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In which Rolanni is disconsolate
Nothing to see here. Move on, move on.
Whining .
A couple of things have fallen through the cracks over the last week or so. I managed to catch them -- or at least the ones I saw -- but they got uncomfortably close to Going Bad. In general, I'm not the sort of person who does well with things Going Bad, most especially when it's my fault. It doesn't even matter if anyone else knows that the failure, whatever it is, was my fault. I'd know.
I've often reflected that this is not a particularly useful character trait for someone who has spent much of her life living by her wits, but it would appear that I'm stuck with it.
Now, here's the thing. I'm behind on a lot of stuff I need to be on top of, some of it big, some of it not-so-big. There's that book that's due, for starters; and a pile of data entry that literally comes up to my knee; a whole buncha SRM paperwork that has to get dealt with, added, subtracted, multiplied, vilified, obfuscated, and filed by April 1. I've got stuff to read out loud, a pile of unanswered email dating roughly back to the inception of the internets, and the day-job is ramping up for its very busiest season of the academic year.
Did I mention that I don't operate well in a mess? I want to know where the objects and information under my keeping are; I hateHateHATE to lose things. Or forget them. Or discover a bill on the bottom of the pile I meant to get to last week that I should have paid four days ago and now there's a late charge on top of the embarrassment of having Not Done It Right.
My options seem limited. The day-job buys the health insurance and produces a steady paycheck. Granted, our last royalty payment was more than my annual pay, but -- health insurance good. The day-job stays.
SRM was originally divided into Steve's strengths -- layout, sales, public relations, filling order -- and Sharon's strengths -- bookkeeping, clerical, filling orders, and remembering what's where. Each piece was about a half-time job when we started. SRM has since grown (that's a GOOD thing), meaning that we have more orders, with a person down to fill them, and more paperwork with a person down to process it. Still, SRM pays its portion of the bills, and fulfills a useful function. Clearly, SRM stays.
Writing. By the measuring-stick of my peers, I don't do much, but I'd like to keep on for a few years yet. And I'd very much like to keep on in a state when I'm not distracted to the point where I can't remember if the hero's eyes are blue or green. I'm used to having the luxury of being a wee bit immersed in our stories, which hasn't been possible with all the other distractions.
This is not, of course, a problem unique to me. Lots of writers -- most,in these benighted times -- write around the corners of their lives. I need to figure out how to manage it better, is all. And it looks like 30-hour days aren't available in this month's Life Skills Catalog, either.
I did spend a couple hours this afternoon in the blue chair with ice on the knee. The knee hurts like a sonofagun, for those keeping score at home, and is becoming Quite Spectacular, as the bruises rise. The current book is Hiding the Elephant -- a history of stage magic and magicians. Coincidentally, this week's New Yorker includes a lengthy article about stage magic and magicians.
Whining .
A couple of things have fallen through the cracks over the last week or so. I managed to catch them -- or at least the ones I saw -- but they got uncomfortably close to Going Bad. In general, I'm not the sort of person who does well with things Going Bad, most especially when it's my fault. It doesn't even matter if anyone else knows that the failure, whatever it is, was my fault. I'd know.
I've often reflected that this is not a particularly useful character trait for someone who has spent much of her life living by her wits, but it would appear that I'm stuck with it.
Now, here's the thing. I'm behind on a lot of stuff I need to be on top of, some of it big, some of it not-so-big. There's that book that's due, for starters; and a pile of data entry that literally comes up to my knee; a whole buncha SRM paperwork that has to get dealt with, added, subtracted, multiplied, vilified, obfuscated, and filed by April 1. I've got stuff to read out loud, a pile of unanswered email dating roughly back to the inception of the internets, and the day-job is ramping up for its very busiest season of the academic year.
Did I mention that I don't operate well in a mess? I want to know where the objects and information under my keeping are; I hateHateHATE to lose things. Or forget them. Or discover a bill on the bottom of the pile I meant to get to last week that I should have paid four days ago and now there's a late charge on top of the embarrassment of having Not Done It Right.
My options seem limited. The day-job buys the health insurance and produces a steady paycheck. Granted, our last royalty payment was more than my annual pay, but -- health insurance good. The day-job stays.
SRM was originally divided into Steve's strengths -- layout, sales, public relations, filling order -- and Sharon's strengths -- bookkeeping, clerical, filling orders, and remembering what's where. Each piece was about a half-time job when we started. SRM has since grown (that's a GOOD thing), meaning that we have more orders, with a person down to fill them, and more paperwork with a person down to process it. Still, SRM pays its portion of the bills, and fulfills a useful function. Clearly, SRM stays.
