Have just been browsing some of the blogs of writing colleagues. Sherryl Clark has a brilliant two part posting (or should I say a two posting discussion?) about the Myths and Realities of publishing. The first part debunks the myths, including the myth that it is who you know that gets you published, while the second part elaborates on the realities, highlighting what it is you need to do to become a successful author. Clark warns that what she has to say is depressing to those prone to feeling vulnerable, but if you are trying to get published, you need to hear what she has to say. So why are you still reading my words – head over and reads Sherryl’s wisdom. You can come back to me another day.
Weather, Multi-Tasking and Lists
This evening I was doing a little multi-tasking. On the computer, my FTP program was uploading new files to Aussiereviews. In the kitchen I had dinner underway, with rice boiling on the stove and chicken cooking in the oven. I had the television news on so I could catch the weather report (the Murphlets have a swimming carnival tomorrow). I was ducking in and out the back door to the washing line as I tried to get the washing off the line. At the same time I was keeping up a conversation with one of the Murphlets, tossing a problem area in my WIP around in my head and thinking about the zillion other things I needed to get done before bedtime. So, a fairly typical half-hour for me. But, I was annoyed to realise, in the midst of all this I lost track of one of the many threads – and missed the weather report. No biggie, I suppose, as I already knew what it was going to say – tomorrow will be hot. Very hot – around 40 degrees Celsius which is hot to be out in the sun all day.
Still, all the other things got done. Dinner was cooked, served and eaten. The washing was brought in and sorted and put away. The files got uploaded. The Murphlets went to bed happy, and I have an idea for the WIP.
All this got me thinking about how I juggle my writing tasks. A lot of multi-tasking happens there too. On a typical writing day in the past week I have checked and answered emails, answered phone calls from schools wanting me to come and visit, proofread a manuscript that’s just about ready to go out, marked assignments, written book reviews, read books, researched online, blogged … Did I mention I’ve actually written, as well? Other writing task that come up from time to time include sending out submissions, chasing up submissions, praying about submissions (lol), promotion, looking for new markets – the list is almost endless.
Multi-tasking is good. Multi-tasking is fun. There is never time to be bored when there are so many different things to be done. Variety is, as they say, the spice of life. But, just like my missed weather report, trying to do many things at once means that sometimes things can be overlooked. It is easy to have a deadline sneak up on you, or forget to reply to an email, or to let a manuscript gather dust rather than sending it out somewhere new.
These things have all happened ot me at different times. That’s why I keep a list next to my computer. I list all the things I hope to achieve in my week, from the number of reviews and blogposts I want to write, to people I need to contact, the number of writing sessions on my WIP, and submissions I need to follow up on, promotion opportunities I need to grasp, and whatever else needs to be done. I allow myself some flexibility. I don’t work down the list from top to bottom. I work on what seems the most pressing or the most achievable in the time I have on that day. I cross things out as they’re done, so I can see how much I’ve achieved and, when the list is mostly crossings, I start a new one. Oh, there is one rule I have set for myself. I must write every day, whether it’s my WIP or something new that needs my attention, or revisions. If I don’t write, I cease to be a writer.
I might miss the weather, but a simple organisational tool like a list does help me to make time for the things I need to do in my writing life. And in the end, who cares how hot it’s going to be? Knowing we’re in for a scorcher doesn’t change anything.
PS
I’ve just finished updating Aussiereviews with 14 new reviews. Enjoy.
Get the Conference Buzz
In my last post I suggested that if you’re a writer you should seize any opportunity to attend a writer’s conference. For me, the opportunities are few and far between. I live in rural Western Australia where writers’ conferences are unheard of. Even in Perth, conferences for children’s authors are almost unheard of, and for other writing genres also quite rare. This is why the wonderful SCBWI conference was such a treat. How wonderful to have such a gathering only two and a half hours from home!
Still, the opportunities are not always so close to home and I have previously travelled to Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide for conferences, usually at my own expense. I do this not because I’m wealthy (the phrase ‘rich author’ is almost oxymoronic) but because I consider myself a professional and see professional development as an important part of my writing career. I have scrimped and saved to get to some of these events but have never regretted the expense when I’ve got to the conference – or afterwards.
The point of this ramble is this: if you are truly serious about being a professional writer, seek out professional development opportunities and seize them. You don’t need to spend a zillion dollars attending every single event. Choose those which you feel are most relevant to tour writing interests and the stage of your career. Talk to other writers who’ve been in previous years and find out what they’ve got from their attendance. Look at the list of speakers or workshop offerings, and the networking opportunities. And, yes, consider your budget. If you can’t afford to travel across the country or across the world, look at what is on offer closer to home. There might not be a big children’s writers’ conference, but there might be a writers week component in your city’s festival, or a literary festival which has writer’s sessions.
I’m still buzzing from my weekend at the WA SCWBI conference. It’s a feeling every serious writer deserves.
SCBWI Conference
On the weekend I was lucky enough to travel to Perth to attend the first ever State conference of the Western Australian branch of the SCBWI. What a wonderful event! In attendance were seventy plus children’s book creators – authors, illustrators, editors and publishers as well as many aspiring writers keen to learn more about the industry.
I have come home so inspired and so well informed about publishing trends, editors’ likes and dislikes, the process of building a children’s list and much, much more. I also relished the chance to talk with so many fellow writers, of all levels of experience and from so many different backgrounds. Only a fellow writer can really relate to the highs and lows of the writing life, and living in the country as I do it isn’t always possible to chat with other writers. That’s why when these opportunities arise I do everything I can to take them.
I’ll have more to say about conferences and about this one especially as I recover from a busy weekend and gather my thoughts. In the meantime, if you are a writer and have the opportunity to attend a conference, take it – seize the opportunity with both hands.
What Makes a Poem a Poem
Having just finished the first draft of my first ever verse novel, I’ve been doing some thinking about poetry and about what makes a poem a poem. This lead me to Google for some opinions on the subject and, ultimately, to YouTube (because where else would one go to seek literary wisdom?). I like this guy’s answer to my question.
Writing Advice – A Useful Site
One piece of advice I often give to new writers is to read books and articles about writing regularly. Of course, it would be easy to spend so much time studying such writing advice that one didn’t actually have time to write, but it is important to devote some time on a regular basis to hearing what works for other writers. No one can offer a formula that will exactly work for you, but at the same time, hearing what works for others helps you to evolve your own craft.
Anyway, as I said, this is advice I often give, but it’s not advice I always follow myself. I’m time-starved and sometimes feel resentful at the prospect of giving up work time to learn. But I have resolved this year to spend a little more time reading what others have to say, and today have been reading the opening ‘pages’ of Advice on Novel Writing by Crawford Kilian, which I came across online. So far I’ve only read the section on Efficient Work Habits, but as I read I found myself nodding my head at much of it – stuff I already knew but which I needed to be reminded about. His suggestion about writing letters to yourself as you write – much as an editor might write to you during the editing process – was a new one, but interesting.
Anyway, if you’re stuck for a little inspiration yourself, or just needing some good writing advice, this site may be worth browsing. As I come across others, I’ll post them here.