Editing and more editing - ROW80 check-in

Well, it seems as if all my goals have fallen by the wayside as I continue to edit and rewrite my plant book. That and look after the household and kids. It seems like I'm working all day, every day and I'm still afraid that I won't meet the end of the month deadline for edits/rewrites. It doesn't help that this coming week is March break so I have one child home full-time. And my husband is out of town so I have to do all the meals, look after all the pets (and there are 12 of them!) and try to stay sane for 10 days. Okay, now that that's out of the way... I am enjoying reconnecting with the plant book in such an intimate way. I love looking through my photos for better illustrations of the plant in question. It takes me on a journey back to Nunavut, the land that I love and left in September. Good thing I am enjoying the process or it would be driving me crazy!

I don't know how people juggle more than one WIP. I miss writing new stuff but I just can't manage it while doing this editing. At least I am still reading before bed and writing in my journal. And I had a poetic moment the other day - but nothing concrete resulted. I am still processing.

I hope you are all continuing with your goals!!

What a wonderful world!

I just watched this video on youtube and it's just glorious! Makes me want to travel and see the natural wonders of the world. Oh I've got some of them covered by having been many places in the Arctic but there is so much more to see. It just gives me such a zest for life to see this. I had to share it. I hope you like it too!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=auSo1MyWf8g

welcome Sunday - ROW80 check-in

It's been such a busy time with revising and editing that I haven't been able to do anything else except keep up with the meals and housework. So I won't elaborate on my goals because I have not met them. I'm not too upset because with the revising work having a quick deadline, I have no choice but to do this work.

The thing I am more upset about is not making time to exercise, paint, or read much. I really need to make my schedule more Carolyn health-friendly. That will be my goal this week as well as keeping up with the editing. I don't know how the time goes by so quickly while editing and revising but it does.

So here's to a healthier, more relaxed editing self this coming week!!

Wednesday ROW80 check-in

Editing, editing, and more editing. That's what my week has amounted to so far. The plant book is taking up so much of my time. I'm so afraid that I won't get it done in time for the end of March deadline. So I've neglected every thing else so far this week.

Well, that's not quite true. I did prepare something to read at my writer's group. It was nice to be out with fellow writers. A few new-to-me writers were at the group. Nice to meet more! I also went to an author talk this week. Ami McKay, a great Canadian writer, was talking about how her research results in novels. It was good for me because I also do a lot of research. It's nice to live in a place where I can attend some interesting talks.

I still plan to write a poem this week. It's hard to imagine getting anything done on the WIP though. At least I'm on top of the editing goal. Over the top in terms of time in fact!

I hope you are all faring well on this leap day!!

Check-in Sunday ROW80

It's hard to imagine the devastation in Iqaluit at the moment. A fire in an apartment building. 53 children homeless, at least two people dead. 300 people with no place to go. In the Arctic. I know the community well after living there for the last twelve years. They will come together and work something out. But it will not be easy. My heart goes out to those in need. At times like this I wish I was back home to share in the grief. But here I sit, following it from afar.

I have been doing as much editing on the plant book as possible. No new poems since Wednesday although I feel one coming on at the moment. I need to work on my theme writing for the writer's group tonight, but I think I have it under control.

Feeling a little numb.

ROW80 Wednesday

I can't believe it's already Wednesday. Seems like it was just Sunday. Wrote another poem so that's good. One of these days though I must get around to editing the poems and putting them together in some sort of collection.

The rewriting of the plant book is going to be much more of a challenge than I thought. Just more work than I anticipated so getting it done in the short time span will take a lot of discipline. Not something I have a lot of these last few months. Here's my chance to get it back!

I have to complete my theme writing for the writer's group meeting on Monday night. Not sure how I will fit that in. It's reading week for the kids at University and there are 7 young adults in the house... it's hard to find a quiet place to write.

I haven't managed to get any work done on my WIP. Will try to fit that in too.
Hope your week is going well!!

Need to toughen up

I just got an email from someone that I do not know who is criticizing one of the aspects of my insect book. I guess that happens when you put something out there. Not everyone is going to like what you do, nor is everyone going to agree with how you've done it. I guess it's just irritating me because this person has no idea how much time and energy went into making every single decision that ended up producing this book. MY book.

I feel like I need to email this person back and give them all the reasons why I did what I did and how it in fact works very well. I suppose that would be a waste of my time so that's why I am venting here instead.

Take a deep breath. Okay, I'm ready to continue my work. Thanks for listening!!