You might remember that I’m working on my first novel. Last time I wrote about writing a novel I was up to 10,000 words. I’ve since added another 30,000 and am now officially halfway through the first draft.
Of course, the problem with writing a first novel before winning the lottery is that you still have to fit in a day job, caring for small children and running a household. Then, of course there’s a few other exciting opportunities I’ve jumped on recently.
Freelance writing – I wasn’t planning on increasing my freelancing until next year when my eldest starts school. Then a vacancy came up at Talk About Creative and I immediately said “Pick me, pick me!”. And they did!
Social media empire – Okay, so we’re not exactly an empire YET but we’re certainly well on our way at Parent Talk Australia. I spend a couple of hours a week, along with several dozen other talented Aussie parenting bloggers, helping it chug along and grow and reach the mums and dads of Australia on social media.
Richell Prize application – This one is at least novel-writing-related. The Richell Prize is an inaugural award to an emerging writer (someone who hasn’t published anything yet). The winner gets $10,000, a year’s mentorship with publisher Hachette Australia and an excerpt of their manuscript published in The Guardian Australia.
I took about a month out from writing my novel to work on polishing the first three chapters, a synopsis, a full chapter outline and a brief essay on why they should pick me to win the prize. In the end it was very helpful because I had to stop and figure out what happens in the rest of my story. This has made writing easier but, sadly, hasn’t created a 25th hour in the day to actually get the words down on paper.
And then there’s blogging – I love blogging. If someone would pay me to write down random thoughts on the internet all day every day, about whatever I liked, I’ll be there with application in hand. Sadly, however, blogging takes up an awful lot of head space with very little financial return on investment.
Normal daily activities turn into blog post plans that never get written. Just today I’ve written plans in my head for the following potential posts:
- How to eat a Nutella donut without burning the inside of your mouth – Bec’s first vlog
- How did they used to get kids to Go the F%$# to Sleep in the olden days?
- Sure, I’ll work for free. But not for you. (This as an open letter in reply to the several emails I’ve had from companies in the past few weeks who think I should bug you, dear reader, with blog posts all about their company because INTERESTING BLOG POST. Not. Don’t worry, I said ‘No’.)
- If at first you can’t fit everything in, simply re-prioritise (actually that’s pretty much this blog post except with a different emphasis).
And so my imagination disappears down the rabbit hole of unwritten blog posts, leaving Monica and Alice bereft of further plot development (they’re the main characters in my book, just FYI).
So because I want to finish writing the first draft of this book before Christmas AND be able to feed my children something other than potatoes and rice (so the paid work has to stay), I’ll be taking a break from blogging.
I’ll still be writing the Top 5 Weekly posts over at Parent Talk Australia (you really should subscribe if you haven’t already – there are some truly fabulous articles).
I’ll still be reading lots of blog posts every Tuesday and leaving a trail of #TeamIBOTs in my wake.
I’ll still be around on Facebook and Twitter, sharing interesting stuff I’ve read and done.
And I’ll be back when I’ve finished the first draft… or if the good people who judge the Richell Prize for Emerging Writers are kind enough to shortlist my entry (shortlist is announced on 23 September). Then I won’t be able to resist writing a quick blog post! With any luck I may have even finished the draft by the end of September.
What have you overcommitted to recently? Had to take a break from something? Do you just say ‘yes’ to everything?
Well, that’s bullshit. LOL. I totally get it and our little blogging community will totally miss your witty and intelligent writing. I’m just going to have to stalk you on Facebook I guess…. x
Aw thanks Hugzy:) I’ll be around. I’ll be reading YOUR witty and intelligent blog posts. No pressure.
I get it – in fact will be toning down my blog writing a bit as paid work has to take priority! See you in and around SM I hope xxx
I’ll definitely be around SM. Good luck sorting out your own competing priorities. It’s hard!
