Since I work out of my house, I like to break my day into three parts:
morning
afternoon
evening
I consign writing jobs to each portion of the day, stopping for lunch and dinner. Often, those three portions will be 1) freelance writing, 2) WIP, and 3) research.
Every once in a while, I like to look at what I accomplish on a daily basis with my writing. I don’t count words like some writing efriends. I count what I get done. My writing ToDo list includes:
- a weekly article for an edtech ezine, TeachHUB
- a monthly article for my collaborative writing group, Today’s Author
- a monthly article for #IWSG–the Insecure Writer’s Support Group
- ongoing work on two novels, Twenty-four Days and Lucy: Story of Man (renamed Born in a Treacherous Time)
- 3-5 posts on my three blogs, WordDreams, Ask a Tech Teacher, and USNA or Bust
- reviews on books I get from NetGalley and Amazon Vine
That’s the goal. Here’s what I actually accomplished this week:
- continued to work on final edits for Twenty-four Days, the sequel to To Hunt a Sub. Here’s the blurb:
Can a former SEAL, a brilliant scientist, a love-besotted nerd, and a quirky AI stop terrorists in twenty-four days?
It continues the popular characters of To Hunt a Sub, although Otto (the robotic AI) has acquired a voice and mobility–and uses those to his humorous advantage. Projected publication date: Summer, 2017.
Here’s a picture of one of the main characters, the USS Bunker Hill:
- edited and researched Lucy: Story of Man. Since the projected publication date isn’t until Summer, 2018, I have only a preliminary blurb:
Lucy: Story of Man is a collection of paleo-historic vignettes in the spirit of Jean Auel that follow a band of early humans as they struggle to survive in a world where Nature is King. Though each vignette focuses on a discrete piece of early man’s life, they are tied together with a plot line roughly reflecting Lucy, the main character’s, efforts to find safety for her unborn child.
Here’s a picture of Lucy:
- wrote 3-5 posts on each of my three blogs, WordDreams, Ask a Tech Teacher, and USNA or Bust
- marketed my debut novel as well as my non-fiction edtech resources.
- started preparing articles for the upcoming AtoZ Challenge. Yeah, I know that’s not until April, but if I’m going to do it, I’ll need all 30 posts ready by then. I’m through R so far…
- visited efriends on social media to support them, check in, and learn something new. I use this as breaks in my writing activities. It rejuvenates me to see what the rest of the world is doing.
- attended a webinar in my area of interest, in an effort to keep up to date. This week: Google Apps in the Classroom.
It doesn’t seem like that much when I list it out. Where DOES all my time go? What do you do with your day?
If you’re curious what other writers do all day, here’s Kate Harrison’s wonderful video on the Life of a Writer and Amy’s Day in the Life of a Writer.
More on writers:
What’s My Writing Space Look Like?
14 Things Writers Do Before 8am
8 Things Writers Can Do No One Else Can
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy and To Hunt a Sub, her debut fiction. She is the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member forJournal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. You can find her nonfiction books at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning.
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Jacqui you never cease to inspire and amaze me with the work that you complete. I like the way your mind thinks, so unique. The story about Lucy sounds intriguing. I have no doubt you will be very successful in 2017 no matter what you take on board. Happy New year and thanks for all the lovely comments on my blog this year too xxx
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I’ve spent quite a bit of time this holiday getting ready for the final push on my sequel. It’s time to get that done!
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Wishing you much writing success in 2017 xx Jacqui you have worked very hard.
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After reading this post, I am convinced you are one of the most incredibly busy and productive women I know. I am not worthy! 😉
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Truth, I don’t do much else. That’s why I value my blog friends so much. I travel through you-all–like those gorgeous pictures you just posted. I felt like I’d taken a road trip.
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Thanks for telling me, Jacqui. 🙂
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This post encouraged me when I needed to feel better about the work I’ve done lately. Sure I can console myself remembering I moved twice this year, the technological challenges we’re working around, etc. However, I noticed the difference looking at the context of what I’ve done each week rather than work count. Thanks again, Jacqui!
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I like that approach better. Chip away at everything. Eventually, all that’s left is good solid story.
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Reblogged this on Ancien Hippie.
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Thanks for the reblog!
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Thank you for writing a great blog
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Lol Jacqui, it doesn’t seem like much? What an understatement, it seemed overwhelming. Only other writers can truly appreciate what a schedule of wearing many hats entails. Good for you! 🙂
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I think I’m getting more tired as I get older. I used to do more. Sigh.
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Let us not go there, lol. 🙂
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I see that you and I have a lot in common. I’m a freelance writer, so I’m always having to shift from writing blog posts for clients to squeezing in book writing. If I do too much of the former, my book projects suffer but if I do too much of the latter, my bank account suffers. (Since, as we all know, books don’t bring in a huge amount of money and what money we DO make trickles in SLOWLY!)
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That is the crux of if innit, balancing competing needs. I see my fiction writing as a pleasant break from the other non-fic stuff I do.
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Blimey, that is a LOT, Jacqui! I am in awe and humbled. What a wonderful mixture of work, on your novel, blogs and also the factual books. Writing, marketing…Seriously one busy week. Such a fun post to read, love the pictures in between and enjoyable learning about your week. Good luck with your sequel – it’s got a very catchy blurb! 😀
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It is about the mix–as you say. It keeps me from getting stale on any one topic. Thanks for the feedback on the blurb. I trying to finalize it so you’ve helped!
