Yes, that’s right. Monday is the new Saturday, at least for me, and I have to say I like Monday dressed up in Saturday’s clothes a lot better than what it usually wears. Of course, having a day off is most unfamiliar these days, but so far I’m digging it.

The Big Project has gone well, although it has been extended for another two weeks. This means fiction is still on hiatus, since writing 70k words in 4 weeks on the same subject tends to wear out the brain cells. That being said, I’m working on a piece for #fridayflash just in time for Valentine’s Day. I wrote it a long time ago, but it needs a good overhaul and some serious editing. I hope I can have it done by Friday.

In other writing news, check out this post from author Peter V. Brett on the e-book wars. He nails it dead-on, I’m thinking.

The Super Bowl was amazing this year, and although I’m not a Saints fan (sorry, the Giants have had, and always will have, my football heart) it was nice to see them win. I will admit that sometimes the commercials outshine the game, but not this year. In spite of that, this was my favorite Super Bowl commercial and it just tickles me to no end:

Doritos Samurai

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And finally, if you are at all interested in health care reform (and you should be!) check out this brilliant link from Kenny Wyland, who very effectively debunks the more persistent and stoopid of health care reform myths.

So, since it is a day off, I’m going to see what kind of trouble I can find. Heh.

I am very excited to present to you an interview with Jeremy C. Shipp. I first “met” Jeremy (in the internet way) through Twitter, which is one of the reasons I love Twitter so much. His tweets caught my attention — unique, funny, thought-provoking, just like the artist himself. This led me to his website, where I discovered a whole new world of fabulous, twisted fiction. His story, “Scratch”, made me cry. His book, “Vacation”, touched me and made me think, which is a wonderful thing for a book to do.

Come on in. But, you might want to leave a light on. Just in case there’s clowns.

1.    “Vacation” is your first published novel. It’s twisted and demented, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I’m not the only one. Why do you think it appeals to people?
First of all, I’m very happy you enjoyed the novel.
And the truth is, I still find myself shocked at how many people connect with Vacation.  This is a strange novel, and when it was first published, I didn’t think a large number of readers would appreciate an alternative fiction book like this one.  But, over the past couple years, I’ve received positive messages almost daily from myriad readers, and even from writers such as Piers Anthony, Jack Ketchum, Gary Braunbeck, Jeff VanderMeer, John Skipp.  The thought makes my head spin.  I feel so blessed.
With Vacation, I wanted to write the sort of book I enjoy reading.  A book where every sentence matters, where the meaning is complex and layered, where the overall perspective is unique.  And perhaps some readers appreciate Vacation for reasons such as these.
Also, the main character experiences a paradigm shift that’s extremely disorienting, difficult, satisfying.  It seems many readers who’ve experienced their own shifts can relate to this.
2.    The debate rages on regarding education and degrees. Do you think a college education is mandatory for a writer? Why or why not?

Every writer is different, and so some might benefit from a college education, and some might not.  Me, I have a degree in creative writing, but I regret the years I spent in that environment.  I went for the wrong reasons, and I didn’t quit because I was so used to making negatively motivated choices (such as those based on fear).  The system I trapped myself in almost changed me into a writer I’m not, and my authentic self barely hung on by a thread.  Of course, others would thrive where I wilted.
3.    How long did it take for you to write your first book? Was “Vacation” your first novel?
I started writing novels when I was 13, and I’ve been writing them ever since, one novel a year.  So Vacation wasn’t my first novel, by far.  However, Vacation was the first book I was satisfied with.  For the first time, I felt I accomplished everything I set out to accomplish.

4.    What is your writing process like? Give us an idea of how the strange machinations of your mind work.

My tales are usually sparked by a single image or idea that bursts in my mind.  If the thought affects me deeply enough, then I’ll brainstorm in a notebook.  I never write outlines, just ideas, snippets of dialogue, etc.  After that, I write the story, and I usually have some idea where the characters are going to end up, but I have no idea how they’re going to get there.  And so, I take the journey with them.
Writing has always been very challenging for me, because I obsess over almost every detail.  If I didn’t have so much fun with the process, I’d never write again.

