Tag: Writing

Submit or Else

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

This week I’ve submitted ten different articles / stories for publication.  Two have been rejected, one has been tentatively accepted, and the other seven I probably will never hear about again.  I wrote a rough draft for a new article I want to submit but I’ll have to see if I have time to get it in before the deadline.

I have at least two more publications I want to submit to before I start looking at other projects.  However, I got an email from a publication which I would like to submit to for crocheting but I believe I would have to make the piece and send it in for this magazine so that may take a bit longer.

It feels good to get my work out there but I’m also prepping myself for the rejections that go with the submission process.  I’ve done a submission for some greeting cards and a regional poetry contest.  I’ve also submitted work to two other publications.

There’s always the hope that any of these submissions will not only get published but that I might also get paid for it.  Income from publishing is rare and hard to come by but it is a rush of pleasure when I do get paid for my work.

I’d like to figure out the best way to track leads.  I get a bunch of them but I either forget about them until after the deadline or I don’t get the piece done in time for the deadline.  It would be nice if I could figure out a way to track a lead, when stuff is due, what I submit, if it gets published and so on.  I’ve got a works list where I type in all the submissions I do but it doesn’t really fit the bill.  I need to find the right tool which will help me be more efficient with getting my stuff out there for publication. I might have to create a One Note notebook to help me with this.  I’ll have to think about it.

In the past I’ve had a paper copy of the articles with a post it on it to track when I submitted it.  This hasn’t ever worked well.  I’ll have to consider my options.

Midnight has hit.  I should probably head to bed as I have to go back to my day job tomorrow.  The writing bug has got me thinking about what I need to be a more efficient author though.  I guess I could sleep on it and see what my subconscious comes up with.

No More Excuses

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

My big thing for not submitting more is I don’t have time.  This is true.  Time is my most limited resource.  However, it’s an excuse.  So this week I went out to some of the publications I know I want to submit to.  I didn’t take time to research new ones because that eats up that precious commodity of time.  I got a list of what they are looking for and I started looking at my done pieces.

I found several that I’ve already written which I can submit to these publications.  I’ve been a bum this week.  I’m fighting a sinus infection/cold and mostly just want to sleep.  However, editing doesn’t take that much effort.

I printed off several of my articles I think will work nicely for these publications.  I’ve gotten one edited.  In fact I was quite pleased because while I was trying to breath, I got an idea for a completely different opening which I like MUCH better.  In about 30 minutes, I made the edits.  It took me another 20 minutes on the computer but when I was done, I had the edits entered and the piece submitted.

Will it get published?  No idea.  I’ve got my fingers crossed and I hope so.  Next I’m going to go back to my pile of articles and work on the next piece.  I don’t know if it will take as little time but if I can get several submitted maybe I’ll get lucky and get another published item or two.

Cram It All In

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Writing

The weekend is here and it is supposed to be about rest and relaxation, right?  Not this weekend.  I’m up early and helped one daughter with her taxes.  Next I have a business call in a little over an hour.  In between, I’m hoping to upload some of my patterns I just published to Ravelry and get a few other things done.

I’ve got this business meeting call and then I have a bunch of other things I want to get done.  I want to finish off typing up the patterns (four of them) which I want to publish.  I have to put all of them on Ravelry.  I should get the edits for Wayfarer 10 entered on the computer and work on the cover.  Some of my test readers liked and some didn’t.  I should work on prepping stuff for doing my own taxes.

I have so much bouncing around in my head right now it is crazy.  I need to take a breath, make a list, and prioritize.  Because in addition to all these things, I also need down time.  This last week was stressful for work and next week will be as well.  I just need to take a breath and do what I’m able.  The rest will get done in time.

I’m back to several crochet projects I want to try in my head on top of all the other things going on.  I need to figure out what I can get done and just let the rest go.  In my head right now, I’m laughing at myself because this is definitely not something I’m good at.  In my head, I’m hearing – publish 4 more crochet patterns, work on poncho and fleece / crochet mitten pattern, marketing, organize tax stuff, edits and cover for 10, write 11, write Defenders 3 – get moving and get stuff done!!