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I love this. What an inspiration. I had never thought about scheduling my writing this way but it’s perfect. It’s time for me to put together a plan.
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Seeing my writing as 8-5 is daunting to me. It’s much easier to accomplish by breaking it into manageable pieces.
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What do you mean that doesn’t sound like much? That sounds like a ton. What a productive week! Good for you 🙂
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Well, words like ‘continued’ and ‘worked on’ are non-quantitative and pretty darn squishy. They could be anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 hours. Probably closer to the former.
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Haha. I’m still impressed!
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It makes me exhausted just reading that list. You are so disciplined. Can I borrow a little of that focus…;-)
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I’ve been known to say the same about you, Mel!
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Not much of a list? Are we reading the same one? I need a nap after reading about your day, Jacqui. I need some of that energy drink too, that athlete’s use. OMG, woman. I feel so lazy next to you. ❤ ❤ ❤
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I didn’t finish much of anything except for the blogs. The rest continues to be works in progress.
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Your time management skills are supreme. I think it comes across in your writing that you love what you do and I just want to thank you for inspiring me too. You are also a great teacher – a natural at it!
I am faced with a dilemma – nothing to do with this topic – I hope you don’t mind but here goes. I started my blog because I got sick of tapping away at my keyboard on my own into a void- at least I could see my story ‘out there’ and it has definitely helped my motivation and a whole lot of other things besides .. The other purpose of my blog was initially also purely to annoy a couple of people in my village. (;) So I was not that serious about blogging at first but well, it grows on you! I have recently read on Today’s Author that some publishers treat work that has been published on a blog-site as if it was a work previously published. I thought publishers, although it would be like winning lotto or some such thing, read blogs to ‘discover’ authors / books. While earning actual money from my story seems almost vain to me I would rather not handicap myself before giving it a go. Do you know anything about publishers attitudes toward blogs?
Since I know you are busy I would happy with a reply in a future post or perhaps there is something already about this topic in one of the posts I have not seen? When I think about it I can not name one book I have read that started as a blog. Which doesn’t mean there aren’t any necessarily ..
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I’ve read lots of opinions about publishing work on blogs. Usually, it refers to publishing an entire mss or story rather than teasers. I personally don’t, though I’m fine with a chapter. In legal terms, 10% is absolutely acceptable. You can take 10% of someone else’s blog or article, publish it (with attribution), and not violate copyrights. But, publishers often follow their own personal guidelines rather than legal or conventional so they may object to reviewing work you’ve already published.
Does that help? I hope someone else weighs in with ther experiences. this could be interesting.
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This information is causing me to re-strategise my blog thats for sure!
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I think you could fit in one more routine. Raise your arm. Drop it to your side. There, now your schedule is all full.
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Hehhee. Except I had no spare energy to do that. Sigh.
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And you know the limitations with my arm at the moment. Sigh……
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LOL! You say it doesn’t look like much of a list, but I look at all that and wonder how you fit it all in. Way to be super productive! I try to do the same, and some days I succeed…but never during the holidays.
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I am definitely moving slowly this week. Let me edit ‘today’ to read ‘a non-holiday’.
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Jacqui, You’re an inspiration. Yesterday, I varnished windows. I worked with a client for an hour. Yup that’s about it. I’m going back today for a second coat–and, aside from making dinner, I expect that to be the highpoint of my activity for the day.
Sunday we decided to clean up the joist before snow flies. A messy job site becomes an absolute safety hazard once covered with snow. But I hadn’t counted on the dangers concealed by fallen leaves. So, while carrying a load of lumber I slipped and fell on a slick piece of metal concealed by leaves. A cracked rib and sprained wrist have slowed me considerably this week, but I expect to be back up to speed next week. Then–with two more able-bodied persons, perhaps we can get that wood stove installed.
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Good grief, Alta. You are one tough lady. Cracked rib–do they really do nothing more than wrap it?
My sister is sending me honey from her hives (in Indiana). I can’t wait. It’ll be great with my (store-bought) pnut butter and honey sandwich.
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Tough, but maybe not smart.
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I think what you do in a day, I do in a month.
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Honestly, I’m not finishing any one piece, just flitting from project to project, trying to keep things above water.
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Make that – in my case – what Jacqui does in one day I do in a year . . . So I admire you both!
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Jacqui, you do far more than I do in the course of a day. I should boost my activity level but it’s the holiday season. I could make this time unbearable that way.
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I am getting that holiday malaise. My son’s been visiting, and my daughter, and it makes me want to slow down. then there’s the whole Christmas thing. I’ll be taking a few weeks off, in a few weeks.
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Oh no, it is a lot, Jacqui.Working from home, do you find it difficult to shut down for the evening?
I love the blurb!
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I work for 90 minutes or so after dinner and then read. I love the reading, but it is part of my deal. I have no difficulty quitting by 7:30 or so. There are times in my research phase where I can’t quit, but those days are behind me!
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Thanks!
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You are an even busier person than I originally thought!! You’re my hero, Jacqui!! I thank you for always having something to teach me.
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I’m looking forward to ramping down the varied activities and focusing on just a few. Soon I hope. But not quite yet.
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I hope you and your children had a magnificent Thanksgiving! (my apologies for not asking sooner!)
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you always write with creative topics and make us stay healthy…
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Thanks, Mihran. That means a lot.
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