July is for Tomatoes and Time Management
Where Fleur tries to outrun her inner critic with the Pomodoro method
How was your June…? Mine has been one of those strange months that seem to just disappear, like trying to carry water in your hands. I edited some, painted the bathroom in my house, and generally got caught up on stuff. Next up: remodeling my kitchen! Probably not the smartest thing to do in the middle of summer, but then that is about on-brand for me. Still, I’m having fun fixing up my cottage in the mountains.
Here’s a picture of my bathroom, now partially painted but still 70s groovy, like me (with Floof photobomb, of course):
Where I Contemplate Time and Tomatoes
That said, I’m noticing one thing I’m short on: time. It turns out that there’s only so much of it (you’d think I know that by now). Time for writing, time for tech writing that pays the bills, time for annoying things like getting groceries and getting my car fixed. Like you I’m sure, I wish I had more hours in the day. Add to that some health pesky issues that always slow me down, and the months seems to disappear with not much to show for all that time.
With every book, it feels like I forgot how to write and edit. And I’ve written over a dozen books, over twenty manuscripts if you add the ones that were never published. So you’d think I’d have this writing a book thing down. But I look at the manuscript I’m editing, and I freeze.
Thankfully, I also remember how I wrote all those manuscripts, edited them numerous times, and got them ready for readers. The truth? They’re a giant patchwork quilt of stolen moments. The first published books I wrote (my Double Vision trilogy) was written and edited entirely in moments of twenty minutes here, half an hour there, while my daughters were in gymnastics class, art class, or whatever. Sometimes I would get up at five (ugh, it’s rough) just so I could get some words on the page or editing done.
I didn’t invent this technique of short bursts of work, as much as I’d like to say I did. It’s basically the Pomodoro technique, coined by a guy named Francesco Cirillo, using a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato (hence: Pomodoro). The idea is that you work in 25-minute intervals with a break in between. Google it if you’re curious how this works; it’s not complicated and proven to be successful. Part of me wonders if this Cirillo just stole this method from a mom in his life; moms always seem to have too much going on…
In any case, I call it drive-by writing. I pass by my manuscript, quickly get a page or two of work done, and I move on with the next thing on my to-do list. I often don’t have another 25-minute slot to work, so that one sprint a day is it. No time for my inner critic to catch up with me (she doesn’t run that fast), no time to overthink stuff, I just have to get 25 minutes (or so) of concentrated work in.
It works. Give it a try if you find yourself blocked. There are even apps that help you, because there’s an app for everything, right?
Good News
Daybreak on Raven Island is a finalist in the CAL Book Award Juvenile/YA category…! I think this calls for cake. Thank you to the judges; I know how much work this is…
Where I’m Going
July is nice and quiet, given that school is out, and teachers and kids are hopefully spending some time enjoying summer. So I’m not going anywhere until next month, with the exception of virtual writers’ workshops and a librarian talk. I’m looking at fall and winter for events, so if you’d like me to speak at your venue or school, check out my speaking kit. It has all you need to know, and of course you can always email me.
I’m also planning some stuff for the Daybreak on Raven Island paperback launch in August…! Stay tuned. And I have a question for you…
What giveaway swag do you like, or do the kids in your life like…? Let me know in the comments if you have ideas. I always love to do something new or different.
Here’s a nifty map of Raven Island I’ll be sure to include in the giveaways:
In the Writing Studio
I’m (still) editing my top-secret YA mystery but hope to have that in the can by the end of the month. In the meantime, I’m taking some Pomodoro moments to brainstorm my next middle-grade mystery. It’s such fun to write for that age, and the brainstorming part is the best.
What I’m Reading
Currently on my nightstand: Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie. It’s the Christie book club selection for the month of July; let’s see if I can finish reading it before August…
Floof
July means it getting hot around here, and I think we can all appreciate what that means when you’re a Floof. She’s taking it in stride, I have to say.
