by: Staci Stallings
I saw a post the other day on Facebook that said, “Only 45 more weeks until Christmas Day!”
For the average person, they would probably laugh that off. For me, it literally caused a zing of anxiety to zap through my body. I’ve told you here about my son’s Christmas light show, and I know for the “watchers” it seems like a 6-week project. It’s not. It’s literally year-round, and the thought of having only 33 weeks until we’re putting it up again about takes my breath away.
The same can be said for most of us who write and publish. For the readers, it seems like the books only come out once-in-a-while. I know some of my readers get a touch frustrated having to wait for the next book in a series to hit the virtual shelves. But I’m here to tell you that publishing more than a book or two starts to feel like you’re literally racing through life, and it never slows down.
It’s so funny to me because it seems like I put a book up on preorder, and it feels like I can take a breather for a couple of seconds. Then I blink, and… wow! It’s time to final polish the next one and format the next one, and wow, I’d better get serious about getting that next one written. I only have 3 months to get it finished now. Honestly, sometimes it gets a little crazy in my mind with all of the different tasks racing around that need to be done now, now, NOW!
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining, but there are moments that I do wonder what I’ve gotten myself into with this thing.
Like right now…
I just finished formatting “Only Together,” which will go on preorder in early March.
I’m final proofreading “Broken Heart Strings,” which will hit the virtual shelves March 10.
I’m writing “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” Book 6 in the Imagination Series, which needs to be ready to go on preorder the first of June. I have to do a book cover for that one and rework the book cover for the next one because in the writing of this thing that was supposed to be three books, now my characters have all grown up on me and the original cover doesn’t work anymore.
The seventh book in this series is spiraling through my brain as well, and every so often, it’s like I get a massive “download from the cloud” about it. Then, I’ve got to pull off everything else and at least put notes to that or it will be gone.
Oh, and did I mention that recently I had a great idea for a book that’s not even part of this series, and I started writing it? I have 130 pages on a book I’m not supposed to be writing. (Shhh… I know. I’m insane.)
In the midst of this frenzy, I’m getting tax stuff ready, teaching two classes, and doing all the other stuff a mom and wife does.
See, that’s the behind-the-scenes most readers never see or know about. I think it’s especially intense for us indie writers because we don’t just do the writing. We, in some way, shape, or form, do all of it. Find the cover art? Yep. At least oversee the cover design? Check. Write the book? Plot the book? Format the book? Check. Check. And check.
And then there’s the marketing once the book actually comes out. It’s funny because I feel like I literally get nothing done, and yet, when I really stop to think about how much I’m doing just to stay current… it’s A LOT!
So, anyway, that’s a quick peek at my life that’s racing by. (How are we already a week from the end of FEBRUARY?!!!!)
Take it from me (even as I take my own advice!)… just for a moment, take a breath and let yourself enjoy now… because the way this is going, it will be Christmas before we know it!
A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. Although she lives in Amarillo, Texas and her main career right now is her family, Staci touches the lives of people across the globe with her various Internet and writing endeavors.
Just breathe!!
Life fairly gallops along sometimes.
Hi Staci, this is a great reminder- just breathe. We consciously do this with our oldest son to keep him calm when he starts to feel anxious, but I sure benefit from it too. Thanks for the peek into the life of a writer.
Blessings:)
Breathe, Staci…..in 1…2…3, out …1…2…3….
You are awesome!
Hi Staci! Thanks for your informative blog. Worked as an assistant buyer for Christmas products. Year around business. Wrapped up the year in January. Then you show was mid February in New York City. We had Christmas show for our stores in June. Orders placed in July and product arrive to our warehouse in September. Year around business.
When life was busy as pastor’s wife, mom, teacher, student, & daughter – best advice I ever received was to take one day at a time. Sometimes even one hour. Every Sunday I. Made a to do list for the week. Specific appointments or deadlines placed on each day. Only focus on one day at a time. Helped me through the sandwich years. Best wishes.
You are a busy lady. Just remember to breathe and let God help you. Blessings
I totally understand where you are coming from. I sew /quilt a lot of projects for Christmas, so I start again in January, just so hopefully they are all done by October. And yes, I am real good at having my goals written down and finding another project that is not on my list. LOL Usually I try to turn it into a gift or for our house. Thanks for sharing today.
Yup. Can’t believe it’s the end of Feb either. Deep breaths! And lots of praise songs!
Staci—Wow–that is a lot going on. And I can spend days looking at cover art. That eats up a lot of time. Congrats on the upcoming releases.
Sometimes just breathing is hard, but needed!