5.    Was there a traumatic episode in your childhood that contributed to your fear of clowns? And what’s with the monkeys?

There was that one time when I dressed up as a clown for Halloween and I was sucked into a mirror world where my reflection chased me around in a circus and tried to eat me, but I’m sure that has nothing to do with it.
And I’ve always loved monkeys.  Ninja monkeys, coconut monkeys, and the rarest of the rare: spork monkeys.
Coconut monkeys are the natural enemy of yard gnomes, but it’s my hope that one day I’ll be able to bring both species together in peace and harmony.  And when that day comes, we’ll put on a Charles in Charge musical.  I’ll play Buddy.

6.    Do your parents and siblings support your work? Do they read it, and how much does their opinion matter to you?

My parents and my siblings are all very supportive of my work.  One of my brothers is the only person in the world who’s read everything I’ve ever written.  My dad reads almost everything.  And my other brother and my mom don’t enjoy reading dark fiction, but they’re supportive, nonetheless.
I would keep writing even if every being on the planet hated my stories, but I do appreciate all the support I receive from my family, my wife, my friends, my readers.
The opinions of others matter to me, sometimes, but everyone’s opinion is different, so I have to take every opinion with a grain of delicious salt.

7.    Who are your heroes or literary influences?

Most of my heroes are people in my life.  My wife, my parents, my brothers.
As far as writing goes, some individuals who inspire me are: Arundhati Roy, Lois Lowry, Kurt Vonnegut, Brett Easton Ellis, Amy Hempel, Aimee Bender, George Orwell, Haruki Murakami, Chuck Palahniuk, Anthony Burgess, CS Lewis, Douglas Adams, Francesca Lia Block, Roald Dahl.

8.    What is your first clear memory?

My first memory is a nightmare.  A monster.  My second memory is a bit nicer.  I was in the park with my dad and brother.  The park maintenance people had emptied the pond, and there were barrels and buckets everywhere.  My dad lifted up me and my brother so we could look into every container and see the fish.

9.    “Vacation” deals with a lot of societal themes. What do you think is the future for our society, and has your opinion changed since you wrote “Vacation”?

I’m an anarcho-tribalist, and I believe that civilization is a good system for machines, but not for actual living beings.  Healthy social systems are those that work to benefit the people, but in civilization, people work to benefit the system.  It’s a bizarro world we’re living in, but the system is unsustainable.  It’s my hope that humanity will work hard to ease the transition into sustainable social systems.
My overall perspective about our society hasn’t changed, but every day, I’m learning new things about the world and about myself.  I’m always changing.

10.    Tell us about “Cursed”, which I understand comes out this fall. Is it different from “Vacation”, and how?

Vacation, to me, is a “global” novel, while Cursed is much more familial; domestic.  The focus of Cursed is the characters.  Their problems, their relationships, their complex thoughts and raw feelings.  When writing, I gave these imaginary people each a piece of my heart, and so I feel a deep connection with them.
With Cursed, I set out to write a book about neglect and other forms of abuse that society often ignores or accepts.  For instance, the physical and sexual abuse of children is almost always looked down upon, socially.  And yet, the emotional abuse and subjugation of children is quite normalized in our society.  Another example: people with disabilities are often seen as less than whole—as if they need to be cured in order to have meaningful lives.  Many disabled people suffer emotional abuse because of this idea.
In Cursed, the characters band together to try to deal with very strange problems.  Problems that society doesn’t recognize.

11. Another debate raging in literary circles is that of the roles of online publishing, indie publishing, and the role of traditional publishing. Where do you see the future of publishing going, and how much of an effect do you think the Kindle and other electronic readers contribute to this?

