Considering that I'm now retired, you'd think I'd have plenty of time on my hands. Still, I have what some might say is a surprising fear, others not.
My fear is not getting everything done when it needs to be done. I have lists everywhere of what I need to do that day, the next and other dates as well. I have a calendar to tell me the guests for my blogs, whether they've sent in their information, and whether I've set everything up yet. Still, sometimes I forget to check the calendar, because it gets buried beneath the lists and important notes on my desk.
I'm so bombarded with e-mails and blogs and social media sites to check each day, it seems time slips by so fast that I don't know where it went. God forbid if I had a full-time day job, because being an author has become a vast encompassing and time consuming operation.
Maybe I bite off too much, but it seems that every author I know does the same. Not only that, somehow they manage, while I seem to always be behind, doing the bare essentials, wishing I could read more blogs, answer every post from friends in the e-groups, and more importantly, actually work on my books again.
Others said to put my books up on KDP Select to get sales, so I did that right away with Her Handyman, and hosted a freebie two-day event on Oct 12 and 13. I spent almost every minute those two days publicizing the event, not to mention the time before when I set up my tweets through Hootsuite.com and submitted applications to publicity sites. That's only two of the days. I still have three more for that book to use up.
I also heard that to stay in the public eye it's a good idea to put more than one book up as a freebie. I originally placed my thriller, Forever Young: Blessing or Curse on Amazon and Smashwords. Last night I took it out of Smashwords. It will be at least three weeks before all their affiliates have removed my thriller from their sites. When that happens, hopefully by December, I'll start another event for that book, along with all the Christmas madness that month.
Oh, yes, today, I finally got around to paying my gas, electric and sundry bills, which were almost due. As I write this, it's going on seven at night. I'll stop to eat dinner now and watch some TV, but during the commercials I'll be retweeting on Twitter.
What about you? Are you afraid of not getting everything done when it should be done?
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Morgan's Amazon Author Page
Facebook: Facebook.com/MorgansBooks
Twitter: @MorganMandel
Morgan is a past president of Chicago-North RWA,
past library liaison for Midwest MWA, and once
freelanced for the Daily Herald newspaper before
being published in book form.
My fear is not getting everything done when it needs to be done. I have lists everywhere of what I need to do that day, the next and other dates as well. I have a calendar to tell me the guests for my blogs, whether they've sent in their information, and whether I've set everything up yet. Still, sometimes I forget to check the calendar, because it gets buried beneath the lists and important notes on my desk.
I'm so bombarded with e-mails and blogs and social media sites to check each day, it seems time slips by so fast that I don't know where it went. God forbid if I had a full-time day job, because being an author has become a vast encompassing and time consuming operation.
Maybe I bite off too much, but it seems that every author I know does the same. Not only that, somehow they manage, while I seem to always be behind, doing the bare essentials, wishing I could read more blogs, answer every post from friends in the e-groups, and more importantly, actually work on my books again.
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| Her Handyman by Morgan Mandel |
I also heard that to stay in the public eye it's a good idea to put more than one book up as a freebie. I originally placed my thriller, Forever Young: Blessing or Curse on Amazon and Smashwords. Last night I took it out of Smashwords. It will be at least three weeks before all their affiliates have removed my thriller from their sites. When that happens, hopefully by December, I'll start another event for that book, along with all the Christmas madness that month.
Oh, yes, today, I finally got around to paying my gas, electric and sundry bills, which were almost due. As I write this, it's going on seven at night. I'll stop to eat dinner now and watch some TV, but during the commercials I'll be retweeting on Twitter.
What about you? Are you afraid of not getting everything done when it should be done?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |
| Morgan Mandel |
Facebook: Facebook.com/MorgansBooks
Twitter: @MorganMandel
Morgan is a past president of Chicago-North RWA,
past library liaison for Midwest MWA, and once
freelanced for the Daily Herald newspaper before
being published in book form.
Great blog! I feel the same way. In spite of lists, planning, and the best intentions, getting a project done can be very stressful. And it just takes that one unexpected event to shift everything into pandemonium.
ReplyDeleteBoy, did this resonate with me. My hubby and I are supposed to be retired, too. Ha!I seen to get busier and busier each year. Of course, some of that is because of my involvement with the local community theatre and art center, and that is good for me in so many ways. And the more success I have with my writing, the more it seems I have to do. That business side of it consumes more time than it used to, and that is not something I enjoy.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I'm not the only one!
ReplyDeleteMorgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com
We're in the same boat, Morgan; retired and too busy. I have those lists, calendars, notes everywhere. Yesterday, I checked on an engagement I have coming up and was shocked to learn the date on their calendar was different than mine. After a momentary panic attack, I made a call and everything was straightened out. That's a fear of mine, too, showing up or NOT showing up for a scheduled appearance. Oh, and thanks for the reminder that I need to figure out how to use Hootsuite.
ReplyDeleteMarketing is not my thing, so I struggle to get my work exposed to the public. I try to do what I can and not worry about the rest. Writing is my primary goal and I have to leave room for that, otherwise what's the value of it to me?
ReplyDeleteSheeesh, Morgan, I had to go take a nap after just reading this.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest fear was always that I would forget my children somewhere. And my fear came true. The principal at the elementary school called the Colonel in my unit and said where is she? You better believe I never forgot the kids again.
ReplyDeleteBut I have writing things I can't keep up with. Mostly in the promo department. I map out a basic plan of what I want to do for each book, but blogs get added, appearances get added, and before long I'm overwhelmed. That's when I step back and take a big breath. It's okay. I don't have to do it all.
Great post, Morgan!
Maggie
http://mudpieseandmagnolias.blogspot.com
I'm totally with you on this. Retirement sure didn't bring the time freedom I was hoping for. One of my biggest fears/conflicts is choosing between time spent writing and time with my grandkids. I know how fast they'll be grown and gone but I can't wait until they're off to college or wherever and to devote myself to my writing career.
ReplyDeleteStrange how time drags during unpleasant experiences, yet zooms past when there are things that need to be done.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Mandel
I think it's an easy fear to have when you no longer have the schedule of a regular work day behind you.
ReplyDeleteMe too, ladies. I've been retired for four years and have never been busier. Between three dogs, household chores, volunteer work and friends - I never seem to get everything done but....I don't care! My life is full and I'm loving it.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like me...if I didn't have my lists, calendar, and writing planner, I'd be lost.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your courageous admission, Morgan, which clearly everyone can relate to. I think those "others" who seem to be doing it better are also filled with fear—they're too afraid to admit that this new era of freedom in publishing has posed some new and very real problems for a writer. Summed up in one word: overwhelm. We may all be losing our sanity—and I"m not so sure that will make our books better.
ReplyDeleteMorgan you really are one of the busiest authors I know. I have got to become as organized as you are!
ReplyDeleteHelen, You'd be better off finding someone more organized than I am!
ReplyDeleteMorgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com
Retired . . . what does that mean? I'm well into my seventh decade, and I can't even find the word in the dictionary. As for lists, I have several, but I forget to look at them (no, I'm not forgetful — just busy).
ReplyDeleteCool post, Morgan. :-)
Morgan,
ReplyDeleteI'm not retired but I freelance, which gives me a very flexible schedule...too flexible someways. Lists don't always work but at least it hey give me a safety net because I force myself to review those lists every Tuesday.