Writing. By the measuring-stick of my peers, I don't do much, but I'd like to keep on for a few years yet. And I'd very much like to keep on in a state when I'm not distracted to the point where I can't remember if the hero's eyes are blue or green. I'm used to having the luxury of being a wee bit immersed in our stories, which hasn't been possible with all the other distractions.
This is not, of course, a problem unique to me. Lots of writers -- most,in these benighted times -- write around the corners of their lives. I need to figure out how to manage it better, is all. And it looks like 30-hour days aren't available in this month's Life Skills Catalog, either.
I did spend a couple hours this afternoon in the blue chair with ice on the knee. The knee hurts like a sonofagun, for those keeping score at home, and is becoming Quite Spectacular, as the bruises rise. The current book is Hiding the Elephant -- a history of stage magic and magicians. Coincidentally, this week's New Yorker includes a lengthy article about stage magic and magicians.
no subject
no subject
and offer of what help I might be able to give......
just ask and it shall be done
(I am BORED senseless due to yet another bout with the shoulder. I am allowed to sing, drive, file, sit, type etc. Just no sanding, painting or lifting o packages more than 8 pounds)
Clearing the decks?
It occurs to me that the day-job just might provide the solution to some of those SRM tasks that are beating you down: Might there perhaps be a business admin or accounting major (or heck, even a liberal arts major with a lot of common sense!) at your fine institution of higher learning that could use a little extra coin and enjoy some part-time office work which could possibly be done on a schedule flexible enough to fit with a changing class schedule? My daughter attends a different institution of higher learning some distance away, and I know that she is constantly on the look-out for work like that. Yes, the students head home for the summer, but don't the hours on the day-job cut back at that point?
Check with the college's career center, your need just might be the answer to someone else's need...
Just a thought.
Re: Clearing the decks?
no subject
Hire help
(Anonymous) 2008-03-17 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)I want to agree with Mama_Abbie.
Decide which jobs you really don't need and can afford to outsource and require the least supervision.
Get a cleaning service (if the cats approve).
Hire an accountant.
Hire a part-time office assistant for SRM.
I follow your blog, living in hope that I will see where and when the next Lee & Miller book or short story appears. Please keep writing.
Marty in the other Portland
Re: Hire help
It's the "hire a ____________" which becomes difficult.
I was anticipating getting an office in town, because this house/office situation is not amenable to having an outside worker in it, with difficulties ranging from lack of parking places in winter to accessibility issues to etc....
In town I'd be closer to the PO and other shipping arrangements, and more central for potential help, including interns. So far, most of the "offices" I've seen that I can afford are empty for good reason. One I thought might work suffers from extreme proximity to a part of town with security issues.
And so, we're working on it.
wikidpad? or characters sheets and whatnot?
Just a thought - over here, http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/02/10/writing-excuses-episode-1-brainstorming/
someone suggests using wikidpad (a personal wiki, apparently - available at http://www.jhorman.org/wikidPad/ ) for this kind of management?
I'll admit, I was thinking that this is why some writers swear by character sheets, outlines, and all that paraphenalia (not at, by). Not sure whether you want to try some of that - I know I just end up spinning my wheels without writing if I start playing with that kind of stuff, but YMMV.
Ah! Imagine a character in this situation. Now what would they do to help resolve the complications and stresses? :-)
Re: wikidpad? or characters sheets and whatnot?
One of my friends does use the wikipad and adores it; I looked at it and didn't want to have at thing to do with it. And so it is that writing is just like writing. Except when it isn't.
Imagine a character in this situation. Now what would they do to help resolve the complications and stresses? :-)
This is periously close to What Would Miri Do, and I just don't have access to that many explosive devices.
Re: wikidpad? or characters sheets and whatnot?
You know, a t-shirt with "What Would Val Con Do?" and a background of a fireworks explosion might do very well at Denvention or the SRM cafepress shop?
I will admit, I think of Val Con as the fellow who likes improvised explosives more than Miri - she seems to prefer merc-issue?
Sympathies
(Anonymous) 2008-03-19 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)I hope you continue to write, for the purely selfish reason that I want to read and sell your
books.
I hope you can get a personal assistant - it sounds like you need one - and I LOVE your concept of "what would Miri do?" Hmn. What would Cantra do? [Paraphrasing: 'In the matter of assistants, two things are important - can they organize? And will they dismay your debtors?']
Hope I made you laugh,
Lauretta
Constellation Books
Big hugs!
Also, I would like to give you an early/late birthday present if you permit. Please contact me at ada (at) kermanenterprises.com if you are interested.