Friday, December 17, 2010

Distractions, distractions . . .

Okay, I'll admit it.  Christmas is screwing up my writing.  I don't know why I'm surprised, since it happens every year.  There's just so much to do in December and writing seems the least important.  Except . . . I signed a piece of paper that says I will deliver a book on March first, and the deadline is looming bigger every day.
I think the book is going along pretty well . . . it's just not happening as fast as I would like.  And for some reason, I seem to let things interrupt my day that shouldn't.

Saltine candy2 First, I had those two craft sales.  One went really well (hurray!) and one didn't.  (Boo-hoo!)  But I worried about them for days in advance, which meant I didn't get as much writing done.  And this week I decided to get the rest of my shopping done, which meant I was at the mall or some other retail establishment during the hours I should have been in front of the computer.  And I haven't even started my baking, despite all my good intentions.  (Okay, I tested one recipe for the book.  It was delicious and we inhaled it.  SPOILER:  It's candy!)

All these interruptions aren't increasing the word count.  I'm going to have to really up the ante in January and February . . . except I'll have a new book to promote during those months. And, oh, there's a galley proof floating around there, and I wouldn't be surprised if it arrived during the holidays or right after.  (That's usually two writing days down the toilet.)

I think when my agent negotiates a contract, I'll ask that December not be counted as an actual month of the year, and that there should be exceptions to deadlines during that time.  Wanna bet that doesn't go with my publisher's legal department?

What have you neglected that should have been done during the hustle and bustle of the holidays?