When the to-do list gets overwhelming
Post from October 17, 2022
Quote.
Update.
Highlight of the week: Shoes.
Motivate: One stroke at a time.
New Onyx Podcast: The short story that won $500 in the fall contest.
Book discussion: What I’m reading.
Final thoughts.
Update:
I have a problem. I shouldn’t even say this because some of you are probably going to hate me for it, but I’m thinking about Christmas, the decorating specifically.
I know, I know. It’s not even Halloween yet, but I’m actually giddy with delight at the thought of putting up Christmas décor. Stephen (my husband) used to find my obsession with Christmas stuff charming. Now, he eyes me suspiciously when I spot another flocked tree out there, tell it how gorgeous it is, and check the price tag. As if we don’t all talk to Christmas trees like they have a personality…and feelings.
There’s probably some sort of psychological explanation for this. The illogical delight I get when surrounded by lights and garlands is potentially compensating for something or is a distraction from all that’s not going the way I want it to in life.
Whatever the reason, on Nov. 1, I’m kicking my decorating up a notch. (Because if less is more, think of how much more, more would be.) Perhaps I’ll share pictures.
Writing agenda:
This week, I’m finishing minor edits and sending The Love Pentagon, my newest novel (#4) to my agent, and while I’m on pins and needles waiting for her thoughts and impressions, I’m going to direct my attention to plotting a new novel. This will help me decide if I’m going to participate in NaNoWriMo, which I’d like to do. I expect my agent to have novel #4 for about a month, which means I’ll need a new writing project through the month of November.
Of course, this is only a snippet of what I’ll be doing this week.
Do you ever excitedly say “yes” to something, and then when the time comes to actually DO that thing, you kinda want to punch Excited You in the face because really, what were you thinking?
I’ve done this in regard to school projects, committing to chili cook-offs (who AM I?) and trunk decorating for Trunk-or-Treat and a handful of other things.
This week, I’m also planning to “attend” a “Platform Building Summit.” If my books go anywhere, I need a better grasp on creating an author platform. I’m too scattered, and I need a plan to put it all together.
As I’ve written the above, my blood pressure has increased, and it’s painfully clear that I have no idea how I’m going to do all this stuff.
Though, maybe I do. Meet me in the update section. I’ll share my thoughts.
Highlight of the week:
Why did I put a picture of shoes here? Because my highlight happened at a shoe store this week.
When we were checking out at a shoe store a few days ago, the woman at the checkout opened the box to find used shoes inside. My daughter wanted to wear her new ones out the door, so we let her keep them on while we took the box to pay.
The cashier proceeded to tell us that she witnessed theft at LEAST twice PER DAY. I don’t know about you, but this surprised me.
Apparently some people come in and exit the store with armloads of shoes, dropping some them as they run through the parking lot. Others simply discard their old shoes in a box and walk out the door wearing the new ones.
It made me think of how clueless I can be to what’s happening in the world out there.
I tend to think that most people are generally honest and well-meaning. But some people are mean or sinister. Some are pranksters, completing dares just because they can. Others are simply poor, resorting to stealing because it’s the only way their kid can get a new pair of shoes. I’m sure there are various other reasons for WHY.
It made me pause to think about the world around me. There’s so much going on out there.
I’d like to think I’d never steal a pair of shoes, but every single person has a story, a reason for doing something they aren’t supposed to be doing.
Makes me sad and curious and a little more cautious.
Motivate:
I read a writing article a couple days ago discussing how to handle a big task/goal, and if you read my update section, you’ll know why it hit close to home.
Earlier, I mentioned that I’ve likely overextended myself (again). All of these things are things I WANT to do, but when I look at my to-do list, the sheer number of things can be daunting, leaving me with the feeling that I can’t possibly do them all.
Do you ever do this to yourself? Get stressed out by your to-do list?
What this article suggested is something I’ve told myself before (I even created a “success” pdf with this same advice), and I know I’ve written about this topic here. But I appreciated the timely reminder. She said that the best productivity tip she’d ever learned was this: “Break down every project, even those seemingly insignificant, into tiny action steps.”
I’ll venture to add this: once you break it down, direct your attention to one item at a time and don’t worry about the others until you’ve completed one task.
It’s how you lose weight, get out of debt, write a novel, gain confidence in yourself, establish relationships.
The quote at the top of the page is one by Van Gogh, used because I’ve been hacking away at a painting I promised myself I’d complete by last summer. Well, as my deadline passed, I had 2 choices: beat myself up for not meeting an arbitrary goal, or decided to complete it little bits at a time. I’ve been stealing moments, and wasting a little paint, but each stroke gets me closer to a masterpiece.
If I waited until I could do it all at once, it would never get done. But by allowing myself to break up the task into tiny pieces, the painting is actually happening.
Related, my daughter found a penny, and we talked about how a seemingly trivial coin can add up. The small things are to be taken care of just like the big because the big things are made of up small things.
So that’s my plan. One thing at a time, starting with the most time sensitive.
Or if they’re all the same, start with the easiest so you gain confidence to move forward.
Once you have a prioritized map, the things you need to accomplish will be a lot less likely to bog you down. You’ll know where you’re going and how to get there.
New Onyx Podcast:
Rome, by all means Rome
Written by Kevin Broccoli
Narrated by Melissa Collings
Can a relationship built on movie-watching survive? Today’s show features our Fall Contest First Place winner, Rome, by all means Rome, by Kevin Broccoli. Prose contest judge Katie McDougall said “Rome, by all means Rome, takes the reader into the theater of a failing marriage, characterized by the couple’s obsession with the movies. The self-assured voice, artful structure, and robust use of metaphor work in tandem to create a nuanced narrative of the relationship and of the narrator’s own sense of self.”
Afterward, we talk with Kevin about his own experience with relationships, movies, and the inspiration for this story. Kevin also reveals how his background in theater influences his approach to writing. Most importantly, we learn his secret to writing a short story every week.
Book chat: What I’m reading.
This past week, I wasn’t able to finish the fiction novel I’ve been reading. I hope to have a review next week.
Instead, I’ve been beta reading a fiction novel written by a woman who I met through the women’s fiction writer’s association. (I heard rumors that they’re doing away with this category of fiction! I’ll explore and let you know.)
I think it’s important as a writer to read, write, and critique other manuscripts.
I’ve struggled with critique in the recent past—one of the reasons I left my writing group—as it’s tricky finding a balance between letting someone know what isn’t working for you without crushing their writing spirit. As I’ve made notes on the manuscript I’m reading, I’ve really tried to think through how I present the “problems” I see. The thing is, critique is very subjective. What one person thinks is a “problem,” another might absolutely love. But there are fundamentals that when generally followed, can improve any piece of writing.
It’s like taking anyone’s advice on anything, and what I utilized when practicing medicine…you’re the one in YOUR shoes, all the time. I’m spending a very short time with you and your work. At the end of the day, your input and evaluation is not only necessary, but imperative.
Next, I’m onto beta reading a memoir from someone I highly respect, and I’m quite excited. This will be my first memoir, so I might read a previously published one so I can give better feedback.
Final thoughts:
Now, I feel refreshed again. Ready to tackle all my tasks without stress, because they need not have stress attached to them.
What are you waiting to start that seems too big of an ask?
Much glitter,
Melissa
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