Usually, I like Mondays. To me, the start of the week feels full of potential. But, I have to admit, Monday mornings in February feel particularly Mondayish, if you know what I mean. The shine of the new year is wearing off, and the enthusiasm for sticking with the goals I’ve set and the projects I have to complete is waning slightly. This is the time for digging in, when I have to call on my will power and good habits to stay the course.
I realize during the dark days of mid-winter just how important healthy habits are to my productivity and well-being. The first, and probably most important habit, is my time management system. I’ve written before about my admittedly OCD method of structuring my days and weeks, but it becomes particularly important that I stick with it when I least feel like it. When I’m feeling uninspired and lethargic, I have a structure in place that keeps me moving forward. Here’s an article I wrote for Inkitt on the subject that you may find useful: 5 Tips for Time Management: A Busy Writer’s Guide.
In case you don’t want to read the whole article, here’s the ‘CliffsNotes’ version:
Use a calendar! Start with broad strokes. Define your goals and major deadlines, and then back into the details.
Structure your work life to honor your personal rhythms.
Leave space for the unexpected. Equally as important, know when to say no.
Use the tools available to increase efficiency.
Schedule downtime and time for self-care. Put this on the calendar.
This time of year I also try not to over-schedule myself. I know in the fall, I have seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm, but winter, not so much. I can’t go on a three-month vacation or hide out on a tropical island (those darn books won’t write themselves!), but I can be realistic about how much I can manage.
While most of my tips focus on the writer’s life, the basic principles worked for me when I was managing a whole different career, and when all the kids were little and my day-to-day looked very different. Maybe you’ll find something useful as you navigate February?
Upcoming Events:
Boskone
February 14-16 - New England’s longest running science-fiction convention!
My panel schedule…
Pacing the Novel
Format: Panel
15 Feb 2020, Saturday 11:00 - 11:50, Marina 4 (Westin)
It’s crucial to the feel of the novel, but one of the least discussed aspects of fiction. How do you intensify a scene, bringing the reader deep into the narrative — yet still keep the novel moving along? Panelists share techniques for balancing intensity and movement within their work.
Genetic Engineering in SF
Format: Panel
15 Feb 2020, Saturday 14:00 - 14:50, Burroughs (Westin)
We have developed the ability to modify and change the genes in plants, animals, and creatures that fall into neither category. To some degree, we have the power to play god, but what are the possible consequences? What is actually possible versus probable? Can we create new species? Can we solve health care problems before conception? Can we grow non-sentient meat like we grow corn? Can we modify humanity to withstand climate change? If the science were only possible, what changes might we make to create a better future for mankind?
Troubleshooting Troublesome Manuscripts
Format: Panel
15 Feb 2020, Saturday 15:00 - 15:50, Marina 2 (Westin)
Our intrepid authors come together to share tips and tricks for tackling the most notorious issues that arise when writing and editing their work. Find out how to fix hidden plot holes, dangling loose ends, and the endings that just won't end!
Evolution of Greek Mythology in Contemporary Fantasy
Format: Panel
15 Feb 2020, Saturday 17:00 - 17:50, Marina 4 (Westin)
Some of the first, and most memorable, fantasy stories were born far in the past in a picturesque land bordered by the Ionian, the Aegean, and the Mediterranean Seas. How have these Greek tales filtered down through the ages, leaving their marks upon the annals of literature, and where can we still see the traces of their influence (if not their direct effect) upon modern fantasy and science fiction?
Kaffeeklatsch: Tabitha Lord
Format: Kaffeeklatsch
16 Feb 2020, Sunday 11:00 - 11:50, Galleria - Kaffeeklatsch 1 (Westin)
RICHMOND GALAXY CON
February 28- March 1
I’ll be signing and selling books all weekend at the Bard’s Tower booth.