What's been up since last I blogged? In a word? Stress!
The last month or so has probably been fairly tumultuous. So much going on. Probably the biggest thing is that my wife and I are getting close to buying our first home and moving to upstate NY. We're super excited (in no small part because this means moving from a crappy apartment in Queens to a house with a wood burning fireplace and enough room where we can finally get a dog!) but like anyone who's bought a house before knows, the process is one of the more stressful you'll go through. Who knew one person could fill out so many forms? Or that so many different people could want money from us. Or that the subway does not go to upstate New York. People drive cars there! Crazy, but true.
On top of that I'm working on the final pre-ARC edits to my next book. (nope, still can't tell you the title or anything about it. Errrg.) One of the things I learned last go round was the huge importance of the ARC. For those who don't know, the ARC is the advance copy that goes out to bloggers, reviewers and other influential folk about 6 months or so before the book is formally released. So you can imagine getting the book ready for this stage is incredibly important. I know I made a few changes to The Eleventh Plague after the ARC went out that I really wish I had made before. Don't want that to happen again.
Oh and I'm also in talks about what happens next bookwise after this fall's release!
Whew! My heart is beating a little faster just writing all of that! I will admit that I do have a bit of a tendency towards anxiety and am doing my best to keep myself calm in the midst of all of this.
So my question to all of you is…how do you keep an even keel when there's so much going on? Any good relaxation suggestions?
Give yourself a day to be lazy and have a movie marathon my style: http://kateevangelistarandr.blogspot.com/2012/02/movie-marathon-challenge.html
ReplyDeleteThat or take a deep breath, look at something green for a couple of minutes, and continue on with your day.
Excited about your next book!
Thrilled to find this site - I'm currently writing a YA sci-fi/dystopian book and have read several of the members listed here. I shall be checking out the others.
ReplyDeleteActually, I think Elana Johnson's post answers that question perfectly. Although she writes on how to deal with rejection, I think the same principles apply: find things to do that are meaningful and of worth for you personally, and concentrate on that too.
ReplyDeleteIf all our energy is focused on only one aspect of life, when that aspect gets crazy stressful, we have no where to turn for relief.
A couple of times a day, ask yourself if you're stressing over things you can't control. Then adjust accordingly. It's harder for people who think they can control everything, but if you're honest about it, you can see that trying to control everything in your day is unreasonable.
ReplyDeleteI've been feeling pretty empowered lately, and I have to pull my own reins a few times a day. It helps.
I like Kate's idea, although I would like to add that doing anything relaxing on a lazy day is just as good. As long as you're relaxing.
ReplyDeleteMovie marathons and other couch potato episodes aside, just being thankful for everything you have is a good way to relax.
Too often, when we focus on the chaos in our lives, we let the stress take over. When we truly feel the blessings, we relax.
Strange sounding, I know. But it works for me ;-)
Good luck with the ARC edits!
~Dawn
Southern Duchess
liquor
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion is once you move into the house, let it be. Your books come first. You don't have to furnish every room.
ReplyDeleteAll good recommendations. Thanks guys!
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you survived the house buying process. It's a biggie. Also, great luck with your coming release since your last one was great. I read it with my son by the way who loved it.
ReplyDelete