All the Time in the World

I think Jack Bauer said it best. “We’re running out of time!”

I used to love watching 24. Every episode, I’d wait for that line, then count how many times he said it. It was, by far and long, his favorite thing to say. But oh, Jack. How right you were. And are.

I don’t know about you, but lately it feels like there’s just not enough time in a day. Or in a week. Or a month, for that matter. How’s a person supposed to keep up?

So here I am, looking at my fall schedule, trying to fit in something fantastic that I am absolutely stoked to do, and wondering where I’m supposed to put it. I shouldn’t be surprised. Seems like it happens every year, and every year, I am somehow blindsided by it. Go figure.

Also, besides the things already on my schedule, I’m planning to write a novel in November. (See this post, if you missed that announcement.)

Don’t get me wrong. I love my life, and all the things in my schedule are things I CHOOSE to put there. I am well aware of this fact. But I am also aware that I will have to CHOOSE to cut some things out, or put them off, or rearrange them. It’s just life, I guess.

Oh how I wish I could borrow Hermione Granger’s time turner for just one month.

Which brings up the question. If you had the opportunity to borrow a time turner for a month, which month would you choose, and why? And what would you accomplish during that month?

The Art of Juggling

My daughter Sneezy is into sports. Like, way. Into. Them. Basketball, soccer, softball, track—she’ll try it all. And do it all. And be good at it.

Awesome, right? Except not always. We recently had to have a talk about how impossible it is for one person (me or her or anyone else) to be in two places at once. Because she has finally reached the point where that has become an issue. Thing is, it’s hard for anyone to dedicate themselves to two different teams. Even if the sports compliment each other in every physical way except practice times.

At some point, we all have to make hard choices like this. Where best to dedicate ourselves, to what team we give our all, and which pursuit will bring us the most happiness, or if not happiness, at least the best opportunity for success.

And it’s hard, you know? It really is hard to make that decision. Sneezy will probably have to choose between soccer and softball. One she truly loves, and the other is more popular among her best friends and would mean taking a fun out-of-town trip in the spring. Which one to choose?

I find myself at a similar crossroads. There’s this thing I love, writing, and it requires probably more than I’ve been able to give in the past, because I’ve been so busy taking care of a team I love (not my family—they’re always top priority). There was a point in time when I believed I could do both things, equally divide my time between them. But I have now reached a crossroads. I can still be a part of the team, just not the captain. Instead, I need to allow someone else a turn. Doing so will give me an opportunity to focus on my love, finish some projects I’ve started, and move forward in my career.

It’s completely possible to be equally good at two things. But in order to be the best at anything, most of us have to dedicate ourselves to just one at a time.

Like I told Sneezy, it’s not about being selfish. It’s about progressing to the next level.  About juggling the things in our lives to the best possible outcome. What do you think?

A Sort-Of System

Have I ever mentioned that I write all my blog posts on the weekend? I got the idea from my friend Elana, who is the most organized writer I’ve ever met. Well, at least, the most organized writer who has been willing to tell me her secret.

So yeah. I schedule all my posts in advance. This is a handy-dandy thing, because it frees up the rest of my week—whatever writing time is available, anyway—to working on manuscripts or queries.

Sending out query letters takes a LOT of time. Oodles. Tons. If it doesn’t, you aren’t doing it right.

First, you have to perfect your pitch. Then you have to research all the agents you believe might be a good fit for you and your manuscript. This is a fairly long process, since it requires reading blogs, websites, social networking profiles, and anything else you can find about each and every agent.

After you’ve done your homework, you then use the information to personalize each letter, include the required amount of manuscript pages, and either click send or seal the envelope. (I don’t do snail mail very often. Too expensive.)

Times that by eight to ten every week, and you’re talking ten hours. Just for query letters.

*shrugs* I’m a glutton.

So. I write blogs on the weekends. I send queries during the week, and somehow manage to find time to write. Not much lately, but I do write. Because if I don’t, I won’t have anything else to query next year.

And also, there’s that writer thing. You know the one. That part of life where you know you don’t really need a therapist to deal with the voices in your head. You just need a notebook or computer, and after you give them their say they’ll leave you alone. For a while. And if they don’t, you just hurry and tell their story and THEN they leave you alone. Theoretically.

But I digress. The point is I like writing my blogs on the weekend, sending my queries during the week, and writing the rest of the time. I think I’ll stick with this system for now.

Do you have a time-saving trick? Some kind of social networking/blogging system that works well for you? Tell me about it.