A DAY IN THE LIFE

The business of writing really is a business. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not all fun and games. Sometimes, it’s a lot of work. You have to keep cranking out fascinating characters, build worlds, throw in a lot of hooks, sprinkle in a few turning points and deliver a whopping climax worthy of your hero/heroine. Not to mention, keep excellent records for Uncle Sam, join a writer’s group/critique—or two and do a heck of a lot of research along the way. Tag along as I take you through my typical day.

5:30am. Yes, I realize that’s the crack of dawn, but I’m a morning person and no matter how hard I try to break the habit, I yam what I yam. I hit the treadmill running (grin) and then shower before reading the paper and kissing hubby goodbye and good luck as he joins the rest of the rats in the daily race. He’s not really a rat—not usually anyway.

7:00am. Tomato juice or Diet Dr. Pepper depending on what my calendar looks like for the day. Sometimes you just gotta have a jolt and since I’m not a Folger’s girl, I get my caffeine fix from a 12oz. can. And Cheerios. (I know Wheaties would be the logical choice for endurance, but Cheerios are my thing and since I doubt I’ll be gracing the covers of either box—ever—does it really matter?) Although, for around 15 bucks, at the Mall of America, you can get your smiling face on a box of Wheaties. I know, because my daughter did this and even though I still have the box, I’m not sure what 7 year-old wheat flakes might taste like. I find my missing glasses and call the folks. We make plans to hit the casino soon. I get dressed, start a load of laundry, do the dishes, tidy the living room and make the bed.

7:45am. Ahhhh. Finally time to get down to some real work.

8:00am. Daughter calls and I talk to her while playing a game on the computer, (best to get the game playing out of the way at the beginning of my day) before hanging up, I tell her I love her and miss her very much.

8:30am. Time to get busy. No, really this time I mean it. I check both of my emails, facebook, and checking account to make sure no one snuck in and sucked it dry. Answer a few emails and now I’m ready. I broke-up with my agent(long, story) so I’m in the process of obtaining a new one. That means research. My first stop on the web (well other than emails, facebook and my bank) is RWA and I make a list. I cross-check it with the list I made at the national conference and decide which agents I want to send my manuscript to and what each one wants to receive. I’m the kind of person who likes to see things in black and white so I make a chart and fill in the blanks with the who’s, what’s, where’s. Most want a dynamite query, synopsis, and 3 chapters. Check. I have all that except for the dynamite query. I need to punch it up a bit. I decide to work on that while I print out the partials.

10:00am. Off to Walmart to get printer ink. And porkchops, milk, lettuce, a banana and since I realized I’d left home without putting on any make-up, I pick up the big bag of M & M’s. The way things are going I’m gonna need it.

11:30am. Printer is finally going like gangbusters so after filing the ink receipt in the tax folder, I check my email and then research editors I might like to work with—or rather who is willing to consider the type of book I write. I make another list and chart. After a bite of lunch with my sons, I consider a nap, but decide I can’t give in to temptation.

12:00pm. I open my current WIP and read over what I wrote yesterday and practically wear my finger out on the delete button. Sometimes it’s like that, sometimes it’s not. I forge through and actually get some pretty decent stuff written. Of course, only time will tell. The main thing is to get something—anything—written. It’s much easier to clean up the garbage than to write something new.

4:00pm. I switch gears and get the envelopes ready to mail to the agents and editors. I know without an agent my submissions will be added to the slush pile, but at least I know I’m putting forth the effort. Will I get rejections? Without a doubt. Will they hurt? Absolutely, but will I give up? Never. The one given in this business is that you will never be published if you never send anything out.

5:00pm. Time to start dinner and then spend the evening editing the hard copy, reading a book, or if I get lucky, I may write some more. I hit the sack early, cuddle with the husband and then plot, plan and let my subconscious dance with my muse because tomorrow is another day closer to finishing this manuscript.

Hugs,
Reese