This is a complex issue, but I think I’ll give a simple answer.  In the fight between conventionality and diversity, in the end, diversity always wins.

Get your butt over to Jeremy C. Shipp, Writer Guy for some absolutely stellar short fiction. And don’t forget to pick up a copy of “Vacation”, and be prepared to rock. Look for an upcoming review of “Cursed”, right here on WordWebbing.

A huge thanks to Jeremy for taking the time to speak with me. It was an honor, sir.

Whether you’re a writer of fiction, non-fiction, or both, there will be times when you feel “stuck”. I don’t believe in writer’s block, but I do believe in writer’s constipation. I have found at this point, trying to force it will often cause more problems than it solves, although at times you just have to put your head down and power through it.

There is no “cure” for writer’s constipation – chances are you’ll encounter this uncomfortable state of affairs more than once in your freelancing career, but there are some things you can do that may have the same effect as a bran-loaded muffin. The next time you find yourself stopped up, so to speak, try one of these methods and see if you can’t get yourself moving again in the right direction.

Turn off the time sinks. That’s right. Turn off Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, etc. Oh sure, you can justify it by saying, “I’m networking, and that’s part of the job,” and it’s true. However, if you can’t get your articles, chapters, or other work written because someone just sent you a cool new app on FB, or you’ve gotten a notice of a new follower on Twitter, it’s time to pull the plug. Set aside a specific time for networking every day, and stick to it. Trust me, you won’t miss anything that you can’t catch up on later, and you’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish. In the same vein, close down the chat programs. If your friends don’t understand why you can’t spend an hour chatting, they don’t understand your job. Educate them politely, and schedule free time for a good chat session when you can participate without sacrificing valuable work time.

Turn off outside distractions. Turn off the phone, turn off the television. Turn off the music, even, to give yourself a chance to think without any distraction whatsoever. Hear that? Yeah, that’s called “quiet”, and it’s wonderful. It might be difficult for you to shut the phone down especially if you have children or parents to worry about, but an hour or two a day won’t hurt. If you can’t turn the phone off because of possible emergency calls, at least screen them and only answer if there IS an emergency.

Change your tools and venue. Sometimes, the old ways work best. If you’re used to working on a keyboard, grab a pen and a pad of paper instead – you know, that round thing filled with ink and that stuff made out of trees? Change your location. Instead of working at your desk, try working at the kitchen table, the local coffee shop, the library, from bed. You might be totally surprised at how a simple change can loosen up the thinking process.

Work more than one project at a time. Freelancing is a juggling act in the best and worst of times, and you most likely have more than one project going, anyway. If one has you bugged up, unless you’re up against a hard deadline, put it aside and pull out the next thing. If you don’t have another project to work on, pull out a sheet of paper (or open another document in your word processor program) and free write for ten minutes about anything that comes into your mind. Sometimes, all there is to doing it is to – that’s right – do it.

Take a time out. Walk around the block. Eat lunch anywhere else but at your desk (don’t play; I know you eat lunch at your desk almost every day.) Take a drive; work out for thirty minutes, read a book. Or how about this – take a day off! Freelancers are notorious for working long, crazy hours, and that seems to be a requisite of the job. However, if you don’t take some time off, you’re going to burn out. Guaranteed. So, take a break and don’t feel guilty. You will be pleasantly surprised how a well-timed break, interaction with other people in person, and relaxing away from the job will rejuvenate and energize, making you that much better at your job.

The next time you find yourself constipated, try one of these suggestions. Some of them might be as uncomfortable as eating a bowl of twigs and bran, or they might be as tasty as a fresh-baked muffin. Either way, the goal is to get the words moving, and any or all of these suggestions should do just that.

If you have any suggestions of your own that have worked for you, please share them!

Wow. And the first days of June. Holy shiznola, where did May go?

Let’s take a little stroll, shall we, and fondly remember what did happen in May.

