Gosh, Monday got here so quickly, I think it slipped into one of Stephen Tremp's wormholes. Or maybe I stepped into one.

I'd planned to spend more time reading this weekend than I did, but I did read more than I've read over the last few weekends. I'm reading one paper book and one book on my Kindle Fire. The Fire book is so much easier on my eyes, and I can read while I'm eating lunch. Or in the dark while Live-In Handyman is off in dreamland.

But I did accomplish a huge project - I organized my entire workspace. I'm pretty impressed with myself. I'm in the process of working on three separate manuscripts, in three separate stages.

  • In Name Only you've caught a glimpse of here and there. More news next week...I hope.
  • Solomon's Compass is edited and currently being read by my final reader for any typos or other glaring goofs. As soon as I get it back and read it aloud again, I will query. My list is made, query and synopsis are written. 
  • I'm getting ready to dive into drafting my WIP, Amazing Gracie. I'm hoping that actual real writing will begin next week. I love these characters, and I'm really excited about writing the story.

I don't want to make it easy to get papers from one manuscript mixed up with papers from another. I think I've Carol-proofed it. Time will tell.

It feels good to have a clear space to mess up once I start writing new words again.

How about you?

Do you clean house before beginning a new project?

Happy President's Day!

And Happy Monday!


Comments

Maria Zannini said…
I do clean house--my actual house and my writing workload.

I have a hard time starting a new project until the last one is squared away. Too OCD, I guess. :P
Kyra Lennon said…
I do like to make my environment tidy when I am going to write, it makes my head feel clearer!
Anonymous said…
Sounds like a busy and productive weekend.
Colette Martin said…
Wow! you go girl! You are becoming a prolific writer!
Joanne said…
A latte writing going on over here! I always clean my "writing" house before starting a new project. It just helps keep things clear ... both thoughts and workspace.
Linda G. said…
I tend to clean house only when I have writer's block (nothing clears up writer's block like knowing the alternative is cleaning the toilet). Or if we have guests coming over. Other than that, I avoid it like the plague.
JoLynne Lyon said…
Good for you--what a productive weekend!

I've been reading on paper and on my iPhone. Love the iPhone for page-turners, but I prefer paper when I'm reading something more contemplative and want to refer back to earlier parts of the book.
LR said…
Great titles. :) I look forward to reading them.

And best of luck querying!

Sometimes it's hard to know when something is truly finished. Or, I find it hard.
Anonymous said…
Mondays do come fast, don't they?

I love a clean workspace. Yay for your WIP!!!!!
Anonymous said…
I "clean house" when I need to clear my head when I'm frustrated with writing or whatever. It's a good thing to do - if you don't overdo it LOL.

Happy President's Day to you too, Carol. And I just read your comment on my post that you downloaded my novella Imprisoned. I do hope you enjoy it! If you do, I'd love a review. As you know, a review doesn't have to be long, doesn't have to retell the story. Just a few lines and the stars, which are most important. I need to start promoting it more. I never did a blog tour because it was near the holidays when I published it, and when everyone else was publishing their books. I'm putting together a guest post for Melissa Goodwin (author of the wonderful Christmas Village) who said she would host me. Would you let me do a guest post on your blog, whenever it's convenient for you? I would truly appreciate it.
Ann Best, Memoir Author of In the Mirror & Imprisoned
Anonymous said…
How exciting about Solomon's Compass. And your other two! You are getting there! I'm so looking forward to reading your work!!
J.L. Campbell said…
Carol, I think I need to send for you to help me with my space. I'll clear the desk and everything looks nice for a while. And then, I strike again.

I think better when my space isn't cluttered. Dunno why I can't keep it that way.
Nicole Zoltack said…
I tend to clean after I finish a project since cleaning takes a backseat when I'm writing.
Southpaw said…
Ya, I can't believe it's Monday either! It sounds like you got a lot done though. I'm a tiny bit jealous.
A clean workspace is important! I can't work in clutter.
Elspeth Futcher said…
Happy Monday to you! I'm sending my new murder mystery game to my editor today, finishing up another one to send by the end of the week and trying to ignore the whispers of a new novel.
Unknown said…
I hate, hate, hate clutter in my workspace. I have to tidy everything whenever I finish a project. The first job is always to find the desk. :)
You are very busy AND productive.

I clean house even in my dreams so I'm guilty.

T
Carol Kilgore said…
Maria - I don't like clutter, but no matter how hard I try to keep it away, a little develops as I work on a project.