The other part of me is saying one at a time.  I can only do one of these at a time and I need to make sure I get enough rest and calm so I am ready for work next week.  I need to have that balance or I throw my health into a bad place.  So I’ll cram in what I can but try to remember to breathe and keep moving forward one thing at a time – hopefully.

Teeter Totter

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

Seeking a balance in my tasks, I’ve been trying to find the right combination among writing, crocheting, and family tasks.  I’ve been working on editing a manuscript which is now down to a final read through as I’ve finished the searches I normally do.  At the same time, I’ve been working on projects for my daughters.  I just finished two cat beds which I didn’t have patterns for the two different styles.

Striking a balance (of sorts) is good in that I don’t feel I’m so focused on one task that I get burned out on it.  I’m also able to embrace the different sides of my creative nature – making beautiful things and telling good stories.

I have a long list of crochet patterns I want to publish and at the same time I need to work on marketing.  Monday I will be home alone so I am going to attempt to get the end of year reports done for my writing and editing business and then work on preparation for publishing for the patterns I have complete.

I’m back and forth on what I’m working on but I feel like I’m at least making progress on all my interests.

Next week classes start up again.  This means my work will go from slow and quiet to insane.  Almost all of the faculty will be back in the building regularly and the students will be back.  Next week will be exhausting and fast paced which means when I get home I’ll be looking for mellow things to do.  Things I won’t have to think about too much.  This means either crocheting or maybe editing / marketing.  I have a number of books to go through to pull out quotes for posting on twitter.  Either task will be low key for the most part.

My goal this year – hopefully – is to not buy any new yarn unless I have a specific project in mind and to work on whittling down my stash and my current load of projects.  This means I want to clear out some of the bins of yarn I have for Vicki and other people.  It also means I have to find that balance so I have time for crocheting and writing.

I have to go with the flow when I’m writing – when the story is flowing I have to write.  However, I’m going to attempt to make time for both of my main interests.  I’ll see how this plays out.

Morning Blahs

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

This morning I’m on my own in the house.  It’s an odd thing to happen on a Saturday but Ken is off doing other stuff.  Whatever will I do on my own?

I’ve sorted had breakfast, sorted laundry, and checked out my sales.  I’ve been on Facebook, Linkedin, and Goodreads.  It’s surprising how much time this takes up when I get on the computer.  I still have to look at my website and my pagan blog.  From there, I’ll work on a cover or two for a fellow author.  After that’s done, I’ll decide whether I’ll continue at the computer and work on publishing stuff or go back to the recliner to work on crochet stuff.

I’ve got four projects I’d like to get done this weekend – more if I can.  I’m giving myself through the end of the year before I go back to writing on a more regular basis.  I’ve needed some down time, some time to step away from telling stories and working on publishing.  However, now I have a number of crochet patterns to publish, a book to edit and two novels to finish writing.

I finished watching Veronica Mars last night – all the way through the movie.  I enjoyed it and want more.  Unfortunately, I don’t know if they are ever going to do more.  I know the fans paid for the movie to be made.

I’ve got several suggestions from the girls on other options for watching.  I was watching the old Dick Van Dyke show while I crochet.  However, I have several crochet classes which I want to watch on Craftsy so I may put those on to see if anything sparks an interest for me.  I’ll have to see where my mind goes while I crochet.  I could also listen to audio books.  So many choices – whatever will I do?  I’m sure I’ll figure it out.  Maybe I’ll watch the Harry Potter movies.  I can throw those on and not have to watch them while I crochet.  That’s definitely a viable option.

The more I can get done crochet wise, the better.  It will help clean up the living room as it has become craft central with fleece and yarn in piles around the room.  I’m hoping to finish off a number of them so it’s less cluttered.

The pictures are of some of the projects I’ve been working on but haven’t been able to show because they were gifts.  I hope you enjoy them.  

Long List of Crafting and Writing

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Writing

It’s a list weekend.  I have a long list of writing tasks I want to get done and a long list of crocheting / crafting things I want to get done.  I may manage to stay in my jammies all weekend just to get stuff done.

Last night I watched Blacklisted and worked on an afghan for my niece.  I’ve got about 40 rows done.  I LOVE the colors she picked and the pattern.  I can’t wait to see the final product.  In my crochet basket, I have about four projects started.  I am going to try to finish two of them this weekend and work on the other two.  Two of them are larger projects so will take longer than a weekend to complete.

I have written about four patterns which fall into the “Baskets” category.  I want to get them compiled into a document so I can publish them but before I publish, I want to print them out, follow the directions, and see if there are any adjustments I want to make.  I’m hoping to work on that this weekend.

I’ve got a short story finalized and am hoping to publish it this weekend.  Next is to do the searches on Wayfarer 10 and print for editing.

I’ve been wrapped up in marketing.  I’m trying to tweet and post on facebook regularly so I can get my work out to others.  I’m also looking at my marketing spreadsheet to see what I need to do for the things I’ve already published and not done the marketing.

I have a number of gifts to work on for crafting.  They are on my weekend lists as well.  I guess I better quit writing and get busy.

Motivation – or the lack of it…

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

Is it fall or is it summer?  We are in the time of the year where the weather is up and down.  This is great because we actually have days where the air conditioning is turned off but the flip side of that is it wreaks havoc with my arthritis.

My pain level has been higher with the weather changing so motivation is a problem.  This is why last night I curled up under a blanket and played a word game.  It was a completely unproductive night.  I probably could have done more editing but my mind and my focus was not where it should be for editing.

I’ve gone through a writing spurt where I wrote several short stories.  I finished one manuscript and started another.  I’d like to get all of them editing so I can move forward with production but editing is tricky.  I can’t just finish writing and pick it up to edit it.  I have to let it sit for a while.  Sometimes this is a day or two and sometimes it is a week or more.

I need to swap out my computer in my office.  There are tools I want to use which are on the new computer and not on my current one.  Plus I’m realizing my laptop is nearly ten years old.  While it works well, it is old.  What I want to do is shift it so I have two computers so I can do certain things on each one.  That way if one goes, the other is there for back up.  I just need to bite the bullet and do it.

If I’m going to set it up the way I want, I need to clean off my desk and rearrange.  This means I have to get motivated to clean my office.  I’ve been struggling with this for three or four years.  It might be time to stop procrastinating but you never know.  It depends on how I feel this weekend and if I can motivate myself to get the office cleaned and organized.

The Good and the Bad

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

The good and bad part about visits from the girls is they always go home.  It’s good I get back to my routine, my privacy, my quiet.  The bad part is they are gone.

Vicki was here over the weekend.  It was a busy and great weekend with her home but at the same time, I’m exhausted.  We spent Friday shopping at different places and being together.  Saturday was all about errands and being together.  Sunday was about relaxing a bit.  Today she went home.

She came home and I had some dishtowels done for her.  She left with five new blankets (fleece with crocheted edging), dishtowels (six in all), a doily, and wristers.  It was fun to finally try out the technique on the blankets and I’m glad she got the blankets she wanted.  I have one more to do – for Ken.  I’ll probably work on it next weekend.  The picture of the doily doesn’t do it justice.  The yarn is VERY sparkly and packer colors.

The dishtowels were all made with scrap yarn.  She said she wanted more and I said what colors.  She said she didn’t care.  I said scraps, she said sure.  I think she liked them.  They are all different.  There are five in the picture but I made her another one last night after we were done painting.  I was so tired it took me hours longer than it should have.

I’ve not thought about my writing (much) or done any writing, editing, or promotions.  I’ve spent the weekend with her.

I finally got to try the egg muffin technique for cooking.  Vicki fried up onions, peppers, and bacon.  I assembled.  The recipe turned out good.  Next step is to see how well they reheat.  At some point today, I have to do my yogurt for the week as well.  I’ll have to remember to do it before I settle in for the night tonight.

The busy weekend means I’ll probably spend today with my feet up so my legs are ready for work this next week.  My legs are hurting – partly because of the activity and partly because of the weather.  This means I make it a point to sit in my recliner with them up and probably under a heated blanket.

I’m tired so I think it will be a quiet day – maybe working on a project I don’t need to think about while I watch a new obsession.  Vicki wanted to watch something but we didn’t want to fuss with finding something.  She suggested Big Bang Theory so we watched nearly the full first season and part of the second season.  Maybe I’ll pull out the next project and watch several of those episodes.  They make me laugh.  Last night we were watching an episode and I was laughing so hard, I couldn’t breathe.  It was hilarious.

Labor day weekend has flown by for me.  I’m so happy Vicki was home and got to see some people.  I’m equally glad we got her here.  But now, I need a nap.  Even though it is going to be a three day week for me (I have Friday off), I have the feeling it is going to be a long week.

R&R

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Writing

Today is going to be another rest and relax day.  Tomorrow starts another stressful week with lots of meetings, faculty, students, and people in and out of my office.  I’ll probably have more people in my office in a half a day than I did all summer.

I’m working on a crochet pattern and plan to finish it today.  I’m hoping it turns out all right but I have to do math so I’m sure the next part will be a bit frustrating.  Math and I don’t always see eye to eye.  Once that is done, I have a short list of things I want to work on.  I’m going to see if I can convince Ken to watch movies with me.

I spent last night being a bum.  Crocheting was too much effort so I read through a few different things.  The thing is I woke up this morning with a scene I want to include in Wayfarer 11.  I’m mid-scene and not sure where it’s going – though the more the scene I want to write sits in my head the more it firms up what I think will happen.  Sometimes I just have to let my characters sit and stew before they tell me what’s next.

While I am taking the needed R&R, I plan to try out a few other patterns.  This will lead to what I call my ridiculous electronics.  The other night I was crocheting a new pattern so I had my phone to take pictures, my tablet to write the pattern, and my netbook to watch a class on Craftsy.  I laughed at myself for all the electronics but didn’t shut a single one down.

If Ken doesn’t watch movies with me today, I’ll probably do the same.  Watch a Craftsy class while I work on my projects.  I’ll have the tablet and phone available so I can create new patterns.  I know it is ridiculous but it’s easier than using pen and paper because I can email it to myself and don’t have to take the extra step of typing it up.

The point of today is resting.  Tomorrow will be busy with training student workers, meetings and the first week of classes starting at my day job.  This week will be busy with more of the same.  Today is all about relaxation!

I Survived…

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

I survived the first week of faculty being back and a crazy schedule of meetings including two all day meetings.  It was good to see everyone back and to have a bit of a buzz and energy in our department.  However, I’m worn out from the hectic pace and high demand.

Refilling my tank this weekend is going to involve rest, sleep (if I can) and crocheting.  I’m in the mood to crochet.  So long as my arm doesn’t get too sore, I think I’ll work on projects.  I have a few going and a few I want to get done.  I like quick projects as they allow me to feel like I’m accomplishing things.

I’ve been making baskets and I want to try a couple more different things for patterns.  Then I will put them together into a group of patterns.  It has been fun to try out different techniques and see how they work.

There is a strange thing happening this weekend – I have no plans.  I know there are things I should or could be doing but at this point, I have NO plans.

I wrote last night for a bit.  It felt good to get a short story out of my head which had been bouncing around in there.  I worked on Wayfarer 11 for a bit but couldn’t settle into it and switched to the other story.  My intent was to just get the opening down as that was pounding at me.  Instead, I wrote the whole story before crashing for the night.  That’s just how it works sometimes.

Today I’m going to be lazy, keep my legs warm in the damp weather, and crochet.  If I make new patterns great.  If I fall back on old patterns, great.  I’ll do what I do and see what I get accomplished.  I have no agenda and I’m ignoring my to do list.  At least as of right now.  I’ll have to see what mischief I get up to and what I get done without looking at my to do list.