I found a couple of copy gigs that have become small eggs in my basket. Not enough to really earn a whole lot of money, but eggs are eggs and I’ll take them.

I finished Part One of a three-part project and it went really well. I’m very pleased about that. I received another nibble about my editing services, and I’m really happy about that. I love editing. Love. It.

I’ve settled in to the new digs a little bit more and it’s become increasingly homey. I still have a lot to do, but it’s getting there. I especially like the squirrels that run back and forth across the roof. The pitter patter of little rodent feet is so…funny. Heh. I put out crackers and popcorn in the morning for breakfast, and I’ve actually caught one of the little buggers on video munching away.

As long as they eat outside, we’re cool.

Mother’s Day was particularly difficult. The first one since Momma passed. I was dreading it, and I was right to dread it like I did. It knocked me off-kilter for a couple of weeks, actually, if I’m to be completely honest. The next bad spot I see ahead of me is her birthday. Trying to put a positive spin on it is not easy. I miss her every day, with every breath. I keep waiting for it to ease, but it’s not happening. And that’s just something I’m going to have to accept, at least for now.

My friend Peat is doing awesome. I’m so happy for him, I can’t even tell you. Classic case of a good guy making good.

I’ve “discovered” another great writer, and I love it when that happens.

Conversations with the Inner Circle of Netta have prompted me to finally start my own project. (I know, it’s about time, isn’t it?) It’s my second novel, untitled, based on my experiences in the hotel industry — with a Netta-twist. I believe the proper term is “urban fantasy”. I am way excited about this, to the point I’m actually dreaming about it at night. I’ve got a start, but it’s a real juggling act in between the non-fiction. Sometimes it’s difficult to switch between the left brain and right brain, especially when you only have two brain cells to start with. Heh. You either have two on one side and none on the other, or they’re split up and lonely without each other.

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So, goodbye to May, and hello, June. Let’s see what you have in store. As long as it involves words and squirrels, I’m sure it will be interesting.

As a reader and a writer, it is the greatest joy of my life to discover new and amazing authors that rock my universe. It doesn’t happen often enough, but when it does, I’m flying like Aladdin on his magic carpet. By “new”, I mean “new to me”, so sometimes my ravings may elicit the response of, “Oh, jeez, know THAT writer, been reading them for YEARS, where the hell have you been?” Still, sometimes we need to be reminded of Golden Oldies, but sometimes we’re lucky enough to catch a rising star, and that’s really exciting to me.

I don’t confine myself to one genre — as a matter of fact, although I recognize the need for labels (marketing purposes, don’t you know) I don’t like them. I love finding material that either crosses the boundaries of genres, or blurs them so they’re not so sharp or delineating. Like a chalk hopscotch, doused in a misty spring rain. I’ve always been of the opinion that although good writers will do well in any genre — a word is a word is a word, and if you know how to wrangle them, it doesn’t matter what the task is — I further believe that writers do their best work if they are in love with their genre of choice. In other words, especially in this profession, you have to love what you do or it’s gonna suck.

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So, there I was, twittering on Twitter, when in the twitter-stream a very nice young man, who is planning to release a book this fall, was letting it be known he would participate in an interview to anyone who was interested. Of course, I’m interested, I’m always interested. Are you kidding? That’s like throwing a shiny thing in front of a magpie.

I traveled to his blog to check out his work — the first story I read was Scratch .

It was nothing like I expected. Oh, I’ve read horror, lots and lots of horror, and most of the time, especially in shorter works, I’ve found horror rather — unsatisfying. You know, too much gore for the message, or too little. Something that looks on the surface to be horror is really comedy dressed up in a shroud, and it’s often empty, like a zombie’s eyes. Nothing in there, can you dig it, just shock value and if there even is a message it’s lost in the horror of a good story gone bad rather than standing on its own torn up, blistered feet. Good horror is really difficult to write in a way that doesn’t come across as parody.

