I’m not the most flexible person in the world. I like sticking to a plan whether or not it turns out to be a good one in the end.
I can abruptly shift to plan B (although then I adhere to that plan with the same steadfastness.)
The worst problems happen when I’m not in charge of the plan at all…when some outside force makes me change course.
Yesterday was the first day back at school for the kids. I did a bunch of work at home, then realized I needed to run a couple of errands before they got back. I also needed to spend more time on revisions before the elementary bus arrived at 2:00 (yes, my daughter is home early—she’s at school at 7 a.m. though.) I promised myself I’d be back by 12:30.
Naturally, things didn’t go according to plan, which really rattled me. I couldn’t remember what ink cartridge my printer took when I was at the office supply store. Then I realized I needed to run an additional errand that wasn’t on my list. When I finally reached my last stop at the grocery store, it was already 12:10.
I flew through the store, ripping things off the shelves and careening dangerously through the aisles with my cart. I was determined to make my arbitrary deadline. I swiped my debit card, rushed to the car, and flung things into the back of the minivan. And then…I dropped two pounds of green grapes in the parking lot and watched as they scattered everywhere.
I’ve been just as determined to make my Berkley deadline. So when my agent got back to me on Sunday, I was at first delighted to see that my corrections looked really minimal…until I noticed she’d added one content suggestion that was a doozy.
A fix quickly occurred to me, but I groaned anyway. This would mean changing my game plan. And only days before deadline!
Fortunately, I put this in perspective. I want this book to be as perfect as I can make it before it goes to my editor. I won’t miss my deadline. It just means putting in some extra time on a section of the book I hadn’t planned on. I’ve no desire to fling grapes everywhere in another mad rush.
So I’m making the content changes. And Emily, if you’re reading this—no worries. I’m back on target for my deadline.
I like to think I’m flexible. In our household, one of us has to be. :-)
But I also stress when I do have stuff to do and don’t know how it’ll ever get done, or what to do first. I think that’s a by-product of no real scheduled routine now that I don’t have kids at home, a day job with regular hours — and a retired husband. With him not going to work regularly, I’m always juggling when he’ll be in and when he’ll be out for scheduling the things I can do better without interruptions or distractions.
First of all, you should know that it’s a bad idea for a writer to go out in public. Especially alone.
Secondly, the mental image of you “careening” through the store is hilarious. I can just see you plotting to use all the people who got in your way as future mystery victims. At least, that’s what I would have done.
I feel much the same about deadlines, even ones I set myself. I end up feeling like a bit of a failure if I don’t meet them. That reminds me…I should go do some writing, now.
Oh, Elizabeth, careening down the aisles with a shopping cart. Ha! I’m the same way with deadlines, self-imposed or otherwise. I can make myself crazy with my to-do list. As I grow (I won’t say older), I’m learning to let go a little. If it doesn’t get done, it will. I just want to tell you to take a deep breath once in awhile.
Karen
Elizabeth,
Is this the same grocery store parking lot where you almost got run over?
Maybe you should try a grocery delivery service.
I like the idea of setting deadlines in the day. I’ve done that too and rushed through cleaning and other responsibilities so that I can get to my writing. It is discouraging when you’re racing through things and then an obstacle trips you up!
My dear, dear girl. Sit down. Have a soothing cuppa your most calming beverage. Take several deep breaths.
I appreciate the ominous shadow of a deadline and I understand fully the vital necessity of accomplishment during the hours when the small creatures that inhabit your home are at school. I have the same time restrictions in my house – although up here in BC the kids don’t return to school until the day after Labour Day.
My hat is off in admiration for you – both that you were able to keep to your deadline schedule and (perhaps even more) that you are able to prepare a child for a school start of 7:00 a.m. The very thought of the latter makes my eyes bleed.
Elspeth
Hi, Elizabeth! It’s nice to meet you!
This is a great reminder…. When I was in school, my mother always told me that I needed to take the time to read and think through each answer on a test as I took it, and then to read through the test again. It meant that I never finished first, but often, I’d think through answers and change them. It meant that I finished well (and still on time), which is definitely most important.
Great post, Elizabeth. I have such a vivid picture of you in the grocery store… and I’m also chuckling about Helen’s response.
I don’t like the tension that comes with too many deadlines, so I’ve been working from lists lately (a giant “P” for Priority plus pink highlighting marks the task I must do first).
Of course, this is why the cupboard is bare–I haven’t been to the grocery store in ages (chucking again), I desperately need a haircut, and my houseplants are shedding their leaves.
And, Elizabeth? You’re talking to us. (grin) Shouldn’t you be working for Emily?
