Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Saying Goodbye Helps

My phone rang eight times this morning. (okay, so I exaggerate some. Maybe seven.) I had promised myself today I would get so much done. Dusting, a workout, some editing and more new words for my WIP.

At 8:30, I reworked some mother's day cards for Blue Mountain Arts and sent them off. Good. Next I pulled up a friend's story. Two chapters to edit. Shouldn't take long.

Well, after a ham and cheese sandwich, a call to my mother who has her surgery tomorrow, a call to my friend who fell on the ice here in Florida, and a half hour call from my daughter in Seattle, my blood pressure was rising. Then my poor husband called. "I got out of class early and thought I'd call you on the way to the course."

Yeah. Sure. Waste more precious minutes of my day.

So I politely and firmly outlined my day for him and hung up.

Two hours later: I've edited the two chapters and sent them off. Submitted my first book to a publisher and written another 1% on my current book.

Not bad. It's amazing what a little preplanned day can do.

See you all after my treadmill visit.

So how is your day going?

35 comments:

Janna Leadbetter said...

Great job, Terri! Keep at it.

I've done well. Have had some distractions, too, but blasted them out of the way. Got my day's writing in (though it seems I'd always like more), and tending house and done a few extras. Good day!

Nancy said...

You're on my list for prayer tomorrow.

What a lot you got done. Doesn't that feel great? My day is going well, too. The Lord gave me an idea at 7:00am of how I can help my son. What a way to start the day.

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

Wow, that's awesome! Congrats on getting so much done!

Hey, I was contacted recently about Blue Mountain Arts. Do you recommend writing for them? What does writing for greeting cards entail?

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Good progress!

I am off to a slow start. I DID do 30 minutes of Pilates, two loads of laundry and a very small grocery shopping trip. But it's such a beautiful day, I had to spend some of it outside with the little one. Bubbles, sidewalk chalk and general merriment. I am hoping she'll stop singing up there in her bed and actually take a nap so I can get a little bit of planning on my WIP before I get the other kiddo from school.

Lillian Robinson said...

That's why I'm on a break from my WIP. I'll be getting back to it any day now, but there was too much tearing my schedule apart!

Warren Baldwin said...

Good work.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Wow, you got a lot done with all those interruptions! Congratulations.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Karen Lange said...

Congrats on plowing through the challenges! Too many phone calls can do me in sometimes; basically there's steam coming out of my ears by the time I get off the phone:)

How am I doing today? Well, getting some stuff done, sidetracked only slightly, not too many phone calls, and the evening looks promisingly free for projects as hubby has a Bible study to go to. :)

Will be praying for you and your family.
Hugs and blessings,
Karen

Jessica Nelson said...

Woot! What a day! :-) I freely admit that I ignore the phone sometimes. LOL
Preplanning is a wonderful thing. The only bad part is it sometimes makes me a tad inflexible and grumpy. Heehee!

Which publisher did you submit to? And which manuscript? Have you sent out the women's fiction one yet?

Deborah said...

I didn't get as much done as you, but I did get my workout in, took one phone call,(doing steps on the wii is harder when talking, btw!) and I worked on the music for my latest song. Not a bad day, considering I was also looking after a sick little one!

Yolanda said...

This has been an amazing day; I spent time in the word, God then gave me a word for Higher Grounds. Went out to the office to do book work with our payables, met the lady I mentor for lunch. Then baked a coffee cake from scratch for my hubs' bible study this evening, washed up the China I was blessed with from my Mother-in-law; she bought it in 1965, the year I was born, yee-haw! And...fixing a small pot of de-caf and heading to the table to make Valentine's cards.

But please remember, I've been down for a solid 3 weeks with upper respiratory, so I had all kinds of things to do and an big burst of energy.

Love to YOU!

Melissa Sarno said...

Isn't it satisfying to check off the items on your to-do list?! Good luck visiting the treadmill and with the rest of your words!

