I usually don’t have insomnia, but last night for some reason I woke up around 1:30 A.M. and couldn’t fall back asleep. After a few minutes of staring into space, I got up and went to my home office (formerly the dining room). It was nice actually, everything so quiet.
I made myself some coffee and set out to tie up some loose ends in preparation for the writing marathon that must take place between now and the end of the year, a marathon that will take place mostly on the weekends, but possibly also in the wee hours of the morning.
There I was shuffling papers, cleaning dishes, taking out the trash, responding to blog comments, cleaning up my desktop, when the puppy came out of the bedroom to look at me like,”What the hell are you doing?” Then she turned around and went back to bed. I could have kept going, but I figured I should try and get some sleep before work. I’m on a solid three-week streak of showing up on time.
Keeping a schedule, being organized and on top of things has always been important, never more so than these days. I can’t think straight in a disorderly, chaotic environment, and there is so much to think about right now that I’m literally just trying to keep up.
The memoir is currently out to my mentor and three other people for review. While I wait for their notes, I’m rewriting the pilot I gave my manager earlier this year, and drafting a new one. I want to have two under my belt for staffing season in the spring, a one-hour drama and a half-hour dark comedy, different subjects, different tones.
I’m applying to more residencies and television writing programs, all worthy endeavors but time consuming.
I’m scheduled to revise the script I optioned in March from another writer. If I can manage it, I’d also like to rewrite a couple of my own feature scripts, but that might need to wait until the pilots are further along. My plan is to basically always be writing. When one project is being read/reviewed, I’ll be working on something else.
On top of all that, I’m also trying to “get out more,” as in reconnecting with folks in my field. Social media networking isn’t enough. I need face time with people to rekindle the personal relationship, find out how and what they’re doing, where they’re working, and let them know what I’ve been up to, etc.
I’ve thought about dating too but, frankly, between all the projects, working full-time, taking care of Ruby, and taking care of life, I simply don’t have time.
It feels a bit like a juggling act, or like being in a one-woman band. Balls in the air, balls in my hand, eyes darting from this to that, mind focused, heart pounding but trying to remember to breathe, nerves rattled but trying to appear relaxed, friendly and like this is the easiest thing in the world.
As Diane Keaton used to say in (one of my favorite movies) ANNIE HALL, “La di dah. La di dah.”
Have a great weekend, folks.
Riding Bitch 
July 13, 2013 at 2:15 am
Nice post. I can recall saying to someone about a year ago that I am greedy, that I want to do all the things I’m interested in (and hopefully good at) and your juggling ball analogy is very appropriate. You have made a tough choice in your pursuit of a creative career and the vast majority of people don’t take that risk, nor do they understand it. Keep doing it, keep backing yourself but just make sure not to spread yourself too thin and essentially, establish a reward system – there must be little prizes along the way for all your hard work, regardless of perceived success.
And if people are looking at you like your confused and sleepy puppy, you know what to say.
La di dah. La di dah.
July 15, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Thanks Dara. Thanks for the encouraging words. Spreading myself too thin is really easy to do. I can have a hard time saying No, which one must in order to stay on point. But I’m working on it. 🙂
July 13, 2013 at 2:22 am
I get it from another one woman band !!
July 15, 2013 at 6:56 pm
🙂
July 13, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Just keep finding that time to have a little fun … not dating, just time with friends to laugh a bit. It makes all the difference. I felt like the life was sucked out of me this week (a very unusual place for me to be) and time with friends last evening restored my energy!!
July 15, 2013 at 6:58 pm
Done. Worked this weekend, but also saw a couple of friends and had a lovely time. Hope you had a good one too!
July 14, 2013 at 10:05 am
It sounds like you have so many writing projects! :o) I don’t know how you do it. I can’t keep my children’s book, two movie screenplays and one non-fiction cancer book separate. They are all different, and yet, I can’t seem to FOCUS when I have so much going on and I thought that I had a lot ~ before I read your blog.
I have NO idea how you do it. I really don’t. Keep up the great work. It sounds like you’re “Superwoman”. Congrats on all of your hard work.
Shawn
July 15, 2013 at 7:02 pm
Well, I’m trying to do it, but by no means do I have it all figured out. My plate is very full, perhaps overflowing, and focus is the greatest challenge. I might blog about that soon, just being able to quiet the mind and do one thing at a time.
July 19, 2013 at 9:38 am
Good luck with the writing. My dog also thinks it strange, when I am up very late. You seem to be keeping extremely busy, and I am really pleased to see you still enjoying the blogging. We have both been around a while now, and it is always a pleasure to read what you are up to. Regards as ever from England (unusually hot- but nice) Pete. x