Not so in this case. This story blew me away. Actually, it made me cry. It made me cry because there is such truth embedded within, it burned my eyes. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Vacation, and next up will be my review. All I’ll tell you right now is, I wasn’t disappointed.

Even if horror isn’t your “thing”, I encourage you to give this guy a turn on the dance floor, even if horror is not your favorite genre. Because underneath the horror aspect, there’s a story, can you dig it — an awesome, mind-blowing, thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining story. You can’t get better than that.

Definitely check it out, and keep your eye on Jeremy C. Shipp. I know I will.

ALL my eyes, because he’s tricksy.

Cleaning and hauling was the first step. Then came the actual, physical move, which was much simpler because, well, I don’t have much. But then, oh dear and beloved friends and neighbors, came Screw Hell.

To say the previous tenants left a mess behind them is an understatement of the century. Still, I’ve dealt with that. I’m sure the garbage men have a voodoo doll of me full of long, wicked pins, but I’ll give them cookies at Christmas. I’ve even cleaned out the garage and hoo doggy, that was some kind of fun. I did not run across any dead critter bodies, for which I was eternally grateful, but otherwise, it was gross. Still, I’ve dealt with that.

What has bugged me up inside the actual abode are screws. Yes, you heard me. S C R E W S.  The previous tenant had a serious fetish for screws. It’s incredible. I have enough screws to supply a third world country, all painstakingly unscrewed from the walls and various other nooks and crannies. I’ve taken down hooks and hinges that don’t hinge anything; wood screwed to door and window openings, and screws that are just inserted into strange places on the walls with no discernible function whatsoever. I have found caches of screws with different personalities; wood screws, metal screws, ceramic screws, concrete screws, short screws and screws that look long enough to skewer a cow.

Hey, I guess you could say I’ve been well and totally screwed. Heh.

So, the work continues, because it seems everywhere I look, there’s a screw lurking. I really need to get them all out of the space I’m hoping to transform into an office (this writing and working from a decrepit TV tray from a Most Uncomfortable Chair isn’t working so well) so I can finish priming the walls for a coat of possibly periwinkle (or maybe pink; I haven’t decided) paint. I need to decide on a floor choice, too. Carpet? Vinyl tiles? Oh, decisions, decisions. I’ve already painted over the black ceiling. *sigh*

It’s a work in progress. I’m trying to be patient. I’m trying not to let the screws get me down.

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In addition to all this, I’m trying to organize my time to Maximum Efficiency. How’s that working out, you ask? Uh, okay. Fine. Oh, all right, maybe not so much. I’ve still met every deadline, and I’m not complaining. I know it will be a lot easier once the office space is complete and I can spread out.

In the meantime, I have a couple of interviews with some fabulous people coming up; reviews of various reading materials for which you will pledge to me your undying gratitude; a gaggle of great links to amuse, entertain, and enlighten; ramblings and observations from the mind of a working freelancer on the edge.

I know you can’t wait.

In the meantime, I’ll be unscrewing, editing, and while working on projects to pay the rent, I’ll also be trying to appease the Fiction Monster that’s been poking the soft gray matter of my brain and keeping me awake at night.

It’s hungry.

It’s been a while since my last link-love, and I usually do it on Wednesdays. However, I’ve run across some great info over the last few days; some news, some fun, some thought-provoking, some helpful. Dig in!

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“Strange Bird” is a must-read for this Monday. Written by JD Riso, it’s a story of a trip to Costa Rica, told in a personal and very unique way. Excellent read.

Sun and Oracle combine forces. What do I care, you say? Sun is responsible for Java, one of the most widely-used software technologies, and this union may give pause to giants like Microsoft. The software universe may never be the same.

If you’re single and looking, living in the Montana region, this young man is looking for a sweetheart. Forget Match.com, eHarmony, or any of the other meat markets — check this guy out. He seems real. It’s not “Rock of Love” but I’ll be keeping an eye out and wishing him well. Heh.

