Juggling

I can't juggle. Metaphorically or literally.
I sometimes forget meetings.
I drop balls.
I miss appointments now and again.
I forget to take my gingko supplements.

The only effective technique I've come across in this attention deficit, multi-tasking-obsessed world, is to keep my obligations to a minimum.

As mom/taxi-driver I go to one field trip per kid per year and help out at class parties. Regular, weekly help is too much for me to commit to. I also try to be helpful when I go to extra curricular stuff at school. Plus, I usually get my kids to school on time, and I've remembered to pick them up every day this year.

As a wife and housekeeper I always say thank you after Daniel does the dishes!

And as a writer, I don't seek out deadline based jobs, and I try to stick to one project at a time.

The almost-ready cover.

So of course I'm in the middle of four right now!

Hearts to God, a historical romance in the Sarah Price Amish Fiction collection is coming out around Thanksgiving.

The third Plain Jane is inches away from heading to an editor.

I've got a solid start on a short story for an anthology that I'm really, really excited about.

And last, but not least, I have a little something non-fiction going on. I expect I'll be working on that one for most of the year, but it might be the book I'm most excited about.

I may wish that I could work on one project at a time to make life easier for myself, but with a non-fiction book that has traditional publishing dreams and a lot of research needs, I don't foresee simple 2014!

Staycation and the Work at Home Mom

Three things to know about this week:

#1. I have a deadline in two weeks, and a book that is missing the all-important last scene.
#2. My inlaws are here for ten days.
#3. My husband has to work most of this week.

I'm not overly stressed about it (yet) in part because my mom and dad-in-law are great folks and understand tight schedules. They also seem to like work more than relaxing, so if I just say "I have to work, will you enjoy your grandkids for a while?" They will. Also, if I say, "My house needs painted, are you game?" they are. So, as far as company goes, I've got it made.

But I'm not under-stressed either. I mean, the deadline is LOOMING. This isn't an indie book so I actually have to write it on time. Someone out there is also putting work into this project and I have to hold up my end!

This might be my favorite place on Earth.

I'm very thankful that this one is a staycation. They came to us. I can easily sneak off to my bedroom to write a blog post (you know, if need arose at the last minute...) And I know all of the fun quick trips in the area.

Daniel (my husband) worked all morning so we all ran to the store and bought the Girl Scouts uniforms for the coming year. The store that sold them is conveniently located next to a craft store, a hobby store, a Christian book store, and a bakery so after a little window shopping we had scones and fresh bread samples.

Then Daniel came home and hung out with his parents and kids while I wrote for a few hours. And finally, we finished the day with a bike ride along the waterfront and a little splashing in the river. If we were out of town...I don't know. I don't think hiding in the bedroom to write would have been as comfortable, or finding quick fun activities would have been as easy.

I have several days to juggle enjoying guests and getting my job done, so if you all have anymore tips for me, I'd love to read them!

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Traci Tyne Hilton is the author of The Mitzy Neuhaus Mystery Series, The Plain Jane Mystery Series, and one of the authors in The Tangle Saga series of science fiction novellas. She was the Mystery/Suspense Category winner for the 2012 Christian Writers of the West Phoenix Rattler Contest, a finalist for Speculative Fiction in the same contest, and has a Drammy from the Portland Civic Theatre Guild. Traci serves as the Vice President of the Portland chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association.

Traci earned a degree in History from Portland State University and still lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with her husband the mandolin playing funeral director, their two daughters, and their dog, Dr. Watson.

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