Oh I’ll miss you! But can’t wait to read the novel. Best of luck with everything, see you on Twitter!! X
Oh thank you! And yes, I’ll definitely be on Twitter!
I look forward to your return! But seriously, you gotta do what you gotta do! Over committing is certainly an issue these days and you’ve gotta keep your life balance as best you can.
I used to be an over committer, which then turned me into a flake when I got overwhelmed. Now, I’m getting awesome at saying no without feeling bad 🙂
As for my husband…he’s an over committer of gigantic proportions…we’re in talks 😛
He he. I think my husband and I have swapped in the past 12 months or so. He’s taken on less and I’ve taken on more. Maybe we have a finite household allocation…
Sounds like you’ve got your plate full. I agree, paid work will always prevail over my blog.
Good luck with all your ventures!
Yes and I’m realising I can’t work on so many unpaid projects plus work. So one has to take a rest temporarily.
Fantastic, Bec! That’s such good news! We’ll miss you, but I know I’ll be back when you’re ready to return. Chookas for the rest of the book. I hope the first draft is done by the end of the September so you can lock fresh eyes on it for the first round of editing by the end of the year. And chookas for the Richell Prize, too. x
Thanks Em! With all those chookas I can’t help but succeed:)
Super exciting times at your place Bec, wishing you all the best in your ventures. Fingers and toes crossed for the prize
Thanks Rhianna! I’ll take as many fingers and toes as I can get:)
Good luck with your novel writing! That’s just a bit exciting! 🙂
Thank you Haidee! It’s been great fun. I’m looking forward to the next 40,000:-)
I’m glad you’re pausing for a worthy cause – I really want your novel to get short listed. I’ll flick any others that I see your way too!!
Oh, thank you so much Lydia! That really means a lot x
I get that. Good on you for recognising what you can get done and what needs to take a step back for a bit. Good luck on your Ritchell Prize application.
Thanks Karin. I like the advice I was once given – you can have everything, but not all at the same time.
All the best with your draft. I’m working on two kids books at the moment, though I’ve finished the first draft and am now in the editing stage. I also have a day job to fit in too.
During the Chapter Book Challenge in March, my blogging stalls so I can get my drafts finished 🙂
Oh congratulations! And good luck with the editing. I’m looking forward to the editing stage. I think it will be a relief to have a full story to work with rather than a nail biting fear of ‘what if I don’t ever finish it?’.
The fear is still there…. I’m at the “I need to get this book edited, but need more hours in the day” stage!
Ugh. I’m not sure the need more hours in the day phase ever goes away!
My blog writing has been taking a back seat to my book writing too. I’ve only written the three chapters (plus the synopsis and submission essay), and I could spend months editing and rewriting those, but I had to come up with less wishy washy story arc ideas for the synopsis too, so I’m really excited to get back to the writing.
Good luck with the prize, and the writing 🙂
Good luck to you too! I like Al Tait’s theory on first drafts (which isn’t really Al’s theory, it seems to be a general theory, but I’ve heard her say it most recently!) – you have to get the story down. Edit later. Push through and get the whole story down first.
Ahh Bec!!! So much exciting stuff happening in this post. I will definitely miss your writing on the blog, but hope to see more of your other writing elsewhere. Your novel sounds great and fab news about Talk about creative 🙂
Thanks Renee! There is definitely a whole lot of exciting stuff happening. I’ll be back on the blogging tracks in a couple of months at the most. And definitely around on social media until then!
I am sad and happy. Sappy even. I’m just glad I can still chat to you on facey. x
Ha ha! Sappy! I’ll still be around, just saving my creative juices for fiction for a little while.
How exciting. Good luck with the rest if the first draft. Xx
Thanks Deb!
We’ll miss you – but good on you for working out your priorities and following your dreams. I applied for that Talk About Creative job too but didn’t hear anything back (oh sob, oh weep!) LOL. Seriously I’m not worried about it, I have plenty on my plate as well and that might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. Que sera sera and all that 😉 …
Visiting from #teamIBOT x
Thanks Janet! If only we had bigger plates to be filled:)
Good luck!! – it never rains but pours right.. I don’t blame you from taking a break. Sanity first!
