Pages

Monday, April 19, 2010

Scheduling Woes - Lynn Raye Harris


Depressingly, though Spring has arrived in all its wonderful glory, I have also contracted a cold. I haven’t had a cold in two years, and I can’t for the life of me figure out where I picked this one up. I’m a writer who stays home all day. I go grocery shopping, to the post office, and my RWA chapter meetings, but I’m pretty fanatical with my hand sanitizer and I’m not hugging random strangers. So where in heck did this cold come from?

No idea, but I do know it’s darned inconvenient. I have a schedule—and there’s no room for a cold on my schedule. I have too many things to do! I’m going to the Romantic Times Convention in a week and I still have packing to do. Not to mention the revisions for my latest book, which just landed in my inbox on Friday. There’s also the new book that’s due at the beginning of June, and the necessary shopping to make sure my husband doesn’t starve while I’m gone. Well, not that he would – he’d just order pizza every night! I’d like to keep his arteries clear, so I’m going to have to do something about the lack of easily prepared foods in the fridge and pantry.

I also have a hair appointment this week, and a tour of a rocket factory. Yep, you read that right: a tour of a rocket factory. I doubt I’ll ever write a Presents rocket billionaire, but one never knows—and I’m not the sort to turn down a cool tour. :)

Somehow, it’ll all work out. I’ll get everything done, and I’ll be at RT, hopefully looking incredibly put together instead of frazzled and haggard. ;)

If you’re going to RT, look for me at the Giant Book Fair on Saturday, May 1st. It takes place from 11:00 to 2:00 that day, and there will be over 300 authors in attendance. You can also find me on a workshop panel on Friday from 2:45 to 3:45. I’ll be speaking with several other authors on the topic of ‘Series: Tailoring Your Story to Sell to the Right Series Line’.

And now I’m going to go take a swig of DayQuil and keep moving forward on my To Do list. Come visit me at www.lynnrayeharris.com for a chance to enter my new contest. While you’re here, however, tell me about how crazy your schedule can get! Did you survive it? Got any tips for me?

7 comments:

Michelle Styles said...

Can I just say -- if it gets too much, speak to your editor about the one which is due at the beginning of June if you are starting to run into trouble. She will want you to get the current revisions out of the way first in any case.
Communication with your editor can really help. Deadlines are to a certain extent moveable feasts.
Editors can help if you communicate with them BEFORE the fact.

Lynn Raye Harris said...

Hi, Michelle! Oh yes, she is wonderful about deadlines and we've discussed it in the past. I have no fear on that score. :) I'm not to the point of needing extra time, but I know I can ask for it if I feel I need it.

As for crazy schedules: just this morning, I've been to two different doctors offices -- and nothing to do with the current cold, LOL!

Pat Cochran said...

I'm in our parish choir and 2 times
a year we practically go bananas!
This year Advent/Christmas was fairly livable as far as the choir business goes.It was Lent/Triduum/Easter that literally took the legs out from under me! I fell down early in February as I was hurrying into to church.Won't list the injuries, just that I am still limping! Then the week after
Easter, I fell victim to a severe cold which became bronchitis and
I am still coughing! Honey has
"suggested" that I consider not
doing as much next year saying
"after all you'll be 74 in August."

Pat Cochran

Lynn Raye Harris said...

Wow, Pat, you ARE busy! Hope you are getting better. I'm sorry to hear about the cold turning to bronchitis. That's something I didn't think about, truthfully, so I guess I better keep on top of the medicines and try not to push myself too hard. I think I'd have to go a ways to keep up with you, though! :)

Christine said...

Wow, you're busy! I can relate. Today the day just went poof--gone.

But I did manage to write a bit.

Sorry about the cold! Bummer--allergy season here is in full swing and we battle it all the time. The first sneeze is like a portal for germs.

Hope the convention goes great!

Andrea I said...

I sympathize with having a busy schedule and being sick at the same time. I feel my schedule is always busy. You would think with only two of my four children still at home, it would get better. I've found that it can still be just as busy trying to manage family and work.

Michele L. said...

Hi Lynn,

Wow! You are one busy lady! I have been really busy too, with my elderly mom, she had a house fire, contractors, insurance adjusters, working, taking care of the yard (now that it is spring!), house chores, taking care of my hubby,(I like to cook for him :) I guess us women were meant to be the caretakers! Many blessings to you! I hope you have a wonderful summer!