Wednesday, December 9, 2009

I'm Dreaming of a Write Christmas

So the Christmas season is here and it's awesome. Love the decorating, the shopping, the lights, the music, the giving, the whole wonder of it all, centering around, of course, the birth of our Savior.

But there is one aspect of the season I don't particularly care for. And that is the lack of time I have to write. Basically, everything I love about Christmas takes away from my other love: writing. This lack of time is frustrating, and can get downright annoying. All I want for Christmas is the chance to plop my butt in the chair and type. And type. And type.

But, my type, type, type is replaced by the hype, hype, hype of the holidays.

Sigh...

But it's all good. I try to remind myself that the baking, shopping, wrapping, planning, decorating, and party-going will only last a few short weeks and then it will be back to a routine and productivity. And when I start to get whiny, I try to remember the reason for it all and readjust my focus.

Of course, when it snows, it blizzards (hey, we've got a blizzard warning starting this afternoon, so I know what I'm talking about). Not only is this week my busiest of the month, this past Sunday, I received an email from an agent who's had my proposal for a couple months. He wants to see my full manuscript! GREAT, right? RIGHT!

But now I need to find time to scramble and give it another quick read-through before submitting. Fortunately, this agent is very understanding and gracious and is allowing me some extra time to get it to him (because he is also up to his neck in snowdrifts of paperwork and holiday stuff - ok, maybe not snowdrifts, since he lives in a non-snowy climate). I am very grateful for this grace-period but still want to get it submitted as soon as possible.

So that brings me to a question for you. How do you find time to write during the busy Christmas season? I'd love to hear your tips and tricks for adding words to your manuscript while still accomplishing everything you need to do.

In the meantime, I'll be shopping. And wrapping. And decorating. And baking...

4 comments:

Jennifer Shirk said...

Congrats on the full request!!

Time to write during the holidays? What's that? LOL
So far I'm giging myself one day a week to devote to writing this month--until all shopping and wrapping and cooking making is done. :)

Tracy Ruckman said...

Awesome news!!!

The ONLY time I ever seem to find time to write (and that's very little these days) is at night. In the middle of the night when I desperately need sleep - but the house is quiet, the phone doesn't ring, the dog is passed out from her hard day of guard duty protecting us, and hubby is snoring away - that works.

Otherwise, a paragraph here and a paragraph there, scribbled on scratch paper or typed into a document.

Praying for you! How fun!

Unknown said...

Great post, Lynda! Love your comment, "But, my type, type, type iw replaced by the hype, hype, hype of the holidays!" Way too clever!! This post really struck a chord with me, because it is so difficult to balance writing and preparing for Christmas.

I try to prioritize my activities and make detailed daily lists of the things I need to accomplish. Nine times out of ten, I'm surprised at how much I can accomplish when I'm super focused. Definitely causes me to cut the time-wasters!!

Enjoy your Christmas season, and the Christ of Christmas!!

quietspirit said...

Lynda:
Due to some health issues we have, I have had to learn NOT to listen to the hype. And I am better it.