When you finish the revisions and send in the manuscript, call me. We’ll go for coffee. You obviously live nearby because I saw you in the grocery store. You were the woman who parked her cart in the middle of the aisle, then went down the row, grabbing oatmeal and bread and tossing them over her shoulder into the cart. I heard you in the coffee aisle muttering, can I grind No Doze with Chocolate Pecan High Energy beans? I would have helped you with the grapes, but, well, frankly, I was a tad scared.
Seriously, though, if anyone can get the revisions done, it’s you.
Helen
Straight From Hel
I’m still laughing at Helen’s comment. LOL
My advice when this happens? When you’re in the grocery store, stop at the pharmacy and get some chill pills. Works like a charm. Two tabs and the revisions will flow with serendipitous wonder from your keyboard. really.
Marvin D Wilson
Terry–Noooooo! Don’t tell me it doesn’t get better once the kids aren’t at home! :)
Jack–Actually, I think the people in the store were plotting ways to get rid of ME. I knew I wasn’t going to make up time on the road (I’m a sedate driver) so it had to be in the store.
Helen–Girl! You know, that probably WAS me. I’d driven so dern far on my errands yesterday that I might well have ended up in TX. No-Doze? Did I know you in college? Cause that’s what I lived on then…
Karen–Very good advice. I think I’m going to have to get rid of my self-imposed deadlines. My friend called me this morning and asked me if I were okay! She said she’d seen me the other day and I looked “frazzled.” Sigh. Maybe I need to drink tea and meditate…
Marvin–My chill pills make me sleepy. :( No time to be that chilled out!
Alan–This was a different grocery store. I’d embarrassed myself enough at the last one, what with almost being squished. Now I’ve got 2 grocery stores that shudder when I arrive. Luckily, Charlotte is a big town.
Jody–The IDEA is good. It’s the implementing that can be a problem. And it depends how seriously you take self-imposed deadlines. Clearly, I take them way too seriously and must immediately stop making them.
Elspeth–My favorite cuppa is an after-six beverage. :) But I could make do with some tea, I think. I do most of my prep work for the kids the night before, so that helps. Of course, last night I had book club so who knows if the kids even have their lunches with them today…
Kristen–Were we separated at birth? I did the same thing. I was always the first to hand in my paper (I was allowed to read my book as soon as I was done and I was always eager to get back to it) and my paper was rife with errors. My mom told me the same thing. A great lesson to remember! And thanks for popping by. Good to meet you, too!
Patricia–That sounds very sensible. I think I need to return to my lists. Deadlines apparently make me loony. Oh…and I was back at the store today. I’d forgotten half the things I needed, since I was in such a raging rush….
Gee, Elizabeth, I need to sit down and catch my breath after reading your adventures.
I know what you mean about a big revision change. I know there’s one in Book Two that I’ve been pretending is not there. Sadly, it is there. My plan has been to do other revision things first, then, take on the bigger task. Other things are about done. Sigh. Looks like I’m out of procrastination excuses.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
I’m glad my coffee’s gone or I would have snorted it all over my monitor. I love the image of you insanely careening though the grocery store, but then some of these comments! I think Helen gave me an aneurism.
I’m a scheduler, but not a planner, so it’s a good thing my husband keeps track of our children. I always meet my deadlines (self imposed or otherwise) but have total tunnel vision for it and other things often fall by the wayside.
Galen–Good luck. I’m also doing some boring revision work today that I haven’t been looking forward to. Gotta be done, though.
Hart–Insane is definitely the key word there. And the ridiculous thing is that I ended up having to go back to the store a little while ago since I’d shopped so carelessly yesterday. Tunnel vision….yes, that would be me, too.
Lesa–Did I mention that this particular type of revision work isn’t my favorite? :)
Good, I’m not the only one with a list of (usually self-imposed) deadlines!
Fortunately, I am flexible. Since my life is chaotic with no set pattern, I can adapt.
Although I am big on setting time limits and get a little edgy when I go over…
L. Diane Wolfe “Spunk On A Stick”
http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
Diane–Oh good. Someone else like me! Except you’re flexible. Maybe I can work on that.
I like flinging grapes, but only if I’m planning on flinging them. :]
But you did it all! That’s amazing. I’m always making impossibly long lists of “to do’s”, which quickly fall apart as the powers of chaos and entropy descend. In the end, I usually content myself with accomplishing the essentials. In your case, it would have been getting the daughter and doing the revisions. I would have scratched grocery shopping, opened a can of soup for dinner, and put in a midnight online grocery order for the next day. My hat goes off to you.
Flinging them on purpose would definitely be more fun. :) My language in the parking lot only added to the customers’ irritation with me.