So feeling industrious (and also worried about missed opportunities) I forced myself to introduce myself here and there. I met this woman but didn’t realize she was a fellow blogger ’til I got back to my hotel room and really looked at her card — I think we would have had a lot to talk about if I’d put my brain in and glanced down when she handed it to me.
I also signed up for a freelancer dinner even though the prospect of dinner with strangers made my head hurt. (The first time I saw the sign-up it was full and I thought, “Why do I miss out on all the good stuff??? Poor me!” So when I came by again and saw another sheet up there I knew I had no excuse not to sign up.) And of course it was great — met one magazine editor and also sat next to this brilliant newspaper reporter who was just fascinating. I could have talked to her for hours except that I was getting too tired to form coherent sentences so I retired to my room instead of joining her and an AP reporter in the bar.
So yeah, I took down the obvious links to my archives but they’re not that hard to get to (the search box will help you out) and I’m going to *force* myself to step out of the blogosphere and do more regular writing. Writing here keeps me sane because it’s every single day writing and I can do it quickly, write about whatever I want and get immediate feedback. But I haven’t been great about balancing it with other kinds of writing.
I’ll tell you though, one thing that’s helped here is that several of the kind freelancers felt that writing while caring full-time for a 2-year old is hard and frankly, I needed that confirmation. I feel like such a slacker all of the time. How can I have time to update my blog but not work on an essay? I know it’s not time so much as brain space but hearing that from other writers (who are struggling with their own family/full-time job issues) was gratifying. Yes, it really is that hard, fellow writing/working women, and it’s not because we aren’t disciplined enough to do it anyway.
There are several essays I’ve had kicking around but two in particular that I feel are very nearly done cooking in my head and ready for paper. I need to see which one is ready to go and get going.
Today I’m cutting out early and heading to see a friend of mine who lives here and who I was supposed to see on Thursday. I think that’ll be a nice way to round out the visit.
Possibly related posts:
sounds like the trip is worthwhile. you’re getting the confirmation on things that you need confirmed, and it seems you are clarifying what direction you want to move in.
oh, and maybe some uninterrupted sleep
Thanks for reminding the rest of us that it’s hard. I think we all need to hear that sometimes.
Also? I’m jealous of your uninterrupted sleep. And uninterrupted meals. But mostly the sleep.
I’ve read 2 of your articles in the last 6 months or so, and I enjoyed both — very different subjects, but written with the same sensitivity, and both applicable in my own life.
And that was even before I realized it was you who was writing them — Writing professionally and raising children can’t be easy, I’m sure you’re no slacker.
e
I totally get it. I can almost keep up with my blogging, but if I try to edit an article to send out, or a query letter, it takes a different type of concentration I find hard right now with my almost three year old. I hear you!
I wonder the same thing myself, every day – how is it that I manage to keep blogging but slack, sometimes, on the professional (academic) writing, when faced the competing demands of writing and mothering? And my answer is always the same as yours – *this* is writing for love, writing to recharge batteries. It’s different.