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IWSG monthly post |
As the year draws to a close, and we look back we all wonder if there were things we would do differently. Hmm. Actually I am not sure I could have done things differently. I made clear plans at the beginning of the year. At the time I was doing finishing touches to Mr Mummific's second book "Mummies, Monsters, and the Ship of Millions." I had researched the Duat - the journey the ancient Egyptians took after death to reach the Field of Reeds. Mr Mummific met the dangers of Duat in his characteristic way (tongue in cheek). I just had to take care the details of the story were right and as with his first book "How I Became a Mummy" I had to do my best to make the details in pictures correct as well. |
So, I had written the story, planned which picture needed to be ready when, so that the whole project would be on schedule. And I did stick to that. Each picture was planned on two small sticky notes - one for drawing and the other for painting the drawing. So two sticky notes per picture. These I then moved along my calendar to be sure everything would be ready in time. Every time someone asked my husband and myself to attend any social occasion, it meant furious moving of sticky notes on the pages of my calendar. On some days I had to do two illustrations the same day - but thankfully there were weekends... (It is actually quite gratifying to remove a sticky note from the calendar and toss it into the waste paper basket once the task is done). |
After the book was sent to the publisher, I think I had a week when I had no deadlines. And then my publisher asked me for another illustrated book. The subject was Tutankhamun, the target group was children. And the deadline was tight. There went spring, summer and fall. But now "Tutankhamon in My Own Hieroglyphs" is at its editing stage. And on top of that it was chosen to be a book that will follow the Tutankhamon's treasures exhibition on its world tour in 10 cities around the world. Had to pinch myself when I heard the news. So to be honest I did not have time to do much else than pre-planned writing and illustrating. What I have done on top of that, is to write at least 1000 words per day for my Nephilim Quest series book 3. Some days I have not had time to do so, and some days I have written much more. |
I was thinking if I should have written more words per day this year. But this is a good pace for me - more would have exhausted me as I have a full time job and have to find my writing time "around" it (and the commissioned books too).
So more or less, considering my life situation at the moment, I am in pretty good balance writing-wise. I think I am even finding the place of acceptance that I need to give myself time to rest too, and understand I'll probably have so many story ideas in my mind I'll never get them all written. So I'll just concentrate on the work at hand, plan some new stories, write down ideas - and let myself have fun with it.
After all - if you are a writer, you have to write. It is a necessity you cannot explain away. So that's what I'll be concentrating on. Writing and hopefully illustrating my stories too as that is another thing I love to do.
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Writers write. That's the truth.
Sounds like you've been very busy, which is always good. Best wishes and keep moving forward!
Thank you for participating!
Heather
Co-host, IWSG
If you wish to read more IWSG blog posts, you'll find them here.
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Upon subscribing you will get the Prequel to Nephilim Quest: Angel. Over two hundred years before Nephilim Quest 1 / Shadowhunter the roots of the story are planted. A little girl missing her mother, in the palace of the mightiest of the dark Nephilim, hoping for an escape ... This book is not for sale anywhere - only readers who have subscribed to my mailing list will get it. | |||||