Last night my son slept at my parents house. What did I do? Worked late, rushed through dinner, then I was rushing to clean the dishes when my husband told me “why are you running? can we just sit for a moment?” It was really good to enjoy a breathing moment.
The year is speeding by! I am one of the impatient readers always waiting for the next book in the series. The wait is usually worth it though.
Thanks for a peek into the life of a writer!
I have to keep reminding myself to take a breath and enjoy…. not just race off to the next thing!
God bless!
Oh, yes. This is my go-to mantra with everyone…. “Okay, take a breath!” because I think, for some odd-unknown reason, it seems like EVERYONE these days is anxious. So blessed to have readers who understand!
God bless!
HAHHAHAHAH! That literally made me laugh, which is even better than just breathing!!!
Thanks for the reminder!
Blessings!
Renate,
I have a new plan. I’m going to focus on making a 1% difference each day to areas of my life. I think so often I see the BIG picture (that just seems to keep getting bigger and bigger) rather than just doing what I can TODAY. So, I guess that’s my “New Years Resolution” 2 months late. AHAHHAH!
God bless you!
Oh, lands, Lucy, if I didn’t have God, I would have completely LOST my mind years ago! I often say that God is the best secretary around. He is GREAT at scheduling things. I just think right now there are too many “need tos” and “have tos” chasing around in my life.
I remember when I could sit in here and write for 8 hour days…. ah, that would be BLISS! Now it’s hit or miss, here and there, at midnight half the time when I have to be up at six. I keep telling myself, I will probably look back on these days wistfully someday…. right now, it’s just BREATHE and try to keep up!
Thanks for stopping by today!
Lindi,
Cover art. UGH. Don’t get me started. This week I found the joy in creating a story or vision board for my books. Prior to now, I always created notebooks with pictures of my characters in them. The biggest headache in the world is going to look for cover art because invariably ONE of the people in the pic looks like my character but the other one doesn’t or is just kind of close. Then I have to figure out if it’s worth going back and CHANGING the looks of one of the characters to make it fit the pic, or do you keep looking for new pics. I can literally spend HOURS trying to find just the right photo.
BREATHE!!!
Lord bless!! As retirees life has slowed down a lot, but am still doing daycare but only for grandkids, which is much easier. Teaching in church, but only one class.
“having my goals written down and finding another project that is not on my list”
I LOVE THAT phrasing! Boy, that is ME in a nutshell. It’s a miracle I ever get ANYTHING actually DONE because I have so many projects pop up that were not in the original “plan.” I’m like my son…. I need 48 hours in every day to get all of this done!
Blessings!
I sign papers every month for my husband’s company, so that task comes around each month about the 20th. It’s weird that now when I go in there, I think, “Wow, next month, it will be…. after Spring Break…. we’ll be out of school…. it’ll be July hot…. whatever.” And it’s crazy how quickly I’m right back there AGAIN.
LOTS OF PRAISE SONGS!
I have had to FORCE myself to sit for a minute and read or do something that’s not technically “working.” Otherwise, I just work all the time!
BREATHE!
Kerri,
Sure thing! Thanks for stopping by & have a great month until I “see” you again!
God bless!
I have to keep remembering there are seasons to life and while this one is super busy, not all of them may be.
Blessings to you and your ministries!
I’m right there with you, Ellie, but on mine! I’m ready to READ the next one. Unfortunately, I can’t read it until I get the thing written. HAHHA! I need to get to writing…
Thanks for stopping by!
Please, no! I don’t want to think about Christmas yet because winter isn’t even close to being over yet and the thought of another winter coming in 33 weeks is too depressing. I want to enjoy a long spring and a longer summer. (In my dreams.)
HAHHAHA! I hear ya although our winter here has been exceedingly mild. In the good news department, just think, Spring is only like 3 weeks away… :D
God bless! Thanks for stopping by!
I love thinking about Christmas coming, but I’m not ready to think about next winter before this one has even ended!
Getting ready for Christmas! lol
Staci, you made my day, thank you for the post!
I am definitely not as busy as you, but I did order the first three Christmas presents the other day…I know most would call me crazy. But am a single mom on a tight budget and my daughter’s birthday is December 17th so I have to start shopping early (not usually this early mind you) to have enough gifts to make both special. I swear this deal on a hoodie, a hooded blanket and a coffee mug from a tv show my daughter and I both love. Well I just had to have it and knew she would be jealous so ordered us both one, though she won’t get hers until December lol.
Congratulations on your new release Just Breathe Staci Thank you for the wonderful blog post!