In just a few days, I’ll be incarcerating myself in “Book Jail,” which basically means I won’t be venturing far from my desk. I’ll be holed up in my office, pounding out as many words as I can during the month of September.
I had someone ask
me why I call it Book JAIL, which has such a negative connotation, when
in fact I’ll be doing what I love. Writing. I explained it’s a title I hang on
my virtual door and is geared at everyone else: friends who call and want to
meet for lunch or groups who want me to speak at their meeting or family who
wants…whatever. If I simply say, “no,” they tend to come back with questions.
“Why not?” My reply? “I’m in Book Jail.”
Translation? I have a deadline to meet. For some reason, “Book Jail” works.
I’ve had a busy
summer of events and some travel. After the last few years of lockdown (now
that was some serious BOOK JAIL), it was fun to get out. The problem is I don’t
keep up with my word goals when I’m on the road, no matter how good my
intentions.
And I need to
keep up with my word goals. Better yet, I need to surpass them.
I have a book due
in early November. I’m currently working on the second draft of that one. But
the first draft was a hot mess, so there’s a lot of rewriting to be done.
The real problem
is I have a second book due February first. I haven’t even begun to
outline, make notes on, or research that one!
I keep trying to
calculate how many days I have and how many words I need to write each day to
meet both deadlines. Thank goodness I’m horrible at math because I’m quite
certain the answer would send me into a panic attack.
I have three
trips coming up in October – November, so I need to take travel into
consideration. The November trip also puts a crimp on NaNoWriMo (National Novel
Writing Month), which is a great opportunity to get a lot of writing done.
NaNoWriMo equals
Book Jail.
But that November
trip is to Lexington, Kentucky, for the presentation of the Dr. Tony Ryan Book
Award, for which I am a finalist. I’m springing myself from Book Jail for that
one. I’ll take my laptop and write for a couple of hours each morning. (Yeah,
sure I will.)
So if anyone
needs me during the month of September—or pretty much any time before February
1—I’m not saying I won’t be available. You’ll just have to wait until after
I’ve written a couple thousand words that day before you hear from me.
Fellow writers,
do you ever find the need to withdraw into your own Book Jail to make a
deadline? And readers, do you have deadlines you struggle to meet?
Or is that just
us writers?
Yes, I retreat to meet deadlines. I warn my kids, turn off the phones, and leave the door open for the dogs to access the backyard.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, your comment about your dogs made me laugh. Kensi Kitty is my prime violator of the "Do Not Disturb" rule. She feels it's her job to make sure I don't grow roots in my chair. "Pet me, Ma." "Feed me, Ma." "Open the door so I can look out, Ma." "Pet me some more, Ma."
ReplyDeleteGood that you discovered the magic words "Book Jail" to keep others at bay. Covid made it unnecessary to "fend off" incursions on my time, but now I need to be more mindful.
ReplyDeleteYep, although currently contractless, I regularly incarcerate myself to get words on the page. How else would have I something to pitch! You’ll do fine, Annette. You know that. Now, get back to work!
ReplyDeleteI am there too. I did the math for writing and even considered editing time before accepting all the contracts but neglected to think about (or wasn’t really aware of) all the time marketing takes! So I’m in jail too, though it’s more of a padded room feel for me… lol
ReplyDeleteRosalie, I might need some of that padding too. And no, they never tell you about the time marketing takes out of your schedule. That's why I'm getting as much writing done now as possible. I have releases in January and May (cover reveals, pre-order promo, etc etc)
ReplyDeleteKait, I'm glad you're getting words on the page. Yes, you must have something to pitch!
Covid did make finding writing time easier, Jim. But I don't want to go back to those dark days. Better to just have a writer's quarantine. ;-)
I can relate as I continue to make major revisions to Book 3 and have a Feb deadline for Book 4 which I have yet to start. Congratulations on being a finalist for the award. That's wonderful. Best of luck in book jail.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you too, Korina. And I hope you're feeling better.
ReplyDeleteWriting to you from my hermit's grotto. Best of luck, Annette, and everyone else. Deadlines mean we're doing it right.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you too, Molly.
ReplyDeleteThere's a writer's cafe in Japan. When you go in, you sign a contract to complete "X" (ten pages; a short article; 1500 words; instructions for something.) They charge by the hour. They come by every hour & check up on you, and you can't leave until you're done. If you aren't done by closing, they charge you a reduced hourly rate overnight & you're supposed to come back the next morning to work on it some more.
ReplyDeleteWow, KM. I think I would end up broke!
ReplyDeleteLove it! I'm going to steal your phrase; jail seems an appropriate punishment for theft!
ReplyDeleteLori, I stole it from someone else so you're welcome to it.
ReplyDeleteAh, book jail. I know it well. I have a January deadline and I really need to crack down and get the words on the page. I've been spending too much time trying to get household and grounds type things done and not enough time at my desk.
ReplyDeleteHousehold and grounds? Joyce, with the exception of meals and laundry (and a quick nightly pass with my Shark stick vac), my house and yard have been woefully neglected this summer. Maybe next year...
ReplyDelete