Monday, October 29, 2007

Turning Back the Hands of Time

My alarm went off at its usual 5 a.m., and per Monday-morning usual, I hit the SNOOZE button three times. Finally, I snaked my feet to the cold floor and slithered to the kitchen to make coffee. But the clock on the microwave read 6:31, not the 5:31 digits I expected to read.

While I flew into panic mode, I tried to figure out what had gone wrong. Then I remembered. My clock is supposed to reset automatically when Daylight Savings Time ends. Only trouble is, some government powers-that-be saw fit to meddle with the DST beginning and ending dates. And they forgot to send the memo to my alarm clock.

So, I left the starting gate late this morning and I've been running behind ever since. I'd no sooner sat down at my desk than the weekend accumulation of work began to mount. I've got final galleys of four manuscripts to proof one last time before press-run of our Premier cycle of mysteries. And among the four authors who are trying to accommodate their content reviewer by making the suggested revisions? Well, all four seemed to have questions in need of my input ASAP. Then there the questions from copy editors. And the art work to approve. And back cover copy to write. . .and the list goes on and on. If I didn't have a habit of writing To Dos down as they arise, I'd be in big trouble about now.

Randy Ingermanson posted a helpful link on his blog this past week. I've found the information helpful in my attempts to add a semblance of order to both my work life as well as my personal writing life. Simple-ology 101 is a free goal-setting and time-management program designed to help/train you to focus on your target goals. Surprisingly simple. Surprisingly effective. You can check it out at: http://www.simpleology.com/

Till next Monday. . .when we will have turned back the hands of time for real!

Susan

4 comments:

Mary Connealy said...

Hi, Susan. Sorry about the 'smart' alarm clock. Like you didn't have a crazy enough day without the time getting you.
I'll go check out Randy's advice.
I'm a list maker BUT I've had great luck with an online calendar that emails me reminders. It really works.
and I've gotten into the habit of opening the calendar and writing down appointments and due dates faithfully because I KNOW I'll forget and know better than to trust myself.
I'm going to be guest blogging on www.pistolsandpetticoats.com on Dec. 1st. That's thursday, right? But I'm done and it's sent in. I set the calendar to email me seven days ahead and three days ahead.
And I've got in there when all my books are due, too.

Anonymous said...

Since I'm one of the 4 writers needing help with content edits--THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND PATIENCE! You're in our prayers.

NancyMehl said...

"And among the four authors who are trying to accommodate their content reviewer by making the suggested revisions? Well, all four seemed to have questions in need of my input ASAP."

Hey! I resemble that remark!!! LOL!

Unknown said...

I'd like to turn back the time on my face and body! Not too far, though. Wouldn't want to relive high school.