Robin :)

Judi Fennell said...

Funny to read this after I just told a friend that I'd take a look at her WIP - at night when my husband is travelling and I can't work on my own stuff. It's nice to take a break - especially if you've got a new idea. I KNOW you're going to sell BloodBound, but it can't hurt to have something else to pitch while you're waiting.

Stay away from the hamsters, though! :)

Dave said...

I was going to comment earlier today, but, well ... I put it off until now. Hang in there