Writing Tales, Triumphs, and Tribulations: Letting Myself Off the Hook

December 14, 2004

Letting Myself Off the Hook

After I realized that I was just doing too much. . . It's like everything, simply, poof! got magically better. I'm not really doing any less, but by telling myself my job was to focus on just one or two things -- the Kepler book, the new non-fiction book, and the things on my plate for which I already have deadlines and so must accomplish -- somehow my brain managed to relax. I got more done on those projects than I had before. . . and somehow I still found some time to do the extra stuff too.

Basically, the only thing I could legitimately take OFF my agenda was the drive to get lots of magazine stories. I have a few outstanding stories, so I had no intention of jettisoning magazine writing completely -- but my to do list was chock full of "investigate this magazine" and "find contact at that magazine" and "pitch over there" and and and. . .

But by letting myself off that one thing -- i.e. getting myself MORE work -- it's like I can breathe more freely and concentrate on all that I already have to do. So, work is flowing a bit more again. . . yay!

Posted by karenceliafox at December 14, 2004 04:42 PM

Comments

It's easy to get so involved in the expectation of others that we lose sight of our own. I had to finally realize that if my life is driven and steered in the expectations of others, I would never win, let alone break even. I'm not claiming that expectations are not appropriate or important, I think we need to be able to prioritize them and set boundaries for them. All this seems so simplistic to outline but in reality is difficult. We get so much infosaturation that it become difficult at best to sift through it all. good luck and take care.
Merrill

Posted by: Merrill Butterman at December 23, 2004 04:33 AM



My newest book will be out in July. Preorder it now -- just click on it, go to Amazon, and help me earn royalties! And you can still buy my last book, The Big Bang Theory. Powered by Movable Type 2.661			« Blogs \| Main \| Laziness Gets You Everywhere » December 14, 2004 Letting Myself Off the Hook After I realized that I was just doing too much. . . It's like everything, simply, poof! got magically better. I'm not really doing any less, but by telling myself my job was to focus on just one or two things -- the Kepler book, the new non-fiction book, and the things on my plate for which I already have deadlines and so must accomplish -- somehow my brain managed to relax. I got more done on those projects than I had before. . . and somehow I still found some time to do the extra stuff too. Basically, the only thing I could legitimately take OFF my agenda was the drive to get lots of magazine stories. I have a few outstanding stories, so I had no intention of jettisoning magazine writing completely -- but my to do list was chock full of "investigate this magazine" and "find contact at that magazine" and "pitch over there" and and and. . . But by letting myself off that one thing -- i.e. getting myself MORE work -- it's like I can breathe more freely and concentrate on all that I already have to do. So, work is flowing a bit more again. . . yay! Posted by karenceliafox at December 14, 2004 04:42 PM Comments It's easy to get so involved in the expectation of others that we lose sight of our own. I had to finally realize that if my life is driven and steered in the expectations of others, I would never win, let alone break even. I'm not claiming that expectations are not appropriate or important, I think we need to be able to prioritize them and set boundaries for them. All this seems so simplistic to outline but in reality is difficult. We get so much infosaturation that it become difficult at best to sift through it all. good luck and take care. Merrill Posted by: Merrill Butterman at December 23, 2004 04:33 AM The story of a girl trying to write some fiction. Recent Entries Einstein's Birthday Talk Good Editors Crazed Life Back in the Saddle E-mail Access! Japan. . . Writing What You Know Rewrites Writing Conflict Kyoto! Categories Book Writing Business of Writing Craft of Writing Day-to-Day Freelancing Magazine Writing When I'm Being Lame Writing Group Archives March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 October 2003 September 2003 Search Search this site: