Irene's in trouble again and definitely needs saving,
if I can only get that second book written.
Thanks
to Susan Wittig Albert’s blog, “All About Thyme,” for alerting me that this is
National Simplify Your Life Week. My first thought is that through quarantine I
simplified my life about as much as it can stand—got it down to bare bones.
Eat, sleep, write, and read. What else do I need? But as I read farther, I
realized that there are many hints that I automatically follow—and still my
desk is a mess and household chores still overwhelm me. I won’t quote Susan’s
list, which in truth she borrowed from someone else. But if you want to see it,
here’s a link: https://susanalbert.com/all-about-thy...
A couple
of Susan’s suggestions struck home with me, and immodestly I admit they are
practices I try to follow. One is “Have a To-Do List.” How many times have you
wracked your brain trying to remember what it was that you meant to do, who you
meant to email, and so on? A list makes it so easy to tick those items off.
Every time something crosses your mind that you should do, write it down on
that list, whether you keep the list on your phone, a piece of paper, or your
computer. I recently bought a desk-size whiteboard, with erasable pen, for a
friend for a birthday gift. I figured it would be a great way to keep your
to-do list. As it is, mine is too often on scattered bits of paper all over my
desk.
Related
is the advice to plan each day the night before: make that list of what you
need/want to do. For novelists, I find it so important to note each night where
the novel is going the next day. I am a pantser, which means I write without an
outline, but if I don’t have some idea of what’s next, I’m liable to stare at
the screen all morning. But it doesn’t all have to be about writing. First
thing on my to-do list for tomorrow? Make refrigerator pickles. I found a
really easy recipe, and I have some cucumber that need to be used.
A piece
of desk advice: only handle a piece of paper once. When you pick it up, deal
with it; don’t put it aside with, “I’ll deal with that later.” I’d add to that:
once you open an email, deal with it—answer if you need to, jot a note on a
calendar if that’s what’s required, or delete. I have known people who had a
hundred emails stashed in their inbox—it would infuriate me if I’d written that
person, got no answer, and knew that I was among a hundred being postponed or
ignored. I usually keep my inbox empty; if it has five items to be dealt with,
that’s unusual…and a big deal for me.
All
that about efficiency leads me to add that I have been terribly inefficient
today. I messed up sending some publicity materials to an online newsletter for
readers, I botched up trying to advertise my forthcoming non-fiction title
(thanks for asking: it is The Most Land, the Best Cattle: The Waggoners of
Texas, about the largest ranch under one fence in this country and the legendary
family who built it, enjoyed it, and ultimately sold it. A bittersweet tale.) A
big goof of the day: I love cottage cheese and can do lots with it, but somehow
I managed to order five containers from Central Market today. Guess what I’ll
be having for breakfast for days…and days. Jordan is still laughing at me.
I
vowed I would get back to writing on Irene in Danger today after a three-day
holiday away from it, but I had so much email and trivia to deal with that I
didn’t before I left the computer at two for a nap. Proud to say though, that
while I was waiting for Christian to grill salmon, I wrote 900+ words. Yay for
me. The salmon was delicious
So
back to daily work. Vacations, even long weekends, are nice, but it’s good to
be back in routine. Sweet dreams, everyone.
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