Well, this week there is good news and bad news. Good news: I sold a book! Considering the fact I did close to no promo (that's the bad news, also very little writing or editing), that's pretty wonderful.
Here's the thing, folks. I'm pregnant. Yep, about a week after I wrote that blog entry about being child-free I found out. I'm due in December. This is my first experience with pregnancy and I vascillate between joy and terror. I'm 38, which means the pregnancy is higher risk than it would typically be for a 25 year old, but so far all my tests are good.
The biggest downside is, I'm exhausted most of the time. My friend tells me I'm building a placenta and that's a big job. Okay, but I'm a writer! I need to write! A lot! Yeah. My body has other plans, involving eating crackers while lounging on the couch and watching 40s movies. And of course, I still have to go to work, and some days it's really really stressful. We had a day last week where three kids got suspended (I personally suspended one of them: a six foot tall, 250 pound, 18 year old country boy who likes to bully women) and a fourth got arrested and spent the week in the hall for threatening to stab his teacher (the same woman who told me about the exhaustion of building a placenta, actually). So the writing and everything associated to it has been suffering.
Nevertheless, I will write! My big plan for May was to do a pseudo NaNoWriMo to get 50K words written on Veronica book 3. Realistically, it probably won't be 50K. I also planned to edit the heck out of Book 2 in the hopes of being able to publish it soon. The good news is, school lets out for summer June 10, which is also the start of my 2nd trimester, and I'm told the second trimester is the least exhausting. We will be moving either in June or July, so that will take a chunk of time and energy, but I'm still hopeful that the summer will be a productive time. I really want to get Book 2 out because I plan to lower the price of River to $0.99 promotionally when I do and I'm optimistic about sales picking up then.
What kinds of crazy, unexpected things have been popping up in your life, and making achieving your writing goals harder than you expected? Do you have children? How do you find the time to write as a parent?
Gaaaaah! Whooooopieeee! Congratulations, Ms. Sophia.
ReplyDeleteOK. I won't annoy you with the annoying little questions, like do you have names picked out (p.s., if you thought it was hard to name your characters...), or are you giong to find out the gender, etc. I'm just going to bask in the news. I'll save all questions until tomorrow.
Yay for the sale.
For me, my 4yo who likes to hit my keyboard while I'm typing is my biggest obstacle to finishing things. Or, he might dial a number on my phone. He thinks he's soooo funny. :)
Thanks, Mary! We do have some names picked out, but they will remain secret (probably until the birth). And do I want to know the gender! As soon as possible. I want to call the baby by name when I talk to her/him.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people are doomsayers, you know. "You'll never have a moment to yourself again!" etc. I keep taking deep breaths and reminding myself of my mother, who painted throughout my childhood.
CONGRATULATIONS!! OMG SO EXCITING!
ReplyDeleteAnd you will have time again! I am a big believer in making my kids self reliant. They want something, they need to try and get it themselves first. (Of course, this isn't really feasible until their old/tall enough to turn lights on and off themselves, but still) you will get there!
I have two small children and I still manage to eck out *some* time for myself for writing. There is always nap time, too. And I think you'll find that children - much like other things - are challenging as much as they are rewarding.
Anyways, congrats again on the baby and the book sale! :)
Hi Mare! Thanks for the supportive words. :) I like the idea of self-reliant children. I remember being five and running around in my neighbors' yards, and my mother calling me home for dinner. At five!
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ReplyDeleteJust found your blog on the Goodreads Indie author group and thought I'd head over. Just in time to say:
Congratulations! What great news!
Being a mum can only increase your experiences and so your writing by extension. You've got a lot of great times ahead, I'm sure (and probably swollen feet, but we can't have it all ;oD)
Craig
Hi Craig, and welcome! Thank you for the words of encouragement. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your great news! As for when do you find time to write, as a parent: Wee hours of the night or morning. I've two children and between work, house responsibilities and raising the kids there is very little time to write. I tend to get up at 4:45am - 5am and work in an hour of writing (or running as I alternate days) as I can throughout the week.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be hard to find time, especially in the beginning with night feedings and such. What I found most important is to focus on being flexible and realizing that life isn't all about writing or the job or any of that.
Holding my kids in my arms and spending time with them is precious beyond compare.
Congrats again!
ron
Congratulations on the baby and the book!
ReplyDeleteWhen my children were little, I used to write with one or the other on my lap. Mostly, I wrote while they napped. It was hard, but doable.
Now they are older, all of them in school full time, and I use the time they are away to write. When they come home, I try to be just mom. I also write, staying up much too late, while they are in bed for the night.
Sophia congratulations!!! I am so happy for you! A baby. Wow!
ReplyDeleteWhen you said eating crackers on the couch it reminded me of my first pregnancy...that's all I did for about two months. It does get better though. Hang in there.
For me, my work can suddenly pick up (the job I do for $$) and that can wreck havoc on the writing. When it's busy I sometimes have to work 12 hour days. Not fun. And no energy left over for anything else. But then it drops off andi have a little bank account and some leasure to write. Life goes in cycles, as I'm sure you know.
Do you want a boy or a girl? =)
Thanks, Ron, Angela, and Cynthia, for your supportive words! Cynthia, I am hoping a little bit more for a girl, and Jeff is hoping a little bit more for a boy, but I will be perfectly happy with either, as long as the baby is healthy and happy. :)
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