Christina Cann » On managing time

Without further ado

christina — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:58:11 +0000

So, obviously, I have not really been keeping up with this blog. I have all the usual excuses: work, life, writing my WIP got in the way. But in today’s world, that really doesn’t cut it. I have to blog to connect with potential readers, fellow writers, and possibly agents and publishers.

I have always been a listmaker, so I’ve come up with a list of things to blog about on certain days (a schedule, if you will) to keep me motivated. So, without further ado:

Muse Mondays: I’ll write a bit about what I’m currently working on, my goals for the week, and what I’ve accomplished since the last post.
Transit Tuesdays: I do the majority of my reading on the bus to and from work, waiting in line (it’s really fabulous to “escape” from the post office with a book or magazine), or on my lunch break. So I’ll post about what I’m reading and what I think of it.
Wayback Wednesdays: I think it’s important for YA writers to be able to connect with their youth, to have the images, feelings, and experience of high school/junior high/childhood fresh in their minds. On Wednesdays, I’ll write about something that reminds me of my youth, whether it’s a book, music video, TV show, movie, or anything else.
Themeless Thursdays: I can’t think of a theme for Thursdays! Any suggestions? I’ll probably just end up writing about what I’m writing. How very meta.
Friday Five: Courtesy of friday5.org, I’ll post a list of whatever five things they think up for the week. A fun little send-off for the weekend, which is when I do the majority of my writing (and cooking and cleaning and socializing…).

There you have it. Coming soon to a theater near you!

Quickly

christina — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:19:56 +0000

Despite the fact that it was a long day at work and it’s ridiculously hot outside, I am feeling inspired to get some work done. Yesterday I had a long lunch with one of my readers and came out of it with a lot of ideas for ways to improve le livre, and I want to mull over them a little longer and maybe take another glance through it. I also want to write 1000 more words in the new story. So much to do, so little time!

Also — have you been reading Literary Rambles? You really should be.

Balancing relaxation with working

christina — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:09:01 +0000

I suspect this will be the first post of many about managing time demands and being a writer with a full-time day job, but I’m still going to write about it anyway. Just…what’s the best way to do it and not feel like you’re not doing enough? I get home around 5:30 or 6 every night and most of the time I do pretty well at balancing relaxation with working on le livre, but it can be really difficult.

Like tonight. There’s a Penguins game on (and I am a HUGE Penguins fan), and it’s a playoff game at that. It started at 7, and it won’t be over until 9:30 or 10, at which point I’ll be too sleepy to get into really working on my wip. Do I skip the third period? Do I duck out halfway into the second? I missed the whole game on Saturday because I was working on le livre, so is it fair to watch the entire game tonight?

I know it’s only going to get harder, and I have so much admiration for those writers who have full-time day jobs and little ones who take up so much of their time. The biggest aggravation I have in that department is that Moses wants to lay on my lap when I’m working on the couch, making it really hard to type without contracting carpal tunnel. Still…sigh.