Is there anything better than ice cream? Why, yes, yes there is. FREE ice cream. Hit your local Ben & Jerry’s on April 21st and get you some.

Finally, the sequel to “The Da Vinci Code” is slated for a September 15th release by Doubleday. 5 MILLION copies ofThe Lost Symbol will be released to a long-awaiting public. Amazing. And that’s just the FIRST print run.

Unfortunately,scientist and professor Stephen Hawking has been reported as “very ill” and has been hospitalized. Author JG Ballard passed away this weekend. Very sad…condolences to Ballard’s fans and family, and good wishes to Mr. Hawking.

Nick Usborne has provided a page of some fabulous information for freelancers. WOW. Excellent resource.

If you’re looking to monetize your website, here are 6 Fool-Proof Steps to Make More Money With Your Website. Very detailed and informative.

10 Websites for Book Lovers — need I say more? I know, I know…you’re cursing me now, but you’ll thank me later.

And finally, you know I couldn’t just end this edition of Link Love without a couple of fun time-wasters. Take a look at this video if you’ve ever wondered what sheep herders do with their spare time, and then you can turn your brain to oatmeal with Seinfeld’s 100 Quotes About Nothing. Heh.

I’ll probably do another Link Love post soon — two weeks without internet access, and the stuff piles up. The next one will be strictly writing related.

Until then, enjoy the Monday. The best thing about Mondays are, they only come once a week. Heh.

I’ve thought long and hard, and I just have to weigh in on this. I’m fairly certain my opinion isn’t going to make me popular among some, but I’ve never given a rat’s ass what people thought of me, anyway. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, as long as it’s kept professional and respectful.

Therein lies the problem.

Last week on Twitter, a few NYC agents came up with a brilliant idea to have a “#queryfail” day. The hashtag gives the subject its own Twitter  “stream”, similar to a group chat. Keep in mind the “group chat” reaches thousands and thousands of people. Maybe millions, who knows? Anyway, the point of this chat group was to “educate” new writers what exactly causes a query to an agent to fail. Thus, “#queryfail”.

It sounds good, in theory. Didn’t go so well, in practice. You see, even though “identifiers” were not used, actual excerpts from the failed queries were. Snarky comments were made by not only agents, but other writers. Jokes, sniggers, and mocking were also known to have happened. (And before you even ask, yes, I Twitter, and yes, I read the stream. Some have accused those not such fans of #queryfail to have not read the stream.) What started out as a simple “education” process soon started to feel like recess in an elementary school, where the “cool” kids make fun of the “not-so-cool” kids. It got ugly, to the point one of the hostesses has recieved threatening letters.

How did it go so wrong? Well, to be sure, there were good things about it. I’ve edited hundreds of stories, a few novels, and even did stints as a guest editor for a couple of ezines. I can understand how frustrating it is for an agent to receive 26 queries only to find 24 of them didn’t follow guidelines. I can understand the need to vent, and the need to educate. What I fail to understand is the need to humiliate people in a public forum (and Twitter is about as public as you can get) and hide it under the term “educate”. Sure, names were not used, but the actual excerpts from the letters were, bringing up another issue of public domain and copyright. The snarky comments started slowly, then built up a head of steam resulting in a train wreck.

In order to be in this business, you need a thick skin. This is a given. Some aspiring writers are clueless, and while unfortunate, this is also a given. However, this was not a chat among agents and writers in a private room; this was in full public view, and I would hazard a guess it revealed a LOT more about the participants than it did about the poor hapless writers who have problems writing a query letter. I couldn’t help but wonder if this is what is done in public, what the hell goes on in private? But then, it’s private and I don’t have to know. I also wondered if these agents, who took time out of a busy day to skewer the hapless writer, ever took the time to contact the writer and tell them, in private and in a professional way, just what it was that made the query fail. Feel me?

