Do you multi-task?
My name should be “Sybil.”
I just spent the last two days grading my psychology students’ practice Advanced Placement exams. I started right after school yesterday, stayed up until after midnight working on them, and finally finished the last one about fifteen minutes ago. I’m exhausted. But I won’t rest, let alone relax. (Relax? Is that in the dictionary somewhere? Is it some French term or something?)
I have a list a mile long of things I need to do to promote my books, especially since the third in the “Damaged Heroes” series — All the Right Reasons — just premiered in ebook last week. I need to send our ARCs to review sites. I need to answer 
some (can you believe it?) fan email. I need to update my website. And don’t even get me going on how desperately I want to sit down and start writing on my three WIPs. Plus, tomorrow is my RWA local chapter meeting, and I’m the chapter secretary. Oh… and my critique group will meet after our chapter meeting, so I have some reading and critiquing still left to do. And…
Well, you get my drift.
I admire those of you who juggle all of the things in your life. So few of us have the luxury of being full-time authors, so we have to learn to multi-task like pros. I’ve been writing for almost four years, and I still find myself frazzled quite often. There just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day.
So how do you manage the many “personalities” you have to assume in your life? What aspect of your life seems to be the first that receives your attention? Which is the last?
My answers are simple. Family is always first, but with that being a “given,” I always put my students and my writing as major priorities. Yeah, I know. It’s cheating to pick two, but I just can’t name one as more important than the other. Maybe it’s because I’m so Type A and take so much pride in my work. But I always want to be the best writer I can be, and I always strive to be the best teacher I can be. As far as what I put last, that’s easy. I used to be obsessed with keeping my house neat and clean. Now… I’m not. It’s amazing how liberating it is when you get older that things that bothered you so much no longer seem to be so important.
At least my exams are all graded. (Yay!) And now I can morph from my teacher personality to my writer personality.
I’ll say this — my life is never boring. 
Tags: lifestyle, Sandy James, stress, writing
May 9th, 2009 at 3:10 am
Sandy, I’m a huge multi-tasker, to the extent I generally have at least 3-4 novels in my head at the same time in different developing stages, plus a short story thrown in now and then and essay ideas and … that’s only my writing life. First and last? Like you, family is first although I’m glad the kids are older now and pretty self-reliant much of the time. At this point of my life, writing does come first after family. That may change with the given circumstances, but it also balances with my job and trying hard to keep up with friends. Cleaning the house still gets done — organizing the house, not often.
I didn’t realize you taught psychology! I loosely work in the field, in a job that severly tests my lack of organizational skills.
Sybil is better than boring!
May 9th, 2009 at 4:02 am
I don’t think I would have had time to write if my nest wasn’t empty.
I love teaching psychology! What a wonderful, thought-provoking subject! And it helps me so much in my characterizations!
Thanks for the comment!
May 9th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
That is so true. We learn our homes don’t have to be immaculate–our hearts do. I Swear my house was cleaner when my teens were babies and toddlers! Now that I am writing full time and balancing that with my family and friend relationships, I don’t freak out if someone comes over and sees dishes in the sink. I EVEN had weeds in my beloved flower garden (gasp!). I’ll get to them when I get to them. Life goes on!
May 9th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Weeds? OMG! How can you stand it?
I did actually get outside to plant some petunias and clean up the mess of weeds I didn’t bother with in the autumn. But that’s it. I just have too much else to do.
I absolutely love your take on things. “…our homes don’t have to be immaculate–our heart do.” Beautiful!!
May 10th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Hi Sandy,
I am a multi-task person too. I wouldn’t be able to get everything done if I wasn’t. Enjoyed reading your article.So, you grow petunias, I have some of them planted in my front garden,between my roses, they make a terrific splash of colour and don’t seem to mind the heat either.
Regards
Margaret
May 10th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Hi, Margaret! I love petunias because they resist most of my attempts to kill them with my inattention.
May 10th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Sandy,
It’s so encouraging to see that it can be done! Thanks for the reminder!
Anne
May 10th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
I’ve shown it can be done. What I haven’t shown is whether it can be done well.
May 10th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I really wonder if multitasking is possible. I have the day job, which unlike you, I hate. Unfortunately, it takes up a lot of time and leaves me so tired I’m not good for much of anything.
I also have to figure out the best balance of promo to writing. So far, for the past few months, it’s been mainly promo and I don’t even know if the promo does any good.
I have a half done Christmas story which I have to get going on. Maybe I’ll have to send in by Christmas.
May 10th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
It’s possible, just not easy. I’m still getting a handle on this juggling act.
Promo can be such a major time suck. I’m with you on trying to find the right balance. One big thing that my publisher offers is access to sales figures. Would it help to tell you that whenever I guest blog or pop up on yahoo loops my sales go up? Not much, but to me, every book sold might be a new fan who will want to read more of my stories. It’s definitely not wasted time. The biggest thing for me is, like you, I’m having trouble finding time to write new material.
*hugs* Linda!