True Confessions
If you are a regular reader of this blog, I am fairly sure you occasionally think, "She's nuts . . . FOUR kids, THREE dogs, TWO birds, ONE python, an active volunteer, AND she writes three books or more a year?"
Yeah. I'm nuts.
BUT . . . my life when I am NOT in "intense" deadline (intense being subject to definition . . . say, a book due within three weeks) is fairly normal--at least what I "think" passes for normal for most people. Laundry is done, Demon Baby has bathed, children have done homework, we eat well (healthy . . . for me, vegetarian), the house looks like HUMANS live there.
Where I live (Virginia) it is POLLEN season. I have never had particularly bad hayfever before, but I basically sit and tears roll down my face from allergies right now. You wash your car, and you can write your name in 1/4-inch green pollen gunk by sundown. Consequently, I have a headache and feel tired.
I am on deadline.
I ate peanut butter on whole wheat today for breakfast. I didn't use a knife, just grabbed a spoon, slapped it on, ate it. My coffeemaker blew up (yes, SPY, I know it's a sign from the gods to give it up again). I therefore, on deadline and feeling crummy, drank coffee with GRINDS floating around in it. Lunch was at three because I forgot to eat. Ramen noodles with some broccolli tossed in. RAMEN! Like some college kid. I just ate dinner. A cinnamon bun leftover from one of my kids.
I am still in my pjs. It's 7:00 p.m. I won't be dressing today. I have no makeup on. My hair is styled, but . . . I wouldn't answer my door if anyone rang the bell, put it that way.
There's my LIFE. And there's my life on DEADLINE.
So tell me . . . true confession time. When deadlines beckon . . . (can be day job or writing, or self-imposed deadlines or needing something for a conference) . . . what is the good, bad, and ugly of your deadline life? 'Fess up.
Yeah. I'm nuts.
BUT . . . my life when I am NOT in "intense" deadline (intense being subject to definition . . . say, a book due within three weeks) is fairly normal--at least what I "think" passes for normal for most people. Laundry is done, Demon Baby has bathed, children have done homework, we eat well (healthy . . . for me, vegetarian), the house looks like HUMANS live there.
Where I live (Virginia) it is POLLEN season. I have never had particularly bad hayfever before, but I basically sit and tears roll down my face from allergies right now. You wash your car, and you can write your name in 1/4-inch green pollen gunk by sundown. Consequently, I have a headache and feel tired.
I am on deadline.
I ate peanut butter on whole wheat today for breakfast. I didn't use a knife, just grabbed a spoon, slapped it on, ate it. My coffeemaker blew up (yes, SPY, I know it's a sign from the gods to give it up again). I therefore, on deadline and feeling crummy, drank coffee with GRINDS floating around in it. Lunch was at three because I forgot to eat. Ramen noodles with some broccolli tossed in. RAMEN! Like some college kid. I just ate dinner. A cinnamon bun leftover from one of my kids.
I am still in my pjs. It's 7:00 p.m. I won't be dressing today. I have no makeup on. My hair is styled, but . . . I wouldn't answer my door if anyone rang the bell, put it that way.
There's my LIFE. And there's my life on DEADLINE.
So tell me . . . true confession time. When deadlines beckon . . . (can be day job or writing, or self-imposed deadlines or needing something for a conference) . . . what is the good, bad, and ugly of your deadline life? 'Fess up.
Labels: deadlines
posted by Erica Orloff at 6:33 PM
27 Comments:
What? Your hair is styled?
See, I knew you were waaaaay more together than me.
Ducking and running under my "I'M hot R U" baseball cap (No, I do NOT think I'm hot. The cap was courtesy of a hot water tank manufactuer Gas reps, so yeah, at least my fashion faux pas is FREE)
Lainey:
I have a really big head. I don't think I could FIT in a baseball cap. If I could, I would.
I HAVE considered scarves. But it seems a little too Glroia Swanson in Sunset Boulevard.
With grinds? With GRINDS? Ohmigawd, Erica, that is SO funny! That is true desperation!
Once in awhile I get a strong urge for Ramen. Good memories, LOL. Toss in some broccoli, and I don't have to feel guilty for the sodium content, right?
I have been SO lazy this year. I think I've only written 50,000 words so far. My deadline came and passed, and by the time I turned in the whole thing, she'd already published (serially) 24,000 words of it, that's how far behind I was - six weeks late! I'm not usually like that. It's Glenn's fault, because he wasn't here. He takes care of everything when I need to get a story done. Cripes.
I'm pretty deadline free. At this moment my life looks like this: Get up, have breakfast, work out, lay in the sun and read awhile, clean house, cook, write, soak in the tub and read some more. Watch Red Eye on Fox News, sleep.
Spy:
Yes, desperate indeed!!!