It stirred up a hornet’s nest. There’s one faction that defends the practice, and another which is horrified and outraged, and worse yet, another faction that thinks sending “hate mail” or threats is the way to handle it. I think this may be an instance of good intentions paving the way to hell. There are just so many other constructive ways this could have been handled, rather than holding anonymous writers up for ridicule, even if that wasn’t the original intent. Even though I don’t have a query currently making the rounds, I was really shocked and horrified at some of the comments made. I wonder too, if agents start out like this or do they become burnt and bitter after years of people ignoring the guidelines and submitting to inappropriate markets?

Will there be another #queryfail? I don’t know. Probably. It seemed to be very popular. Which makes me very sad, not just as a writer or an editor, but as a person. There’s already enough negativity out there to wrestle with, and I was better off not knowing the darker side of people I had come to respect and admire. Not to mention elementary school is many years behind me, and rightfully so.

Or maybe… I wasn’t better off. Ignorance might be bliss, but it blisters your ass when you’re not looking.

One of the biggest challenges of a freelancing career is organization, at least in my experience. There’s a fine line between being organized yet flexible; after all, flexibility is one of the best perks of being self-employed. However, if you don’t stay focused on some level, all kinds of things can fall through the cracks and become lost and wandering. This, friends and neighbors, can cost you money and inspire a level of frustration in which you invent scathing swear words not fit for human ears.

There are some things to keep in mind when you’re embarking on a freelance career. It’s not as simple as just reaching for a pen, keyboard or crayon and scribbling away. You have to think about an online presence; marketing; pricing; accounting; prospecting, and at long last, writing. (And you thought you were just going to be writing, didn’t you? Hah. A freelancer must wear many hats.)

Becoming organized is different for every person. What works for one person might not work for you. The trick is to try a combination of things and figure out a way to maximize your work day to achieve your full potential. Once you get into a routine, your days become smoother and more productive. (That’s the theory, anyway. Work with me here, people.)

I can tell you some of what works for me, but to be truthful, it’s a work in process. I’ve learned a lot about my work habits over the last year or so, and instead of fighting them, I’ve embraced them. Know thyself, and to thine own self be true — just because you might not fit into the mold of writer you’ve read about or admired doesn’t mean you don’t have your own mold.

Making a list: I am a strong believer in making a list. Actually, I make several lists. I’ll detail out a weekly list of the goals or deadlines I need to meet, but I usually don’t write out a daily list until the night before. Sometimes, not until the very morning in question. Since things have a habit of changing on an almost hourly basis, I retain some flexibility and yet have a plan of some kind in black and white to which I can refer. My daily list may look something like this:

• Finish the edits for Chapter 4.
• TSB prompt (D/L Sunday.)
• Post for WW.
• Post for OF.
• Drops.
• Check work sites.
• Pimpage and networking.
• Newsletter shite (D/L 1/16.)

I keep in mind my weekly goals and deadlines, and what I don’t get to on this day will roll over to tomorrow.  I don’t obsess, but I do keep in mind what’s looming up, and by loosely scheduling certain actions, I keep ahead of my deadlines, which take priority over ANYTHING else. I use a calendar (actually, several, if you must know — I have a sickness regarding calendars, I can never have enough calendars…gah.)

Discipline: There are so many things that can distract you from your primary purpose, no matter your best intentions or what purpose you have scheduled for the day. As I may have mentioned before, research is especially seductive to me — oh, the siren’s call that echos! The enticing information that lies just beyond the next click! The answers to all my burning questions that are contained on just that next website! There are so many fabulous resources on the ‘net, and we’re not even talking about games, shiny things, and tempting tasty tidbits regarding your favorite hobbies, interests, or passions. Have a question about some obscure factoid you can’t quite remember? So, so easy to go to Google search to scratch that itchy brain. But beware! It’s entirely possible to fall into a timesink and next thing you know, it’s four hours later and you’ve lost some productive hours.

