tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post3088803345165413312..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: Doing Less, BetterCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-81436357964390206452016-03-26T16:22:52.056+00:002016-03-26T16:22:52.056+00:00Nick, we are birds of a feather. More here: http:/...Nick, we are birds of a feather. More here: http://bit.ly/-dolessbetter John Bellhttps://twitter.com/JohnRichardBellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-28745874790800599202016-03-14T20:40:45.856+00:002016-03-14T20:40:45.856+00:00I am just building an author platform and wary of ...I am just building an author platform and wary of getting spread too thin. I had an iron will to get my first novel written and now need to get back into that mindset for the second! I can relate to ideas bubbling over for ancillary activities but I want to use 90% of my creative energy for my book! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02805248137425687699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-22023008867344223632016-03-14T17:41:39.202+00:002016-03-14T17:41:39.202+00:00Yes, well said, Nick. I like your table of doings ...Yes, well said, Nick. I like your table of doings (I favour a lists of paper). But the manner of organisation is not much if you're not doing what you want to do - writing. I say this as one who sometimes fantasizes about not doing what I've said I'll do and wondering if anyone will notice. Sometimes that happens, like on the rare occasion of a family emergency or illness and then it's so simple to prioritise. I want that without the drama Addy Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00450583537731030466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-40252041309455753682016-03-14T17:28:58.858+00:002016-03-14T17:28:58.858+00:00So many box sets! That's another thing I have ...So many box sets! That's another thing I have to let go of, the idea that I can keep up with all the great TV series that are on nowadays.Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-9082437455997988112016-03-14T17:24:11.398+00:002016-03-14T17:24:11.398+00:00Thanks Clare, for such a pertinent and considered ...Thanks Clare, for such a pertinent and considered reply. I think you're spot on here - it's initially nice to be wanted, but it can become a yoke after a while. There's also the aspect that the actual <b>writing for</b> children has become increasingly hard for me over the last few years, and there's definitely an attraction to <b>writing about</b> writing for children, which seems simpler and less freighted with rejection. So maybe it's all an elaborate form of avoidance behaviour!Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-24023993710520322962016-03-14T17:20:43.231+00:002016-03-14T17:20:43.231+00:00I can't write in the evenings anymore but I do...I can't write in the evenings anymore but I do have a lot of physio to get through so that's what evenings are for now, while watching box sets. Productive! Health is another area we all need to focus on. And box sets. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-35056874679482890212016-03-14T17:18:32.413+00:002016-03-14T17:18:32.413+00:00I guess the thing is to try it - schedule some lig...I guess the thing is to try it - schedule some light tasks for a modest length of time in the evening and see how you feel. I find that I need to wind down after 9ish - if I write or do too much computer stuff after that point then I won't be able to sleep later on.Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-9488390174114531212016-03-14T17:15:13.744+00:002016-03-14T17:15:13.744+00:00Thanks, Penny.Thanks, Penny.Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-28648541349157977932016-03-14T17:14:42.020+00:002016-03-14T17:14:42.020+00:00Yes, I definitely need to make more lists, if only...Yes, I definitely need to make more lists, if only to turn off the crazy-brain. But why is it <b>so</b> hard to follow our own advice, even when we know it's right?Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-87691978328685628132016-03-14T17:12:06.523+00:002016-03-14T17:12:06.523+00:00Your metaphor is very apt, Maureen - my actual war...Your metaphor is very apt, Maureen - my actual wardrobe is totally crammed full!Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-37543619053231665232016-03-14T17:10:23.734+00:002016-03-14T17:10:23.734+00:00And there's so much that's not under your ...And there's so much that's not under your control! Just got to roll with the punches, I guess...Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-28212469577545051772016-03-14T17:09:05.896+00:002016-03-14T17:09:05.896+00:00I'm sure that finally being published has brou...I'm sure that finally being published has brought a sense of validity to what you're doing, Kathy - you're no longer writing "for the fun of it" but actually starting to build a career. I'm sure that made it (slightly) easier to hand off some of your farm work and de-prioritise other stuff. Good for you :-)Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-60800698013028122922016-03-14T10:10:15.928+00:002016-03-14T10:10:15.928+00:00'A reduced feeling of personal indispensabilit...'A reduced feeling of personal indispensability'. I think that's actually a key part of the problem. Most of us want to feel indispensable for various reasons -self esteem/worth/belief and