Climbing uphill as fast as I can.: seanan

Climbing uphill as fast as I can.

There was a link going around this morning to a blog post about things authors really want their readers to know. One of the items on the list was, essentially, "I'm so glad to be accessible, and I love talking to you, and I love that you're excited by my work, and I swear I'm not ignoring you, no, really."

My desire to have this made into a T-shirt and wear it every day is enormous. Because here's the thing: if I have not answered your email, responded to your Facebook comment, or answered your Twitter, it's not because I'm snubbing you, or because I don't think you're totally awesome and mad cool. It's because I am so out-numbered that I'm feeling like the last surviving player in the Teenage Zombie High School scenario, only I don't have any plastic explosives, and I'm not allowed to blow up the building. (Kate says so, and we trust Kate in these things.)

Right now, everything I do spawns something else that must be done. If I put "write thank you cards" on my to-do list, it's followed with "buy thank you cards," "buy stamps," and "mail thank you cards"—all small, silly things, but all things that absolutely have to happen in order for the thank you cards to go out. I am doing my best to tame things by breaking them down into smaller and smaller items, which results in more things that need to happen (bad), but also results in things being easier to achieve (good). My daily to-do lists are solidly booked out through mid-October, and my weekly overviews are complete through the end of the year. Everything that comes up from here until January 1st is getting shoved in around the lists that came before it.

Please understand that I am not complaining. I'm like a shark; I keep moving, or I sink to the bottom of my tank and die. For me, "writing an essay series" and "drawing two dozen art cards" qualify as "taking a break to recharge my batteries." I genuinely enjoy being this busy, and I love the things I'm doing that make me as busy as I am. I just don't get a limitless number of hours in the day, and sometimes, those hours have already been promised to something else when the daily bucket o' email comes rolling in.

Have patience with me? I'm climbing uphill just as fast as I can.

lluad

September 14 2009, 21:52:17 UTC 7 years ago

New comment

Right now, everything I do spawns something else that must be done.

Sounds like Yak shaving.

seanan_mcguire

September 15 2009, 03:29:05 UTC 7 years ago

Or Maine Coon brushing.

ladyqkat

September 14 2009, 22:23:05 UTC 7 years ago

When you respond to one of my comments, I am surprised and delighted. I really do understand how busy you must be and taking time out of that busyness is something you do not need to do for me.

So, if you don't respond, I know that your plate is rather full and that makes me happy because that means more fun stuff (books, music, art) from you.

droewyn

September 15 2009, 02:34:28 UTC 7 years ago

This. I can imagine that you've been going nuts. Happy nuts, maybe, but no less busy.

That said, I loved Rosemary and Rue and it is now happily shelved right next to Bimbos of the Death Sun. I hope this pleases you. *grin*

September 15 2009, 17:55:35 UTC 7 years ago

That delights me. I'm in such good company!

September 15 2009, 03:32:20 UTC 7 years ago

That's because you're wonderful. (But I shall take my kitten, it's bigger.)

lostwind

September 14 2009, 22:24:35 UTC 7 years ago

I wish for you as many spoons as you need to deal with the busy, and the joy of knowing that others are happy you are acheiving you dreams.

September 15 2009, 17:55:50 UTC 7 years ago

Thank you!

Deleted comment

September 15 2009, 17:57:05 UTC 7 years ago

Hi! I'm so glad you liked the book! There will be some wings in upcoming books, but I promise you, they're incredibly inconvenient for the people that have them. Mags gets stuck in a revolving door. It's a thing.