Jill Kemerer said...

I had that day yesterday. Today? Smooth sailing!

You're right--pre-planning makes all the difference!

Great Grandma Lin said...

you are busy. I saw in the newspaper the other day a combination treadmill desk which enables you to walk while you work/write...don't know if I could concentrate or not.

Heather Sunseri said...

This is that time of year when I make lists, stick to an outlook calendar, and hope for the best (tax season). I've been in training this week, so it's the nights when I'm trying to catch up on some blogs in between homework, dinner, a workout, time with family, etc. You get the point.

I've said a prayer for you, your mom and the doctors, nurses, etc. I hope and pray everything goes well.

Jan Cline said...

Wow, I'm impressed. Especially since the two chapters you got done were mine! Thanks for all your hard work and Im proud of you for being so efficient. I bet it feels good. (please notice my flow of short and long sentences) :)

Unknown said...

You sound like a woman with a plan! It always helps me to schedule my day to ensure that I avoid time-wasters. A friend told me of her resolution to be more relational - so even the time spent making phone calls is needed and an accomplishment! God bless you, Terri!

Kathleen said...

A good example of how saying "no" (or goodbye) to good things, often leaves us free to tackle the superb things.

Blessings,
Kathleen

Heckety said...

I read somewhere in an advice for work at home moms article, that her good friend should be the answering machine gadget. Well I don't have one and I thought at the time 'oh rubbish' but having read your post I'm wondering if the article was right?
I'm afraid that I don't answer the phone when it rings...I reckon if its important they'll ring back later...most unfriendly of me, I know!

Gaia said...

Learning to preplan my days to avoid procratinating and others. Well it's just been 4 days, I will have to track and see how it goes for the rest of the week. Not wanting to waste too much time, so that I can do more... with interuptions and all. lol. Take care Terri and Bless you.

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

I can't remember what I did today; ask me tomorrow. I have a goal of writing my next reflection in WIP. Will probably take the entire morning. Still working through my thoughts tonight while watching AI.

peace~elaine

Susan R. Mills said...

Good for you. I wish I could say that I had a productive day like that. Oh well! There's always tomorrow, right?

Tamika: said...

Terri you are on fire!

If I could muster up enough motivation to exercise I would brag!

Praying for your mother.

Carmen said...

Sounds like you had a productive day! It's amazing how easily our moments fly by so quickly. You have to keep on task in order to get things done! I always feel better when I've accomplished what I've set out to do in a day!
BTW...how's your mom doing?

JBR said...

Glad that you were able to make head-way in your work! Thank you for sharing Terri! Always an encouragement. Blessings.

Greg C said...

Keep up the exercising. I had a great workout last night. I too have to plan everything out if I want to get anything done.

Jeanette Levellie said...

I get aggravated at interruptions, too. I try so hard to discipline my time, and THEY don't get it!!!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Thinking of you today...praying your mom's surgery goes well.
~ Wendy

Anonymous said...

I saw on your blog a link to Faith Writers and the articles you wrote that won. Please put it back. Now, I can't find it and would love to read them.

Jenilee said...

sounds like a productive day! but, technology can sure distract us can't it? :) enjoyed your post. :)

Eileen Astels Watson said...

I'm feeling guilty after reading this. I need discipline like you have, badly!!!

Jody Hedlund said...

Good job setting boundaries, Terri! Sometimes we need to do that in order to protect our writing time!

Elana Johnson said...

I bow to your greatness. I need to be more disciplined with my time. I have a goal of 10 pages a night for revisions. Last night I did 13, so that's something, right? Right. :)

Kara said...

Way to go! It helps to have a day planned so when you get off track it's easier to get back on:)

Nikki (Sarah) said...

you're focused!! love that. I sold 4 books today, spoke with the owner of a Christian store...bringing her some books tomorrow, spoke with a pastor who runs a counseling centre, he saw my website and is interested in the book. Meeting with him tomorrow.