A Day In The Life

Writers have weird days. Productive, non productive and my personal favorite: faux productive.

Eight hours at the computer. What a great day! But it goes something like this:

10:00 a.m. Need to turn off Glenn Beck and get to work. But this bit about movies is so funny. Another few seconds. Oh, rats, left clothes in washer for two days.

10:01 a.m. Rewashing clothes.

10:03 a.m. Turn off radio. Ahhh, sigh. Okay, that was emotional, but now that I've cut the chord, I can get to work.

10:04 a.m. At computer. Must check all email and blog sites accounts.

11:00 a.m. Wow, it is eleven already? What...? Well, I was answering emails, checking in with a few readers, doing a quick blog pass. (Had to comment of five of them.) But, it's marketing right? Getting my name out there!

Oh, write blog for sWriteOut. Shoot, I forgot. Unexpected company last night. Stayed until 1:45 a.m. Hello, not a teenager anymore. Can't burn the candle at both ends.

11:02 a.m. Writing blog for GWO.

11:30 a.m. Sending blog to Colleen.

11:35 a.m. Double click on WIP (work in progress) and Go To page 351. Hey, almost finished with my edits and rewrites before line. Shoot, am at a place where I need to write a new scene. Okay, think, think, think. Hum... wonder who's emailed me in the last, oh say, thirty seconds.

11:37 a.m. Check all three email accounts and .

11:40 a.m. Okay, stop, get to work. Oh, is the laundry done? Want to get it in the dryer this time.

11:45 a.m. Laundry in dryer. I. Am. Ready. To. Go. But first, launch iTunes. Get some background music going.

Noon! Finally ready to go. Had to pause for a few minutes to download new songs.

12:05 p.m. Staring at page which needs new scene. What I've written so far is good. Like it. But, better check email. Hollywood might have contacted me with emergency request for movie rights.

12:10 p.m. See, this is what's wrong with Hollywood. Cannot recognize a good book-to-movie option. Lost In NashVegas, Georgia On Her Mind, Diva NashVegas... great movie plots.

12:11 p.m. Back to scene. Oh, this is good. e is going to tell hero… wait, I can't write it here! It's a pivotal plot point. Can't use Amy's blog as spoiler.

Wonder if I'll ever write as good as Kristin Billerbeck. Where is her latest release? It’s around here some where. Maybe what I should do is spend a half hour or so reading, then I can write. I don't read enough. Yeah, time out for... Oh, Chris Lynxwiler just IM'd me.

2:00 p.m. Back to work. Chris is so funny. Had fun helping her plot her next book, due in June. Okay, so scene with e and boyfriend.

2:01 p.m. Wow, it's been awhile since I checked email.

2:30 p.m. Rats, still no Hollywood. Or Braodway. Lost In NashVegas IS begging to be made into a Broadway play.

2:31 p.m. Back to WIP. Crud, cat is caterwauling and dog wants out.

2:32 p.m. I need to get to work here. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, dog is scratching to get back in. Hey, don't you know I have a line! I'm pressured here, buddy. Don't waste my time. Writing is so hard. Look, it's 2:33, I've been working for four hours and only written half a page.

3:00 p.m. Okay, scene done. I like it. Solid. These characters are great. Now, back to editing. Need to get twenty pages done to keep on schedule.

3:01 p.m. Well deserved email break.

3:30 p.m. No one emails me. Sigh.

3:31 p.m. Lunch! How could I forget lunch.

4:00 p.m. (Do not need to watch Oprah. Do not need to watch Oprah. Resist, resist. Do you think she got rich watching other people work?)

5:00 p.m. Oprah was sooo good. I needed to watch today's show. It was about a singer and a songwriter. Good research verification. Oh, Spinning. Need to go to Spinning!

Crude, put bike pants in dryer. Gel seat is lumpy.

Dog... forgot to feed dog. Must hurry to feed dog. The good bikes go fast.

5:15 p.m. Driving in convertible to gym, thinking of my WIP and characters. Have great idea for scene I wrote earlier. See the work NEVER ends.

5:35 p.m. On bike Spinning. Feeling very guilty. Should be home writing. Time is running out. How can I work, work, work all day, so hard, and end up with only one scene? No wonder the greats only have a dozen lifetime books.

Genius takes time. Thought. Hard work. Writing over and over.

6:50 p.m. Home from Spinning.

Hum, wonder who's emailed.

7:30 p.m. Am hungry. Should make dinner. Oh, need to take shower. Dried sweat drives me crazy.

8:00 p.m. What night is it? Good TV? American Idol? Gilmore s? King of ?

Hubby asks, "How was your writing day? Did you get your pages done?"

"I sat in front of the computer all day and only got a few pages done. Writing is so hard and draining. Takes all I got, you know. But, I'll make the line. I'll work more after this show is over."

10:00 p.m. Wonder who's emailed.

10:30 p.m. Has it been three days since I blogged. Better blog. Watch King of rerun while blogging.

11:00 p.m. Too tired to work on WIP. Best go to bed and start fresh in the morning.

2:00 a.m. Wake up from sound sleep in panic. I'm behind! I'll never get this done! And what I have... stinks! I just need more time. I'm working so hard. What do these writers do who have children?

"God, please help me. Really, I can't do it without you."

4:00 a.m. Fall into unrestful sleep.

7:00 a.m. Wake up, shower, Bible time, McDonalds run for Diet Coke (Have to get out of the house some times.) Boot up computer so it's ready for me when I sit down to write. Hum, wonder who emailed overnight? Isn't Hollywood three hours behind?

7:05 a.m. No one emails me.

10:00 a.m. Repeat yesterday. Rinse and repeat again.


****
Okay, so I exaggerate. But it's all about discipline and time management.

If we want to achieve our dreams, to have a flowing heart in God, loving our family and friends, achieving our spiritual and careet goals, we have to employ strict time management. Be agressive. Be flexible, but God has given time to us to manage.

Make the most of it. And don't worry about achieving your dream in clean, dry but very wrinkled clothes. Works for me.

Thanks to Colleen, Kristin, Diann and Denise for having me today!

BLURB and BIO and DRAWING


For the past decade, Aubrey James has ruled the charts as the queen of country soul. She rocketed to fame in the shadow of her parent’s – pioneers in Christian music. While her public life, high profile romances and fights with Music Row writes juicy tabloid headlines, the real and private Aubrey’s is a media mystery.

When a close friend and former band member betrays Aubrey’s trust and sells an exclusive story to a tabloid, the super star knows she must go public with her own story.

Inside NashVegas sports anchor, Scott Vaughn, is not prepared for the summer assignment of interviewing a country diva. Especially not one he dated. And abandoned. But he has no choice. His career and the future of Inside NashVegas depends on the success of this interview.

Aubrey's private world is rocked when Scott shows up at her home for the first session. Realizing it’s too late to back out of the deal, Aubrey bravely opens her
heart to Scott and discovers a future beyond the lonely orphan . Will she find faith, hope and love?

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Aubrey James, the Queen of Country Soul…”


Rachel Hauck Bio:

Rachel Hauck is a multi-published author living in sunny central Florida with her husband, Tony, a pastor. They have two ornery pets. She is a graduate of Ohio State University and a huge Buckeyes football fan. Rachel serves the writing community as Past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the Advisory Board. Visit her blog and web site at www.rachelhauck.com.

Leave a comment on her blog and be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate to Starbucks or Barns & Noble. Two names will be drawn.