When I saw my friend Niki’s new necklace, my first thought was, “That’s exactly what I need.”
My second was, “But only if it’s real.”
I think J.K. Rowling tapped into every writer’s–and or at least every woman’s–greatest fantasy when she created the time turner.
After five weeks abroad, I vowed not to become the stressed out crazy woman I was before my vacation.
Yeah, that lasted about a week.
I took on a management role for one of my clients, convincing myself that I could squeeze all the extra tasks into my regular shift. And that the consistent, reliable pay check would make the loss of flexibility and expendable time worth it.
Meanwhile, the editing and public-relations side of my business is really taking off. And I’m grateful–it’s a wonderful thing to have several streams of income and to realize, without a doubt, that I’ll never be imprisoned in a beige cubicle ever again.
But what I’m insecure about this month is, how on earth will I ever get everything done? I did manage to finish my latest novel, Monsters In Our Wake, since I returned from Greece, but there’s only four months left in the year. Time enough to write two more books and revise three? On top of everything else?
I hope so.
But hope, as wonderful as it is, won’t give me more time.
How I long for Hermione’s little device, even for a couple of months.
I wonder if there’s also a device that ensures we spend our time wisely….
Could probably use that one as well. In fact, make it two.
Thanks to everyone who commented on my balance post–so sorry I haven’t responded yet, but I will. As of next week, I’ll be back to my regular blogging schedule, and that includes visiting your blogs as well! Hope everyone had a great, insecurity-free summer.
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group’s purpose is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds.
Welcome back – we’ve missed you!
Multiple streams of income is a good thing. You’ll have to work harder and smarter, but you can make it work. If you hit the point where it sucks out all of the joy though, you’ll know it’s time to pull back.
Aw, thanks Alex. It’s nice to be missed. I feel very out of the loop, but a social media/Internet break was exactly what I needed.
I definitely need some lessons in working harder and smarter. My typical MO is getting so overwhelmed I crash and watch Deadly Women. (And promptly fall asleep, of course.)
I love that necklace. It’s beautiful. I imagine all the things I could get done with such a thing – the dishes and dinner would be done for today, I’d work on the novel AND a short story, and I’d get all the other work and home stuff I still need to get done. Oh to dream! Congratulations on your accomplishments. Not sitting in a cubicle ever is great.
Thanks, Ula! Good to “see” you again. I hope you had an awesome summer.
It is nice to dream, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could wipe out our to-do lists in one day?
I get it the time turner would be the perfect solution. hehehe
Anna from Elements of Writing
Yes it would be! How I wish they actually existed!
If you get one, hook us up, will you? There are never enough hours in the day.
I’ll do my best, Samantha! My writing buddies are first on the list. 😉
Yes, time. The unlimited resource we never seem to have enough of. I, too, battle multiple, self-inflicted project deadlines. Why? Can’t answer that, other than to say I enjoy the prospect of success more than the fear of failure. Good luck with your extras and deadlines. I know I’ll be using all the time I can capture!
Welcome to my blog and thanks for commenting, Dean! That’s a good point–an unlimited resource we never have enough of. I’ve never thought of it that way.
Good luck with all your projects as well!
Welcome back!
I think I need the one that helps me use time wisely more than the other one. 🙂
Thanks, Madeline. It’s good to “see” you again–feels like it’s been a long summer.
I’m sure the scientists are working on that…right?
Yes, a time turner would be lovely.
Congrats on finishing the new novel!
Says the only woman I know who always manages to get everything done. 😉
Thanks, Lise! Hope all is well with you. We should get together soon.
I missed you. Glad you’re back. Place the most pressing item at the top of each day’s TO DO list and work on down.
Long ago I read THE GIRL, THE GOLD WATCH, AND EVERYTHING by John D MacDonald about a clueless young man who inherits a pocket watch that could stop time for an hour subjective time. I have lusted for that watch ever since! 🙂
Hi there, Roland!
Thanks so much for the kind words. It’s nice to be missed. That’s a good idea about the to-do list, and most days it’s easy, because I have a client shift from 7 am until noon. Can’t miss that one!
That sounds like an enviable watch. I’d need more than an hour, but it’s definitely a start.
Hope you had a great summer!
What I love about Hermoine and the time turner is she used it to take more classes! What a wonderful way to show her character. And Ron’s incredulity that she used it in such a way. I just want a clone I can send out to get the groceries. And put them away.
That sounds like as good a use as any, Stephanie. I actually enjoy getting groceries and putting them away, but I don’t have the time to go to the store very often.
How about I’ll do your grocery shopping if you write my journalism stories? Seems like a fair trade. 😉
I have that necklace! I was a gift and I wear it on every New Years Eve. 🙂
I hope you can get everything done, and I think you will. But maybe you should consider cutting back a smidgen so you don’t become that stressed out crazy writer woman. 😉
That’s awesome, Chrys! I always knew you had excellent taste.