It really does! And I need to fit in sleep somewhere too…
Gosh, is that all you’ve got on your plate? 😛 You’re seriously amazing to keep up with so many balls in the air- my hat is off to you!! Best of luck with your novel, 40 000 words is freaking fantastic. And the whole Parent Talk launch has been huge. x
Thanks! Parent Talk Australia has been absolutely amazing. And I’ve been trying to keep too many balls up! So I’m putting one down before I drop them all:)
How exciting! All the best with your book and I hope they short list you! I look forward to reading your book in the not too distant future I hope!
Thanks Ingrid! Once it’s finished I’ll publish it myself even if nobody else wants it 😉 So it’s bound to come out eventually! x
Writing – blog, book or other, is so time consuming. Good on you for prioritising what is important to you. Do come back soon though.
It really is! Not to mention the brain space it takes up. And don’t worry, I’ll be back in a couple of months or so:-)
As far as excuses go, that’s a pretty good one! Best of luck with the novel!
He he he, thanks:-)
All the best with your book Bec! Very exciting.
You have been amazing with all that you’ve done and continue to do with Parent Talk Aus! Thank you so much! Xx
Thanks Shannon! And you’re very welcome – Parent Talk Aus wouldn’t be what it is without all the awesome Aussie parenting bloggers we have on board!
Wow, I’m so happy for you. To be honest, I’ve been watching the magic that you and Amy are making with Parent Talk and I am in awe at how you manage it all. But I didn’t know you were writing as well. I will be looking at your linked posts in this to see what your book is about. Good luck with that prize thingy! I am also writing my first novel and have just picked it up again after having the twins. I am 25000 words in and determined to have the first draft done by Christmas!! I have started decreasing the time I spend blogging because as you say, it takes up so much time without much return. I will be thinking of you! Would you mind if I got in touch down the track to see how you’re going?
Hey Laney, oh good on you, 25,000 words is huge! I found the first 10,000 the biggest mental barrier to get through – I finally believed I might actually be writing a book once I got to that milestone. Parent Talk doesn’t take up a massive amount of time because everyone is so generous with their time, but it’s still another couple of hours in the week that aren’t available for other stuff! It’s absolutely worth it though. And yes, of course, please feel free to get in touch! xxxx
I think you’ve reached a point where all the cool stuff you’re doing is equally as satisfying and rich as blogging. So take a break! We’ll be here when you’re back and there’s always SM for fun and frollics. Good on you for all you are achieving, Bec. x
“If at first you can’t fit everything in, simply re-prioritise” – this is so very true. I feel like I am doing this on a daily basis at the moment! Constantly checking my priorities!
Enjoy the break Bec … it’s good that it’s come about for good reasons!
Wow Bec, you have so much on the go, good on you!
Good luck with your prize application, fingers crossed for you xx
I totally get it chick – your head can totally spin off your head when you have too much on, so enjoy your break gorgeous and I will see you on Facie 😉 xx
Sometimes you have to do what works . Good luck with the novel and Richelle prize . Parent talk Is such a fantastic idea and initiative . I’ve learnt that it’s ok to step back sometimes and come back to them .
I am queen of over committing right now. Two part time jobs, two main blogs to write for (plus one I contribute to and one of mine that I neglect) and two postgrad subjects at unit this semester. I need to get my $hit organised haha.
Best of luck with the book!
Yes… I get it. When I was writing my manuscript it was a blessed relief to write the odd blog post. I’d just go crazy with the adverbs and it would be me and I loved it. Even so, I wrote a lot less posts. It made me wonder if I should have written my manuscript from a different POV. I’ve left my 80 000 words to fester for a while. I’ll eventually get back to it 🙂 Can’t wait to hear your post about getting short-listed! xxx