The children are recovering from their overwhelming good material fortune. And it’s not over yet! (Packages still in the mail and waiting to celebrate with some folks.) I’ve got a sore throat and am losing my voice so am going to have to take a break from the ellipse machine for awhile.
I’m working on two essays these days. One’s about Madison’s hair (more or less) and the other is about my mom’s abortions. I need to interview her but she said I can write it and it’s rattling around in my brain. I know what I want to say in the hair essay (again, more or less) but haven’t written my way around the essay about my mom so I’m not sure if it’ll all come together. I know the gist of it is pride.
I got word yesterday from a writing friend that Open Adoption, Broken Heart (still cringe at the title) was chosen as an editor’s pick for 2006. This is my take-away lesson from this: Write more narrative.
So those are my goals for 2007:
1. Write more narrative.
2. Make more money.
These two goals have nothing to do with each other since I’m unlikely to make more money writing more narrative. But I’ve got a game plan worked out and this time I’m getting Brett to help me because I’m an incompetent business manager. (For example, I was sent a contract for an article in July. I lost the contract but didn’t bother to worry my pretty little head about it. Brett helped me dig it up when the editor sent me a reminder just before Christmas. From now on, I’m handing the contract to Brett right away because he’ll follow through and I’ll wander off if something shiny catches my eye.)
The other way to meet those two goals is to:
1. Be online less.
2. Blog less.
3. Read fewer blogs.
Not a happy truth but a truth nonetheless. And on that note…
I have two kids and a delightfully odd husband, Brett. My children are Noah (born to us in 1997) and Madison (born to her first mom, Pennie, in 2004 and brought to our family through a domestic, open adoption). They are my inspiration and also the reason I don't get more done around here.
I'm a writer and sometimes I get published, which is a nice thing. I write for joy, I write for money and when I'm very lucky, both things happen at the same time. My work appears in national publications including Yoga Journal, Disney's Family.com, Utne, Wondertime, Brain Child and Salon. Currently I am working on a book about my daughter's adoption and seeking representation for the proposal. I also own Smart Cookie Communications with my husband.
Leslie
December 26th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
How to write when all one wants to do is hang out? That’s my problem!
Jenna
December 26th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Congrats!
I hope your new goals leave time for… say… a Starbucks trip to Easton. Yes. Soon?
dawn
December 26th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
Did someone say COFFEE??? Jenna — I’m there! Did I send you my phone number yet?
Llexuus
December 27th, 2006 at 3:54 am
Dude - you know I am not in the writing world, but I can certainly help you to find places to write, figure out ways to get organized, etc - I am good at that, being the nutso librarian that I am. And remember, M. Giant is also available for brain-picking… Especially on the book proposal (since his worked)
Kay
December 30th, 2006 at 10:12 am
Congrats on the editors pick. And good luck with the blogging/reading blogs less plan (good luck with getting more of the writing/money things happening that is). I *completely* get it. Only I’m blogging/reading less without writing more at the moment.