E
Zoe:
Your everyday life sounds like a vacation in my world. Except for FOX. I watch Letterman at night.
E
I tend to be a grinder, working every day, regularly, but that doesn't always work, so...
evenings and weekends, baby!
Mark:
LOL! I know those weekends well.
E
Evenings and weekends for me too, even though my deadlines are self-imposed. Like Lainey, I'm awed that your hair is styled.
Edie:
I wear my hair in a bob. Much to the disgust of some of my friends, it pretty much looks the way it does with zero effort. When I was a teen, I wanted curly hair (hence many a bad perm). Now I am grateful for my hair--thick and stick straight.
LOL!
E
The German part of my heritage never seems to kick in when I have a deadline. I'm more of a "why do today what I can put off until tomorrow" type.
My best papers in school were always the "all nighters". I did three consecutive all-nighters at West Point my senior year. Thought I'd die by the time morning rolled around the third day. Swore I'd never do it again...OK broke that oath.
The one time I tried to "do the right thing" and follow all the processes, I only got a "C". Swore I'd never do it again...kept that oath.
I still frequently work that way. Drives the wife nuts...she's one of those measured-step-get-everything-done-days-ahead-of-deadline types.
Hi JLK:
I'm a procrastinator too. I seem to thrive on the adrenaline rush.
E
Ladies:
Whenever you think you're having a bad hair day, just look here. Things could be worse.
My self-imposed deadline for the novel I'm working on was Jan 1.
2007.
I'm a little behind.
Erica, I sleep in yoga pants and cami. I don't have to get dressed if I'm so inclined, which is most of the time. LOL. I've been known to run to the local Piggly in my jammies, and cool that no one has a clue. I grab stuff like you do too, and it's not pretty. Noodles, tuna, and yep, the junk food stuff. My hair is a toss up, it's short and I've been behind on appts lately. I pretty-up when I have something book-related to do, conferences, etc, but I'm a natural gal. No makeup, unless I'm doing the above. And I love it that way!
Hi Ladonna:
I'm about 75% makeup days, 25% no. I tend to look at the day/schedule and try to determine if I will be seeing any humans that I am not related to. ;-)
E
You washed your hair? When I'm on deadline for an article, everything goes out the window. I'm glued to the seat until I'm done. I so relate to the PB sandwich. I forget to eat on deadline too.
My novel deadline, on the other hand, has gone more like Jude's. Then again, it's self-imposed rather than solid.
Jen
I'm a procrastinator. When my anxiety hits its peak, I do my best work. One thing nice about being older, you learn to say no and set more realistic deadlines.
My hair is naturally thick and straight. I tell anyone who cuts it to make it wash and wear because if they do anything fancy it will never look that way again.
Hi JK:
Yeah. Washed my hair. I can reach a point where . . . well, if I feel TOO gross then that's counterproductive to me, too. It's a fine line. ;-)
E
Hi Anti-wife:
You're right. As I get older, I set more boundaries. Though the four kids tend to blow that right out of the water. ;-)
E
you are one AMAZING author and mother, Erica!!! WOOT!!! I love it when an author shares how life is while meeting deadlines.
I haven't had any deadlines yet, maybe soon. I tell myself I'll leave the starting gate at a gallop so the finish line doesn't look so faaar ahead when the due date hits.
How did you acquire your python? Have you always loved snakes? I started an urban fantasy with snakes but haven't gotten back to it. Did just complete my mainstream rough draft. Not being pubbed has its advantages. I am working at my own pace.
Hugs, JJ
I have a book due in a month and page proofs for another book just showed up on my doorstep this evening.
The front yard is clean/raked. I supervised gutter cleaning last night, I cleaned my room today (including vacuuming and dusting), I got half the contest entries that were sitting in my kitchen shipped out this week....I think that's called avoidance LOL
BTW I have enough hair for three people, and it's naturally curly (and it's raining here a couple days a week) so I've given up on the blowdryer and flat iron for the time being *ggg*
heh, my every day life IS a vacation. I was under a lot of stress last fall and my anxiety levels went through the roof. I'm trying to do what I can to lower my stress and anxiety.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has days like this! This definitely resembles my deadline mode.
Hang in there!
Hi JJ:
Prior to Demon Baby, I actually used to have my deadlines paced pretty well. Not so much anymore.
As for the python . . . Lydia is my Oldest Son's python. I am not particularly fond of her. ;-)
E
zoe:
I think that is WONDERFUL!!!!! I know, know, KNOW that I have to cut down on stress.
E
Hi Alyson:
Misery loves company. That's why I posted it. LOL!
E
Thanks Erica! I feel like such a slacker, but it's a necessary step for me to get myself centered and calmed down so that I can actually BE a productive member of society. I figured if I didn't start with the root issues I'd be building on sand, ya know?
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