“Life is like riding a bicycle - in
order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
I’m moving this weekend. Actually, I feel like I’ve been moving for months. We began cleaning out old stuff many
weeks ago. We’ve been packing for
over a month. We’ve been shuttling
boxes and unpacking for 2 weeks.
This weekend is the final move.
I’m exhausted.
Buying the house has been wonderful and stressful. When my kids worry, I feel
terrible. Knowing our monthly
mortgage will be higher than before gives both my husband and me anxiety. He feels the burden as practically the
sole financial partner in our relationship. I feel the guilt as practically a zero financial partner in
our relationship.
And the job hunt continues, so I hope to soon be a better
financial contributor.
Unless any agents/publishers reading this want to get/send
me that big advance, so I can start living the writing life. I have all these new sunny rooms in
which to write. I’m getting a desk
too. This is serious commitment to
a writing space.
While I’ve been busy with moving, working, and job
searching, I’ve let blogging slide a little in favor of writing. (Sorry!) Last Friday, I completed a 70k YA
manuscript. And the manuscript
that didn’t make it to the quarterfinals of ABNA is about to be queried.
Oh, and I have little
piece of fiction being e-published.
Caroline Smailes is the brainchild of 100 RPM, a collection of 100 flash
fiction stories inspired by music.
My piece is called “Violet’s Hill”, which is inspired by the song Violet
Hill by Coldplay.
And guess what?
THE Nik Kershaw has written the introduction. Yeah, THAT Nik Kershaw.
Best of all the $ (after Amazon's cut) will be going to the charity One in Four!
This organization is a registered charity, which provides
support and resources to people who have experienced sexual abuse and sexual
violence.
You can support a worthy cause.
P.S. Old Kitty has a story included too. She’s the one who told me about the call for stories. Thanks,
Old Kitty!
How do you find balance?
How do you keep moving forward?
Good luck with the move! And good luck with the writing and the querying--sounds like you've been productive!
ReplyDeleteMeredith, thank you. I'm trying to be productive. I have a plan to be even more productive this summer.
DeleteMoving is always stressful. Remember, just control what you can control and don't worry about the rest.
ReplyDeleteAlex, good advice. Thank you.
DeleteTheresa!! You've been doing so much and achieving ten times more! Good for you!! 70K YA ms!?!?! You are amazing!! Well done you!!!
ReplyDeleteAwww and it's so brilliant to finally see the 100rpm book out!! I can't wait to read your story and everyone's too!!!
p.s. good luck with the job hunting and ALL THE BEST for the move. New home, new start! You GO girl!!!!
Take care
x
Old Kitty, thanks for all the nice comments. Your words always brighten my day!
DeleteGood luck with the move - and wow, managing to achieve 70k words in the midst of everything AND have a story out, too? Yay!
ReplyDeleteTalli, I can never be as productive as you, but I try.
DeleteLove this quote. It really is true, and something to always keep in mind. Congrats on the story! Excited for you! Wishing you the best with the move and new place. I'm sure it will all balance out soon. :) Take care of yourself, okay?
ReplyDeleteKaren, I was happy when I found the quote because it worked on a few levels. After I reply to comments, I'm returning to packing!
DeleteCongrats on the new house, Theresa, and good luck job hunting! It will work out somehow, I am sure of it. Glad you have so many nice spaces to write :) Happy for you that you finished your manuscript. It's such a great feeling being able to lean back in your chair and exhale when it's done, isn't it?!
ReplyDeleteJulie, yes, it's a great feeling finishing a rough draft. I'm glad I have the older manuscript to focus on while I let the new one sit a little.
DeleteOh, moves are such a major life event- I know your new home will be a wondeful one. All the best with the new manuscripts!
ReplyDeleteShelly, moving is sure a big upheaval. It's really hitting me how much our routine will change in a couple of days .
DeleteCongrats on completing your MS. Good luck with the move and the job-hunting!
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa, thanks. I appreciate it.
DeleteCongrats on the new house. And you've got so much published. That's great. Have you ever stepped back to just appreciate how far you've come already?
ReplyDeleteLiz, I should do that more often. I'm not very present-minded.
DeleteOh Yay for sunny rooms and a writing desk. I'll be doing the big move in a few more weeks myself.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your story. Good luck with your querying. And OMG I just love that Nik Kershaw song. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Anne, good luck with your move. Are you going far?
DeleteI'm a big fan of Nik Kershaw too. Now I have 2-degrees of separation. Sort of.