Kyra - Same here.

Delores - Yes, very productive.

Colette - Just been at it a while :)

Joanne - Exactly.
Linda Kage said…
I love the title Amazing Gracie!!

I just finished a WIP and am really excited about it.
N. R. Williams said…
Hi Carol
Sorry I haven't been by much, I've been ill. Good post. I organize my writing on the computer so there are no stray papers. My desk is often in disarray from all the helpers who live with me and think it is a good place for papers regardless of junk mail and so on. Writing is a challenge when your sick, but hopefully I will be back on top soon.
Nancy
Luanne G. Smith said…
I work better in a clean space, but I can live with a mess, if I'm heavily involved in a project. I've got plans to redo my office this spring, though, and that may encourage me to keep it cleaner than I do now. We'll see. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Linda G - I only tackled my writing space :)

JoLynne - My pleasure reading is purely for escape. No contemplation required :)

LR - Thanks. And I'm glad :) I never know when anything is really done either. I keep picking and tweaking until I finally just send it out.

Laura - This weekend was gone in a flash.

Ann - I sent you an email about guesting here. I'm glad you'd like to read my work. I'm doing my best to get it out there.
Let's see. This morning I posted on my blog then scrubbed the bathroom.
I'm almost finished reading a book that I have a deadline to write a review for today.
So, it's been a mostly productive day.
Donna
Jess Stork said…
You're making me feel a bit disorganized here... I just got done throwing a huge pile of books on my desk and I'm now writing on the couch. Kudos to you being super productive on your different manuscripts... but that's the way to do it... never stop writing.
Carol Kilgore said…
J.L. - I definitely work best in an uncluttered space. I clear off every night. But sometimes there will be one or two things I don't know what to do with. These had accumulated over a couple of months, and one thing led to another.

Nicole - EVERYTHING takes a backseat when I'm writing or editing.

Southpaw - It started off as a tiny bit and worked it's way up to 'I can't believe I did all that'.

Alex - I can work in clutter, but not well.

Elspeth - Yea for you! A two-fer :) I hear the sheep are whispering to you again, LOL.
Carol Kilgore said…
Shirley - I'm not much for clutter either.

Teresa - I don't recall ever cleaning house in a dream.

Linda K - Congrats! I'm glad you like Amazing Gracie :)

N.R. - So sorry to learn you've been ill. Hope all is better now. Take care of yourself.

Luanne - The more deeply involved I am, the worse my space looks.
Carol Kilgore said…
Donna - Busy day again here.

Jess - Can't stop, so I keep writing.
Emily R. King said…
Yay for organization! Let us know when you start querying. : )
Mason Canyon said…
My problem is I start too many projects at one time and never seem to finish any of them. Have a great week.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Carol Kilgore said…
Emily - I'm not as excited about querying as I am about writing my WIP :)

Mason - When I get too many projects going, I have to stop accumulating them and finish several of them before I can move forward again.
Lydia Kang said…
Sometimes I do massive cleanings between projects, but most of the time I do massive cleanings when I realize I'm living in a pile of dirt.

That wormhole comment was so right on!
Anonymous said…
Looks like you are moving right along. Congratulations! I like to have a clean house, but it doesn't always happen. I'm currently doing a major edit on my MG.
Talli Roland said…
Wow! You've been busy. I love the title of 'Amazing Gracie'. I felt the urge to clean this weekend, but I resisted.
Carol Kilgore said…
Lydia - "...living in a pile of dirt." When did you visit my house? LOL.

Janet - No housekeeping during major writing or editing projects. Just doesn't happen.

Talli - Good for you! And thanks :)
G. J. Jolly said…
I got on a cleaning kick myself with my 'computer room'. I'm not done with it though. I've taken care of everything that is seen but I have a closet and many drawers to go through yet.

I haven't done any book reading in a while. I really need to get my *** in gear about that.
Ciara said…
I do tend to clean up before starting a new project. It doesn't last long with three boys. :)
Carol Kilgore said…
Glynis - Try working on it for a set number of minutes each day. A trick from my CP. It produces amazing results.

Ciara - I totally get that, LOL!
Cleaning-- I love it. Once I start, it's hard to stop.
Misha Gerrick said…
Nope. The only thing I really feel that I need to do before starting a new draft is stock up on a specific type of pen and find an awesome notebook. :-)
Carol Kilgore said…
RaShelle - Come to my house! You'd never have to stop cleaning :)

Misha - I have a favorite type of pen, too!

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