I spent last night, and a large part of the early morning, paying the price for poor time management. Having snored my evening away in front of the TV I started preparing submissions a little before midnight. The original plan had been to produce five submissions in the month of March. It ended up as a plan to make two submissions in the last two days of the month. I say “plan” but there wasn’t much planning involved, just a recognition that I was going to have to scurry around and get a couple of submissions done. I did it with hours to spare.
I am at work now, after snatching a few hours sleep, and though I could probably submit something tonight, I don’t think I will. I have very little to send, and submitted a couple of poems last night that had only been written twenty minutes before sending, which is considered bad practice in writing circles. You are supposed to let them mellow before writing the final draft. Larkin, I believe, took years over some of his poems. A book I read last week recommended two weeks, which I don’t really think is enough. However, I’ve been struggling to write, as you may remember me mentioning once or twice, so I didn’t have much to offer and, wanting ten pieces for a magazine, I wrote three to make the numbers up. The proof will be in what happens next.
Later . . .
Back home, sitting at the computer, I have just finalised the shopping delivery for tomorrow. As usual, I have a lot of things to do and the first thing I will do after finishing this will be to start work on submissions for April. As the days grow longer and the trees fill with blossom, it’s probably a good time to start writing poetry. It’s also time to reflect on the fact that I rote the majority of the blog in a fifteen minute gap in my pre-work hour. After dropping Julia at work I usually arrive early at work and just start packing. I really am a model employee. I think, a part of my time management I may start spending 15 minutes preparing the day’s blog. It does make things easier.
I didn’t like to say, but I actually had one accepted (with a suggested alteration) within five minutes. It was an Australian editor so probably working hours for them. 🙂
I hope that you get some good results from your submissions however hasty they were.
Write about distraction?
Good idea. Simple and practical. 🙂
But who would do the packing?
I should be able to manage 15 minutes – apart from Saturdays – Post Office shuts at lunch so we have to be quicker. Though we only had four parcels this morning.
I agree with Laurie, arranging the day to make things work can be difficult. Days fly right by for me these days.
Yes, they do seem to be passing faster. 🙁
Always difficult to arrange the day to find time to do what’s both important and necessary.
And, of course, difficult to tell the difference between necessary, important and urgent. How necessary is poetry compared to housework?
Depends on the housework—some things must be done—but I would put them on the same level and allot time for both. Easier for me as I don’t work outside the house
Good point. For me, it’s a matter of context. If I am on a roll I don’t like to stop and wash up. If I’m struggling I’m glad to stop and rearrange the cake forks as a distraction.. Yes, we have cake forks. I don’t really seem the sort, do I? 🙂
Are cake forks the same as dessert forks, smaller than dinner forks?
No, smaller than that. They are about the size of a teaspoon and have three tines – one of which looks like the third and fourth tine of a normal fork have been connected. That forms a sort of cutting edge. I will take a picture and post it tomorrow. It’s a bit like fish knives and bread and butter forks – old fashioned and rarely used these days. 🙂
I understand! Look forward to seeing the picture.
🙂