Congratulations on your home. You will find a job. You will get an agent and then a book deal. Relax, stop worrying, and just take one day at a time.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I should talk to you and Old Kitty everyday. I'd be much more positive about my prospects. Thank you!
DeleteI hate moving, even though I really need to. Good luck. And go Nik Kershaw. Woo!
ReplyDeleteBrent, I hope this home if forever because I never want to move again!
Delete'I have all these new sunny rooms in which to write. I’m getting a desk too. This is serious commitment to a writing space.'
ReplyDeleteThat sounds wonderful, Theresa. And congratulations on 'Caroline Smailes.'
Suze, I'm looking forward to buying the desk! Thank you.
DeleteGood luck with the move.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your story and finishing your YA novel!
The Golden Eagle, thanks. I'm happy to be done with this novel. The seed for the idea is from July 2007. I dusted off the document and started writing it in November. It's been a long time coming!
DeleteCongratulations on the finishing of the book. I don't envy you on the moving front. Even though I don't particularly like the house I'm currently living in, I like it more than I like moving. Hope everything goes smoothly and have fun setting up your writing space!
ReplyDeleteDeathwriter, thank you. Since I'm moving from a 2-bedroom condo to a house, I'm pretty motivated to move. But I'm beginning to think I'll never want to move again. Unless I can hire people to pack my house and move it for me. Basically, I need to win the lottery or write the next Harry Potter.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing your manuscript! That's a huge deal.
ReplyDeleteI moved last year and it's nice to have new surroundings. Sure, a lot of work goes into all the decorating/furniture buying etc. But it's inspiring as well. I finally have a normal-sized desk in my new place. In '09, wrote my novel at a tiny desk on a really hard chair. :) Not exactly ideal.
LR, it is nice to have new surroundings. Every time we visit the place, I can't wait to be there. Since I've started writing, I've done most of it sitting on couches while propping up the laptop. Not very professional!
Deletecongratulations on getting to The End of the ms, well done...and THAT Nik! WOW! Well done to you and old Kitty, adn best of luck with the final stage of the move, makes me tired just reading about it, and enjoy that new writing space, it will bring good things:)
ReplyDeleteWords A Day, between the A to Z and moving and school, I've been exhausted for months! When's summer break?
DeleteGood luck with the move, Theresa and wishing you and your family great happiness there.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the writing achievements:)
Brigid, thanks. This morning, I'm bringing my children to tour their schools for next year. I hope it eases their minds.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's wonderful you've gotten so much writing done while so much going on in your life. Good luck with the move!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, thank you! I've made so many excuses not to write. Since January, when I vowed to write no matter what, I'm amazed what I can write through!
DeleteI haven't moved in 35 years but I've helped my daughter move 3 times in 4 years and no THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteBut when all is done you'll be glad. Right?
Teresa
Journaling Woman/Teresa, the house is nearly done. I will be glad when it's done. Let's hope we stay here for a looong time.
DeleteYou've been busy! Moving is exhausting. Hope you rest up and recover soon! And crossing my fingers for you in the job department as well :)
ReplyDeleteJemi,thanks. I'm at the point that I'm looking for non-teaching jobs in education. Something has to give.
DeleteWith all you have going on in your life, you are doing a better job at the blogging than I am! Congratulations on the E-fiction. Well done!!!
ReplyDeleteAnn, thank you. Something always has to slide, right? We can't do it all... at least for very long.
DeleteCongratulations on all accounts, Theresa! I'm going to see if I can download your book on my Nook....
ReplyDeleteI couldn't download it on my nook, but I did download it to my husband's Ipad.
DeleteSharon, thank you so much for your support. It means a lot to me. xo
DeleteHEY, congrats and kudos and YAY, YOU for your publication! (I saw this cover on someone else's blog and thought the dude looked familiar but was guessing Nick Rhodes, not Nik Kershaw!) :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd how exciting/scary/exhausting a move like that must be! I guess the only thing to do is just plow through, take care of business, and know that it'll all be over (eventually). ;-)
Some Dark Romantic
Mina, I could see how you might think Nick Rhodes. He'd probably have more hair in the face (which goes to show what a big fan I used to be).
DeleteMoving is exhausting. Yesterday was the big day. I'm trying to motivate to unpack more, but all I want to do is crash.
You really do have a lot on your plate right now! Keeping my fingers crossed for you in the job searching and querying!
