The last few weeks have been a blur of writing deadlines. And I do not use the word ‘blur’ lightly. I am an early riser, so 3:00 AM is when my day begins if I’m on a project. By 12 noon I’ve already put in about 7 to 8 hours of work, and the day’s activities after that tend to melt into one another.
By 6:00 PM I’m beyond exhausted, but force myself to go on till about 8:00 PM and then crash in a big old heap.
I have continued with my walking and yoga routines throughout (with survival in mind), taken a social media hiatus, and stopped taking all but the most urgent calls.
Since I’m more in the world of the novel I’m writing than this one, I often lose track of what day of the week it is. Indeed, I often don’t remember what month I’m in. Case in point, I completely forgot that we are in September now and already in the second week. I missed the IWSG post last week and didn’t figure it out till this evening that the post was supposed to have gone up last Wednesday.
I’ve got nothing to say in own my defense and not much to add by way of news unless you want to know how many drafts I’ve written for this novel, or the amount of hair left on my increasingly balding head.
Oh yes, I also have THE BLUE MONSOON on a Kindle Exclusive Deal.
The social media hiatus has given me a taste of what it could be like if I stayed off all the platforms and I’m seriously considering sticking to maybe 2. The trouble is I don’t know which to keep just like I don’t know if it’s possible for me to sustain this lifestyle with any appearance of usefulness and coherence.
I should be done with the current project by next week, and then it’s already time to jump into another. I can’t wait for December, a month in which I plan to take an absolute break from life. I’ll still be working on two other projects in September, October and November.
What has life been like for you? Have you ever been so busy as to lose track of time, date or month? Other than scheduling breaks, what other advice do you have for me?
—————————————————————————————————————————
This is the first Wednesday of the month post (delayed by a week!) for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Founded by the Ninja Cap’n Alex J. Cavanaugh, the purpose of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share their fears and insecurities without being judged.
This is a wonderful group–if you aren’t a part of it, I urge you to join in! The awesome co-hosts for the posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Jean Davis, Yvonne Ventresca, and PJ Colando.
—————————————————————————————————————————
If you’re looking for a literary thriller set outside the West, and love books by authors like Lisa Gardner, Tana French, Jodi Picoult, Mary Kubica, Ruth Ware, Rachel Caine, Ivy Pochoda, Louise Penny or Harlan Coben, check out my literary crime novels, The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon on Kindle Unlimited now. Add to Goodreads or snag a copy to make my day !
And if you’d like to read a book outside the series, you can check out You Beneath Your Skin. Find all info about my books on my Amazon page or Linktree. If you have an Amazon account, a Follow will really help my ranking stay afloat.
—–
If you liked this post, you can receive posts in your inbox, or keep updated on my writing by clicking on any or all of the following buttons:
GET CURATED PUBLISHING RESOURCES SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG JOIN DAILY(W)RITE ON FB FOLLOW ON BOOKBUB
Discover more from Damyanti Biswas
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I’m impressed at the hours you put in–no wonder you live mostly in the world of your novel (and that’s a good thing). I rarely lose track of what day it is, because my day job forces me to live by my calendar. Meetings, meetings, meetings!
You’re a bona fide professional writer, Damyanti. If you have to be overwhelmed, that’s the best kind there is.
Thank you, Mitch, I appreciate that!
I think the breaks you need will depend on whether you need a creative boost or you need a break from the more detailed editing/ reviewing. But if I take a break I lose momentum. A walk in the sunshine is needed now for me. Wishing you well and love your novels.
That’s a good point. I have some trouble differentiating between the two, but I’m trying to give myself more breaks overall, just as a way to keep my brain from being overworked and save my limbs from inactivity. But, like you said, losing momentum is always the worry. When I’m in the flow of writing, I just want to avoid all distractions and stay chained to my desk for as long as I can. When I can tear myself away from the keys, going outdoors is always a welcome relief. And thank you so much for the kind words! I’m so honored that you enjoy my books.
Yes, breaks to jump up and down or for me do some Tai Chi but Its more an ideal because once focused I keep going!
I have days when I forego social media and find it so freeing. And yes, I always get the days mixed up when there’s a holiday during the week. 🙂 x
My time really does feel so much freer when I’m limiting my social media presence to the bare minimum, and the stress levels decrease greatly, too.
Exactly!!! 🙂
Yes, I forget what day it is all the time and have to check my calendar on the wall. 🙂 I kind of love that – it feels natural when it happens. And I just took the summer off from social media, Damyanti, so I get the desire to cut back on your presence and or frequency. I was more creative, productive, and healthier. It’s worth figuring out. Good luck!