Exert some self-control! Schedule time to pursue such fascinating ‘net vistas, such as after you have completed some task you planned for the day.  Set a timer or alarm on either your cell phone or on your computer, and when it goes off, proceed to your next project immediately. Scribble the burning question on a pad you keep on your workspace, and refer to it later. You might be surprised at the level of self-accomplishment you feel when resisting the pull of the non-work related internet and getting back to business.

Networking duties: Actually, you are always networking as a freelancer. If you’re not, you should be. That being said, in order to make my day more productive, there are certain programs I keep closed until I know the bulk of my work is done for the day, or until my brain cells start emitting smoke, fire, and a weird screaming sound that won’t stop until I take a break.

For me, networking is one of the best parts of this business. I love people, I love talking to people, I love sharing tips, bon mots, and great links to visit. HOWEVER…I know if I keep certain programs open, I will be sucked into the time/space continuum and I will lose hours, days, weeks…not to mention money and opportunities, so I try to keep track of how much time I’m Facebooking, Twittering, checking email and generally socializing. It’s a fine balance, and it’s taken me some time to figure out what works best for me.

Keep your desktop, email, and bookmarks organized: I know, this is funny to me, also. Still, it only took a couple of times for me to waste precious HOURS digging through files and photos to find exactly what I was looking for to teach me to file it correctly the first time, or at least clean things up more than once a year. Not only does it make things easier to find and saves you time and stress, it also has the added bonus of making your computer run quicker when it has less to sort through when booting up. I’ve organized all my files into folders, then incorporated all my folders into one master folder, which is the only thing on my desktop besides assignments that are due this week. Not only is it less stressful to look at a busy desktop, booting up now is a lot quicker.

These are the things that work best for me as far as getting organized. Got any hot tips? I’m willing to try anything once, so leave your suggestions in the comments and I’ll be very grateful. Until then, I hope something here has helped you out, and I’d love to know if that were the case.

Sometimes, in order to know where you’re going, you need to take a look back at where you’ve been. By the same token, it’s not good to dwell too much on the past — it’ll bite you hard, if you let it. The trick is, to take stock and the lessons learned, and hopefully apply them in the challenging times ahead.

This week between Christmas and New Year’s is a strange one, for me. My brain feels like it’s floating in limbo, I can’t remember what day it is, and it feels like free-fall. Maybe my choice of reading material (”World War Z – An Oral History of the Zombie War” by Max Brooks) or my movie viewing (”Children of the Corn”) has something to do with it – heh!

At any rate, I think I’ll use this time between years to take inventory and get a little more organized. Rest up, because the coming year will present a lot of challenges for all of us. The publishing business is changing rapidly; the economy is in the toilet and in spite of the Hope of Obama, it’s likely to get worse before it gets better. Job markets are shifting, and one of the most valuable skills to have right now is the ability to adapt.

I preach all the time — Put not all ye eggs in one basket, and keep thy basket full…and that holds more true in the days to come than anything else. I plan on thinking outside the box, keeping my options open, and working as hard as I can. Providing a quality product; meeting all deadlines; keeping up with egg-hunting and basket-filling.

I have learned in the last year I am stronger than I thought. I am better than I believed. I have learned that all the worry in the world does nothing more than make you sick — it definitely doesn’t change the inevitable. (Doesn’t mean I won’t worry, just hopefully I won’t worry as much. What can I say, sometimes I’m a slow learner. Heh.)

I don’t make resolutions because…well, I was never good at that kind of thing. But, I can look forward, and I can hope. Believe me, friends and neighbors, that’s a major accomplishment after the beating of last year.

I’m going to work smarter and harder.

I’m going to read more and become more educated.

I’m going to share what I know with as many people that want to hear it.

I’m going to become more organized. (Suggestions welcome.)

I’m going to eat more cookies.

What are YOU going to do?