ReplyDeleteAlso, huge congratulations on the Anthology!
I used to love Nik Kershaw when I was younger. How lovely of him to provide introduction.
Enjoy your new writing space.
Rebecca. thank you. I can't wait until we've unpacked more, so we can search for a desk.
DeleteI hope things settle down for you soon, but I know it will be a while yet. Congrats on the publication and the progress you've made with your novel. It's sweet to cross the finish line.
ReplyDeleteJ.L. Campbell, thank you. Finishing a manuscript is a great feeling.
DeleteI hope the moving has gone well today and that you get some rest in the new house. Best of luck with the job hunt too. So sorry that's so stressful. :(
ReplyDeleteElana, thanks. I'm trying to muster some energy to check my School Spring email to see what new jobs came up.
DeleteAs your facebook friend, I feel like you've been moving forever too lol. We are so in the same place right now - I just moved, and I'm also job hunting. GO US!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on finishing!!! You've got so much good stuff going on. Change is always good. Always. Even when it hurts.
Sophia, go us! Did you move far?
DeleteI hope your change is for the better.
Moving is stressful, but often necessary. I hope all goes well soon and that you find that job or that contract or whatever you need.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for you.
Cleemckenzie, I hope this is the last move for a loooong time. Thank you! Much appreciated.
DeleteThanks for the link to the book, sounds super cool! Flash fiction is definitely a challenge to fit a whole story in such a small space.
ReplyDeleteStephsco, I'd never tried flash fiction before, but I had an idea rolling around for a while. What a challenge to be that spare with words!
DeleteWow! You definitely keep moving--finishing a manuscript, having a story published, querying, worrying about your kids, and actually moving. You're pretty incredible.
ReplyDeleteMissed Periods, thank you. The next two weeks are going to be a challenge because the kids will still be at their old school, so I'll be driving them there before work each morning.
DeleteI bet, despite your new desk, you end up back on the couch to write ;)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all your success (surviving a move is something to celebrate along with all your great writing ahcievements).
Lynda, it's 5:24am in the new house, and here I am sitting on the couch about to edit. In all fairness, we haven't bough a desk yet. Thanks for the laugh!
DeleteI hope your move went well!! And congratulations on the story, how awesome! I'm definitely getting a copy of that book, sounds excellent. The Nik Kershaw video is such a time warp, I loved that song on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your query too, I'm so impressed with all you have going on. :)
Julie, thanks. We're settling in nicely. Thank you for getting the book!
DeleteWhat a great cause, Theresa! Thanks for the heads up! And congrats on the story! You rule. Ugh. Moving is so stressful, but here's hoping you have a smooth move (LOL!) and an easy transition~ ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteLTM, moving IS stressful. Thanks for your nice comment!
DeleteTheresa - Hope you got all moved in okay. The Einstein quote is one of my very favorites. Thanks for another great post!
ReplyDeleteVictoria, we're moved and settling in. Thank you!
DeleteCongrats on finishing the YA. And here's hoping you get that advance. :)
ReplyDeleteLibby, thanks. Hope that advance is big too!
DeleteYou're going through so many things. I don't know how you find the time to write and blog. Sometimes I'm amazed by how I squeeze things in. It is exhausting.
ReplyDeleteYay for finishing and good luck with querying.
Medeia, I try to sneak work in during lunch and when the student are at a specialist. If I'm ambitious, I'll do more work after school.
DeleteI'm so impressed you are being so creatively productive when you are swamped. Love the premise of 100 RPM. Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, I'm trying to keep going instead of using being swamped as an excuse. Who needs sleep? ; )
DeleteDon't apologize for devoting time to your writing! You've got buckets full of stuff to contend with, so much stress. We'll still be here. Congrats on the move, though! As stressful as it is with the job hunt. Crossing my fingers you find something soon.
ReplyDeleteCarolina, school ends soon, so I'll be back blogging! Thank you very much.
DeleteOoh, Coldplay! I was wondering which song you'd chosen.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
And hope things have eased up now that you've moved :-)
Deniz, I've started to read the anthology, and it's so interesting to see the songs people chose and what stories cam out of them.
DeleteYes, things have calmed. Thanks!
You've had your hands full, Theresa. Here's to settling in and letting the words flow. Glad to hear things have gotten a bit less hectic.
ReplyDeleteCleemckenzie, I just finished school today, so next week is when I'll make more time for blogging and everything else.
Delete