I don’t mean Blogger the host of my site. I mean me, the blogger. I’m trying, but I know I haven’t been visiting as much as I’d like to.
School’s back in session, and this year I have:
- A new curriculum
- A new report card
- A new online grade book
- A new classroom website for listing daily homework
- A new teacher evaluation system
- A new required format for lesson planning
- And oh yeah, a new group of students to get to know
I’m also awaiting galleys on THE EIGHTH DAY and an editorial letter for Book 2 while working on a first draft of Book 3. I’ve got a short story in an anthology coming out next month, and the approach of Halloween has spurred requests for book signings and blog guest posts for THE CAGED GRAVES since it’s a murder mystery with a creepy premise and ‘tis the season for such things.
Do you know what I do when I feel overwhelmed and want to hide from my To-Do list? I shouldvisit all your blogs and say hello. Instead, I buy books on my Kindle and read them voraciously in every spare moment I have – avoiding the computer altogether.
The one thing I’ve been able to count on, blog-wise, is First Impressions every month, although we came pretty close to not filling up all our spots these past couple months – getting submissions just in the nick of time. I can’t believe we’re more than halfway through September already, and we have 3 spots open for October. So if you’ve got a manuscript and you want feedback on the first page, now’s a great time to submit! (hint, hint!)
I have no picture to go with this post, so here’s a totally random photo – one of my favorites taken by my husband during our August vacation. That’s my daughters on the London Eye.
Can so relate to feeling overwhelmed. Between work, Anna Li’s high school swimming, and all the blog posts I’ve scheduled, it’s feeling too much. Can barely squeeze any writing time in. So frustrating.
Just do what you can. We all understand. Awesome you’ll be doing more blog visits around Halloween. Great idea given what your book is about.
I’m in a blog slump myself. It seems that a lot of people are. Good luck with all you have to do!
You have a lot ‘new’ going on, right now. It’s expected that something has to give. And it’s okay. 🙂 As those of us who’ve been blogging for a while together find successes, adjustments have to be made, which is a good thing. Even though it’s at different paces, we’re all moving in a similar direction.
Best of luck with all that newness at school and those galleys! How exciting.
Lol! I could basically copy this post and call it mine. Sometimes it’s simply too much. Luckily, we can always come back when there’s more time 🙂
Ugh. That’s quite a list!
I’m getting ready to (temporarily) escape my (way too long) To-Do list by heading to Florida for a week, taking my fully loaded Kindle with me.
No apologies needed! We all have blogging slumps every once in a while. Lord knows I do.
I think ALL of us tend to get overwhelmed this time of year. I’d offer something up for one of your first impressions posts, but because I’m in first draft mode right now it would be pretty raw…oh, but maybe the first chapter of the book going out on sub? I don’t know. You can always email me if you’re short on material.:)
Life can get busy sometimes – Don’t stress it 🙂
I meant to tell you, I saw CAGED GRAVES in the wild the other day at my local indie!! 🙂 I was going to take a picture for you, but my phone ran out of batteries at that precise moment…
The beginning of the school year is always busy, way more so than the actual new year.
Personally, I think it’s more important to be reading books than blogs. But then, I like being bad. 🙂
Dianne, no need to apologize! We all get busy and something has to be put on the back burner. I went through it this summer and my one blog is still struggling. We do what we can when we can. Blog when you are able to and visit/comment blogs when you are able. I hope you have an AWESOME school year. Your students are lucky to have you as their teacher. : )
Take a breath, Dianne… We have all been there.
I am finally able to type again after a month of one handed typing. Got the cast off today… Freedom at last.
Still not home free yet, but only another month of a splint and physical therapy.
But at least I can blog and write again… YAY … I may finish the first draft of my novella by the end of this year. I hope so, I haven’t written anything new in two years. It’s time. lol.
That does sound like a lot of work, but try memorizing the AP style book while you’re at it! I kid, I kid, kind of. We all have our incredibly busy moments and it too will pass. I am working on polishing up a trunk novel of mine, but it’s still very much a work in progress (you can see that progress when you have a moment if you look at my Friday the 13th post on my blog this month).
It’s hard to find balance- I don’t know how you do it! I loved your interview on Amy M’s blog- great insights. Hang in there, and I’ll publicize “First Impressions” – it’s a great way to get feedback. Unfortunately, I’m still working on that WIP, so I have nothing new for you!
I can sympathize. I barely find time to take care of my own blogs/sites.
I do have a page I can send to you for evaluation. I’m easy and am at a stage of revision where I can still make changes.
I’ll see what I can do to get my page to you.
Keep breathing. In, out, in, out.
I can sympathize. I barely have time to work with my own sites.
As for subbing a page for evaluation for October, I can send you a page if you still need one. It would be for my women’s novel that’s in revision right now.
Just let me know if you still could use another page.
Thanks, Claudette! Marcy and I would love to have your page for First Impressions. Always happy to give feedback!