Sometimes I think my ability to focus for hours at a time on something is not a strength. However, this week my focus allowed me to finish the math workbook, Building Fluency: Math Vocabulary. It turned out much bigger than I planned. I should not be surprised at this, as every one of my projects has a life of their own. The details are with the graphic designer who will do the cover. It should be published next week.
Since that focus can now be directed at the beta edits of The Lost Gift, this project should be done next week as well. It will take a couple of weeks to get a cover, but that gives me time to invite readers to pre-order a copy. This is the third year that I’ve released a holiday novella in July. The weather in the Southwest this time of the year makes me long for a winter holiday.
The fourth writer in the anthology group passed around a printed copy of his four stories. I read them, critiqued them, and passed my suggestions back to him. Writer number three did some edits on her stories and sent me her final copies. I hope to have writer four’s final copies by the end of the month so we can publish in August. I’ll be using some of that focused attention to run a final edit check on the stories and format the book.
When my attention is concentrated on a task, time slips by. I promise myself that I’ll set a timer on my phone so I get up every hour and walk around, giving my eyes and brain a break. I’ve heard a lot about distractions. Apps on smartphones, the Internet so easily available on computers and phones, even a sink with dirty dishes can derail intentions to work on/finish a project. None of that draws me away when I see the finish line ahead. But maybe that finish line, that focus to complete a task, could be balanced with breaks and celebrations. How do you feel when you’re close to finishing a project?
0 Comments