That’s very true — it can be nice to feel like I’m living in the present, instead of going based on fixed dates and the days of the week. It is sometimes a little disorienting, though! But I think I’m getting used to it (which might not be a good thing, but I suppose I’ll see). And congratulations on your social media break! It sounds like it went wonderfully. I’m hoping mine is just as helpful. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Damyanti – oh yes … I can forget it’s a weekend … just things happen occasionally as each day goes. I admire you for your present daily ritual … beyond me – but perhaps old age, and after the time spent in the ‘caring’ (being there for them) mode for my mother and uncle … long days, sudden need to be at the hospital for one or other … now life often is slightly a blur – but I’m aware! Good luck with everything … I couldn’t cope with social media … I’m happy with my blog and connections that way … cheers and all the best – Hilary
Thank you for stopping by, Hilary! Yes, I more often mark the days based on memorable events rather than keeping track of the actual dates. Although that contributes to the everyday blur, since my days mostly look the same, following similar routines and habits. I understand what you mean about being so absorbed in caring mode that the hours seem to blend together in a haze. Wishing your mother and uncle all the best, and I hope you’re doing well.
Beyond that, when I woke on September 11, I didn’t realize what day it was and how significant it was for America.
I’ve missed a few significant events, too. My husband is usually the one who reminds me!
Walking, yoga, social media break…it appears you are doing the right things to break up the long hours of writing and keep your sanity. I realize that forgetting what day of the week it is comes from having a busy life and career, but you may experience this as well when you get to the point of retirement. At least once or twice a week, I wake up and have to think about what day it is because weekends aren’t any different than weekdays when no longer working. I only have to keep track of appointments and lunch dates with friends and even then, I’ve forgotten one or two because I forget the day.
I hope you are getting nearer to the end of rewriting drafts, Damyanti. I have plenty of books to read, but am anxious to get my hands on this next one. Wishing you good writing and a peaceful heart!
I’m definitely trying to minimize the chaos and regulate the mental clutter as much as I can. I understand what you mean about weekdays and weekends blending together. Like you said, it all feels almost the same, especially because my routine tends to be the same regardless of what day it is. My Google calendar has been my only means of keeping appointments and remembering arrangements. Thank you for the kind words and I’m so honored that you’re looking forward to the book! Can’t wait for you to read it, and wishing you all the best!
I missed the IWSG too. But I knew it was time. Just that I didn’t have much to say. Yes, I do forget dates, not so much days because I work from Monday to Friday, and keep looking forward to the weekend. I visit one social media platform in two days- I’m only on X and Instagram. So, fifteen minutes of one every alternate day. Resorted to this earlier this year. I think it’s given me more time and mental space to write and live. I visit blogs once or twice a week. But I really admire how you navigate through it all, Damyanti. Along with writing. Very inspiring. And your 3 AM morning. Wow!
That’s very kind of you, Sonia! But like you, I’m limiting myself to as few social media platforms as possible, just to make things easier to manage. What you said about having “more time and mental space to write and live” is something I’m trying to incorporate into my life more regularly. I think I need to start practicing it with greater dedication, though. As for the 3am mornings, it’s mostly because my brain’s preoccupation with my projects tends to overpower my ability to sleep 😅.
I admire your focus! Since retirement, I sometimes forget what day it is, but it helps to have a wall calendar in addition to my phone and laptop.
I should get one! That might help me keep my brain a little less foggy.
I forget what day of the week it is on a regular basis because for no good reason, a day will “feel” like Saturday or “feel” like Thursday.
That’s so true! The same thing often happens to me.
🙂
Since I retired from law some months ago and have been doing the writing thing for work every day is a different landscape and the only way I can keep it straight is with my Apple calendar so yes, I am with you in having trouble keeping the days straight, Damyanti. They are all blending together and only the work stands out.
My calendar has been slightly neglected lately, but it’s still one of my most valuable tools. The number of appointments I would have forgotten without it! As for now, though, I’m definitely in the same boat as you are. My writing occupies most of my hours and thoughts, with little room left for anything else.
I think it all depends on which kind of busy. If you go to a work Monday to Friday 8-5 or 8-6, and you have almost daily meetings, a detailed calendar, and then you have your weekends off, then you know what day it is. You certainly know when it is Friday. If your work is on any day every day, then you can forget what day it is. I can see how a busy author can forget which day it is because it is busy every day and there are not many appointments in your calendar.
And both definitely have their fair share of positives and negatives. Sometimes I feel like having a fixed schedule would help to make my thoughts and tasks a little more organized, but I do appreciate the freedom I have to complete things according to my own timeline and set my own working hours. Being busy is a common feature for both sides, though!
There is a difference between forgetting because of a health issue and forgetting because there are more important things to know for that particular time. Pushing aside the mundane regularities for a concerted effort to finish a more important project is an act of prioritizing not necessarily a decline in one’s mental state. 🙂
I’m grateful for the reassurance, Ian! Sometimes it can be a bit of a disorienting experience to see the days flying by so quickly, but the writing progress I’ve been making certainly helps ease the alarm.
Wow, Damyanti, I think you’ve been reading my mail! I used to worry about losing track of things, but then I forgot, so it doesn’t matter. 😉 Take care of yourself, you’re the only you.
😂 I’ll try not to in the future! Nowadays I’ve lost track of so many things that it almost seems normal. Although, it can feel nice to be immersed in the moment rather than keeping count of the passing days. But the shock I get when I reemerge into reality can be quite disconcerting! More rest time is definitely in the cards.
