April Showers of Editing and Mayhem
I should be editing–and I am–but I’m taking a quick break to blog. Blogging clears my mind, relaxes me, and helps me focus. Forward progress on my WIP is moving along. I’m on my third draft. The editing has been heavier than I imagined, but it’s all for the better. There were ideas I plugged in on the first draft that I’ve taken out. For instance, my hero had WAY TOO MANY superpowers. Not quite Batman-level toys, but more like several that were random. On this edit, I’ve pared them down to just what he needs. I can’t make it too easy on him.
So, editing is going forward. Slower than I’d like, but I’ve gotten lots of help from my CPs. (Thank you, ladies!!) April is the month I really want to get the major edits done. The end of the month is busy and I want this story to get out there–to CPs and a couple of friends–before that happens.
One of the things I’ve tried to do the last few months especially is guard my writing time. NaNoWriMo makes it pretty much mandatory, which is why I like it. But at other times of the year, it gets harder. With holidays, busier times of year for my day job, illness, etc., I really have to pare down extra commitments. Over the summer, I stepped down from a volunteer position I’d had for several years. It was time to move on to other things and I don’t think I’d appreciated how time-consuming and stressed out I was with that additional long-term project.
I’m generally pretty good at saying no. Having kids makes that much simpler. They need me and I know my energy level has limits. So, saying no isn’t hard. But these last few weeks, and then particularly this weekend, were challenging. There’s only so much time in each day and I’ve gotten push-back about what I put my time and attention towards. Like major guilt-trip push-back. Sigh. As I’ve gotten older I’m better able not to get sucked into it, but the emotional fall-out still takes some time. Blergh.
The last few days have been tough. I’m feeling drained and want to shake it off. Thankfully, writing is something I do for self-care and it is helping with this recent struggle. So are a few rainy days (so perfect for writing!), doing yoga with my three year old, baking, reading good books, and now, even blogging.
My husband and kids are a major support to me and I am so grateful. I also have such kind, enthusiastic friends who, when I told them I was thinking of writing a novel, all responded with, “That sounds awesome!” I’m so grateful for them. Same goes for my writing tweeps who cheer me on and tweet excellent advice and cat-related memes.
So, cheers to the people who are supportive in our lives. I’m guarding my writing time fiercely. Now I’ve got to get back to editing. 😉