at work, especially now, for job security... If we can be a bit kinder to ourselves and accept that we're actually ok, and that that we are enough, then wanting to feel indispensable doesn't need to be the same driving force. Once we've accepted that, then it's easier to get your personal priorities -writing- straight, and start saying no. The fact that you've acknowledged the difficulty of letting go of *feeling* indispensable to certain people is a great start. Keep at it. Much as we all love what you've done for SCBWI, you're in SCBWI because you wanted to write for children. If that is still your genuine priority and all your lots-of-volunteering is stopping you doing your writing, you need to reduce your other commitments. It's scary and I think a lot of people will empathise with this post. A lot. Good luck. xJuliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-77470868757945540452016-03-14T09:01:42.271+00:002016-03-14T09:01:42.271+00:00Good post, Nick. With you Teri. Why is it the rubb...Good post, Nick. With you Teri. Why is it the rubbishy tasks are never done with? Tax return - you file it but they never stop coming after you with more niggling requests. Appliances - always breaking down, why can't they be for life? They used to be. These drainers and sappers do hang in your mind and make you less productive generally. I really should fence off time to clear that stuff.<br />Would also like to follow Kathryn's advice on using evening more productively. Or am I kidding myself and just adding to the weight of shoulds? Ana Salotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13373695860557420762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-17311551374829974862016-03-14T08:51:45.336+00:002016-03-14T08:51:45.336+00:00Empathies, everyone! Being involved with lots of e...Empathies, everyone! Being involved with lots of edge-of-writing activities is a) that if you aren't careful you own core work suffers and there's not enough "output" to keep your career going, engaging though the busyness is. Also, if a time comes when you feel stuck in your own work, these outside activities can become a subconsciously useful distraction. Publishers - even self-publishers - need completed m/s, not blogs etc. Do not ask me how I know this. :-) But good thinking & planning there, Nick, and hope it works well for you. I am impressed! Penny Dolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-38410634488998596362016-03-14T08:06:45.579+00:002016-03-14T08:06:45.579+00:00I SO relate to this post. I spend way too much tim...I SO relate to this post. I spend way too much time on all the annoying things, just to make them go away - I find it really hard to write when a dozen things are chirping in my mind, 'don't forget to do this!'. But by the time I clear all that there is often little or no time left.<br />Like all problems in my stationery-obsessed-life, best approached with a notebook: writing all the things down that must be done helps me tone down all the chirping voices so I can do the important things.<br />In theory. It's a shame I'm so rubbish at following my own good advice.Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-77208978186387896062016-03-14T08:03:05.951+00:002016-03-14T08:03:05.951+00:00Heartfelt empathy! Learning to say no comfortably ...Heartfelt empathy! Learning to say no comfortably is the key to a happy life and the hardest person to say no to is yourself. But if we don't say no we end up overwhelmed and ill. Life is like a wardrobe. If you buy a new outfit and don't throw an old one out the wardrobe ends up packed tight and the door won't shut. Maybe there's even creaking and bulging. Tip from an habitual 'yes' sayer - Always analyse the time commitment and think - What will I stop doing in order to do this new activity.Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-67398504558585784952016-03-14T07:35:01.302+00:002016-03-14T07:35:01.302+00:00Of course, the argument could be that by doing les...Of course, the argument could be that by doing less you achieve more. I really empathise with your situation. There are times when you just have to say no. My problem is it's easier to say no to the soft parts of my life that in the long term will matter more. Finding a good work-life balance is a journey in itself.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-84769472149196563112016-03-14T07:22:05.159+00:002016-03-14T07:22:05.159+00:00I've had this same challenge recently. Most pe...I've had this same challenge recently. Most people know how busy I am but even I couldn't manage a 50+ hour a week full time job on our farm, parenting, voluntnering for scbwi, my new work commitments - deadlines for US edits, a new book and school visits PLUS tryign to keep up with my hobbies - the things that keep me sane. You actually can't do it all so I've: handed over part of my farm job to a very able woman; dropped a few fencing competitions (hard but necessary); made sure I shift the thing that don't require to much brain power to the times when I'm most tired ( this is a good one, you probs CAN use your evening time a bit, just not for creative things). You an do it just be a bit more forgiving of yourself about your priorities, your writing is your passion, if that's the thing you need to preserve time for, don't feel guilty!Kathryn Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439670363289229014noreply@blogger.com