As they say, it’s a marathon. As writers, we’re prone to overdoing it. When I lived in Italy, I recall how one local often said, “Tomorrow,” after the worker’s lunch and just before his afternoon nap. In the winter of my life, I see the long-term value of Emilio’s wise advice…
Particularly since I retired I often lose track of what day it is.
You have been super, super busy. Take breaks.
My social media exposure is limited to the blogosphere – and that is enough.
Look after yourself please.
The time really goes by like a blur. And you’re right, I definitely need to focus on taking more breaks and getting up from my desk more often. Thank you for the concern and for stopping by!
You have been immersed in your story!
I am only on two platforms and now limit my time on each.
I have, it’s been quite a journey! I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of pages and paragraphs galore, and now I don’t seem to be able to focus on anything else. As for social media, I think I should follow your example. Taking a break from it has done me a world of good.
Fortunately – and this is not a humble-brag – I don’t need a place to discuss fears and insecurities – I’ve dumped them and Impostor Syndrome years ago because I can’t afford the energy it takes to maintain them (and keep finding out it’s the same set, and I already know how to deal with them).
Being chronically ill forces me to address priorities – I choose not to bother with that one, but merely work it out in my FEAR Journal when something new or old creeps in and seems to be getting in the way of writing.
This month it has been some unavoidable planned medical stuff for husband and oldest daughter, and then, for the past ten days, keeping our youngest daughter company via internet (I’m in California, she’s in New York) as she battled both pneumonia and horrible allergic reactions to the antibiotics, and we have been up in the middle of the night because she couldn’t find a position in which she didn’t cough, and could sleep. Not fun, but it’s so rare someone like me can do ANYTHING for her kids, and this I COULD do (and then have been crashing and taking a LOT of extra naps), so it has been a rare chance to talk about inanities and worry about her at the same time. They finally got a combination she can tolerate, she’s on a much-needed planned short vacation by herself at the New Jersey shore, and we’ve continued chatting in the interstices. And I’m completely wiped.
I don’t have insecurities any more – I have a body and mind which don’t work, and which I cosset and micromanage to try to use daily for writing.
Since I don’t HAVE to write (but dearly want to finish my Pride’s Children trilogy), a whole different set of things are my daily lot than for someone like you – still writing but not requiring that particular kind of support.
Keep writing. That’s what counts. Just keep writing when you CAN, and note how different this is from the famed ‘writer’s block.’ It’s kind of like how complicated life is when you’re single and have to figure it all out – and then you get married and have kids, and all of a sudden a whole huge array of new and different problems, and little people who can’t wait patiently for you to get it together, and require you to FOCUS NOW. On them and THEIR needs. And you learn on the job.
Or you have a disaster in your life – and have to learn, NOW, to deal with it. You just do, if you can, and you love/need writing.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and incredible advice. I truly needed to hear it. I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter’s recent sickness and it’s great to hear that she’s finally able to go on holiday. I hope both she and you get the rest you so deserve. Fears and insecurities have plagued me for so long, but I do feel that I’m making progress in moving past them and simply working to prioritize what it is that I need to do. Like you said, “just keep writing” is something to always keep in mind. Even if it’s just jotting down a few words or scribbling messy ideas in a journal, every little bit helps. Sending all the positive energy to you and your family, and I hope your Pride’s Children trilogy continues going strong!
Oh my gosh, Damy. 3 A.M.? You are seriously dedicated.
Yup, I blush to admit I’ve forgotten IWSG Wednesday before.
Good on you for continuing with your writing and yoga.
That’s sweet of you to say, Sandra! If I’m being totally honest, I think my mind’s fixation on my projects forces me up a little earlier than I would like. And thank you for the reassurance! As for the yoga, it’s one of the things I’ve found most relaxing in recent times, especially with the hours spent sitting at a desk — it helps get all the creaking joints feeling a little less stiff.
Sounds like, along with the yoga, you need a little more Damy time. Though, your total absorption into your writing world have all the markings of a great writer.
LOL! Yes. Actually, I have the opposite problem lately — too busy living in the real world. My problem is years are slipping through my fingers. Not days or months, years. sigh Life, eh?
Life, indeed! It’s such a busy world and it often feels like time is passing by much too fast. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost the end of 2024!
There have been days where I’ve been so busy with my writing projects on top of non-writing duties that I’ve forgotten what day it is, and forget how much time had gone my in a single writing/editing session and so have forgotten to take stretch breaks! As far as a long writing session like that in front of my computer, in the end I feel like my eyeballs are going to burn out.
I now try to use the alarm clock on my computer. I try to take a stretch break at least every half-hour. Those are important both for rejuvenating the mind and to prevent joint and back problems later in life.
Agreed! I need to start using the alarm clock more often. I’ve just completely allowed breaks and rest time to pass me by, and all my good working habits have lapsed. I can relate to the eyeball-burn out situation! I might need to start getting eyedrops to cope with the screentime. But thank you for the reminder to prioritize stretching more often. I know my back will thank me later.
Yeah I do! I then play a game to see what happened that always happens a certain day of the week (garbage pu, gardeners, that sort). Ha! It’s almost comforting, innit-to have that alternate world?
Absolutely! It fulfils all my current longings for adventure and is just making me steadily more excited to take a long break and potentially do some travelling.