My positive thinking campaign has paid off so far. I have written more and have submitted to two magazines that I have a patchy record with, one that has always turned me down and one I have never submitted to before. So far, two have replied and both accepted something – one senryu and one Haibun. These were, to be fair, the magazines that had published me before, even if it was not a regular thing. I’m now waiting to see what happens with the other two. It could be months yet, as neither are particularly speedy.
Unfortunately, though I’m doing more work, I am also finding myself bogged down by admin. Some of it is out of proportion to the increased workload. I could keep track of most stuff I was doing with just a brain and a piece of paper but now I’m picking up the work rate and increasing the submissions I am having to keep better records. My brain is marginal at the best of times but give it four new magazines, and the 30 extra poems and I am struggling to keep up.
So far this year I have made 38 submissions. By the end of the year it will be about 50. It’s a long way from the hundred I used to talk about as a target, but it’s near enough one a week, which seems quite a lot when you are the one doing the writing. I don’t know how the woman who wrote the article managed a hundred. I just looked it up. She was actually aiming for 100 rejections a year. However, all she got was 43, and five acceptances. Lightweight! Makes my submission record, in a lazy year, look quite good.
Today has been mainly taken up with sorting out two submissions, working out my paperwork system, cookery, reading blogs and drinking tea. Well you need some relaxation time don’t you? I think I have things sorted now, but it’s been a struggle.
It’s now time to complete a blog post telling you all how hard I am working.
Ooops! I just realised that the first meeting of the Numismatic Society is taking place on 11th and I wanted to put on a small display of some local items. I hve the items (mostly) bu I now have a week to do the research. It’s going to be a bit tight.
The Numismatic Society starts again. Can winter be far behind?
Oh, the problem? Time. It’s always time . . .
So true – time is the rarest commodity. Spend it wisely.
I fear my Falstaffian lifestyle may have mortgaged more time than I wish to think about. If only I had been born wise instead of beautiful, I may have lived more sensibly. 🙂
You will find the time and your presentation will go well. I have no doubt.
I agree with Tootlepedal, seems there is less time than there used to be. I think it was Joni Mitchell who said something to the effect of that if one tries to hold onto something too tightly, it just slips through one’s fingers like sand. Time may be one of those things that slips away.
It all seems to end up OK. And to be honest, I’m too lazy t work unless I’m short of time. 🙂
How about a week off poetry when concentrating on your presentation? – or writing a poem on presenting a presentation?
I have a day off tomorrow. 🙂 Fortunately they are only small displays rather than full-blown presentations.
It seems to me that there is a lot less time about than there used to be.
This year has flown by, and it is already time to start the new season of the Numismatic Society, which is always linked to winter in my mind.