I’d love to cut back, but I have no idea what to cut out! Any suggestions? So far, the stuff that falls by the wayside is the important stuff–talking to friends and family, exercising, etc. And that’s not good.
Beautiful necklace and if it could give me back even a few minutes of time, I’d never take it off.
You’re smart to cut back to where you’re not going crazy, but paying your bills doing what you love. Good for you!
Ha! I haven’t managed to cut back yet, Lee. Hoping to find a few things I can get off my plate. I suspect the key to success is not attempting to do everything every single day.
We’ll see how it goes. If I find a solution that works for me, I’ll report back.
Okay, I want a time turner, too. LOL Just not enough hours in the day to do everything and still have a life. Good luck with your goals.
Best wishes,
Diane IWSG #95
Thanks, Diane. You too! I’m right there with you in the overfilled trenches.
I’ve wished to turn back time but never so I could have done more, just to experience things again. Even if you don’t accomplish everything, you’ll accomplish a lot because you have something a time tuner could never give you, drive.
Thanks, Frank. I wish I had the same drive for my own goals–the novels, etc.–as I did for my clients. I tend to give the people I work for 110% and then collapse in a tired heap when it’s time to do my stuff.
How do you manage? I missed you, btw.
I don’t manage. I procrastinate to the point of being disgusted with myself. Which is where I find myself now. But otherwise I’ve been well. How about you? I hope you enjoyed your trip.
Doing well, but even though I was away for five weeks, I wasn’t quite ready to jump into the fray again. Maybe there’s no such thing as ready.
I was so relaxed and mellow in Greece. I would have been quite happy to lie on that black beach for another week or so…and the food! It was phenomenal.
You are one busy lady! Holy moly. Having too many fun things on the plate is a great problem to have. I could use that necklace, too!
Welcome, Nadine! Well, I’m not sure about fun. I’m grateful for my work that pays the bills, but I wouldn’t call any of it a good time. And I HATE rewriting, especially books I thought were done a long time ago.
But, in the spirit of your optimism and positive nature, I will try to find enjoyment in these tasks. Like you said, it’s a great problem to have. I could be bitching about being broke with NO work. That’s worse.
Congrats on finishing a novel. I think we’d all love a Time Turner. It would make life much easier, but alas, we’re stuck trying to do the best we can and squeeze tasks into the time we have.
Sad but true, Patricia. Thanks so much for the kind words. I hope you had a great summer!
If I didn’t need money to pay the bills I’d only wish for more time; it’s so precious and elusive. I worry about taking on too much all the time, but if I knew I had multiple income streams coming in, I’d find a way to make it work…of course I say that being on the other side pointing my finger. 😉
Glad you finished one novel and are working on others. Being able to write is a blessing in the midst of everything else.
Thanks, Toi. Those are very good reminders. And I’m always taking on more stuff when I don’t need to, so at least a part of this is very much self-inflicted.
I just hope I don’t let my own goals down. I’ve spent too long working on Plan B instead of chasing Plan A, if you know what I mean.
We could all benefit from the time turner! Time is a precious commodity. It sounds like you can do anything that you put your mind to it. Good Luck.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Cathrina! I really hope you’re right.
You have a lovely name, btw. Welcome to my blog! Hope I’ll see you back here again.
That’s pretty ambitious, but I’m betting you can pull it off with some creative scheduling.
🙂
Glad you had a great trip!
Keep moving forward!
Heather
Thanks, Heather. I appreciate the encouraging words. I did pretty well today, but I still have client work to do and it’s almost midnight. Can’t win ’em all!
I had an amazing trip. I’m still missing those places and the wonderful friends I made. Hope you had an awesome summer.
Sigh, if only that necklace was real. I’d definitely put it to overuse, getting laundry, cooking, etc. out the way. Rewinding my night, after the kids are put to bed, so I can stay up and write as much as I want. I’d also like to add a fast forward feature, like in the Adam Sandler movie Click, and just fast forward the work day, just to get out the cubicle and work faster. Sigh, I can only dream. Good luck with your projects!
Thanks, Lidy, and welcome to my blog! That sounds like a good use for the time turner. If the responses to this post have shown me anything, it’s that we’re all overworked and overwhelmed (except for Alex, who seems to have discovered the secret to amazing time management). 🙂
I think we all need live-in maids and cooks!
Welcome back. I had your old blog link which is no longer up and running. Glad I found your new site.
Stephen Tremp
http://www.stephentremp.com
Thanks so much for the kind words, Stephen! I’m glad you found it as well. Hopefully the old link brought you here.
I’m ready for September to be over…but I LOVE this month usually. Just too much stuff going on! I’m not sure what a time turner is, but it sounds nice.
Stephanie
http://stephie5741.blogspot.com
Hi Stephanie! I missed you.
A time turner is what Hermione used in Harry Potter to be in two places at once so she could take twice as many classes.
I hear you! I’ve gone too much stuff going on as well.