I’m a project juggler– one who is addicted to juggling.
I always start with one project. I bounce it back and forth between my hands for awhile until I get used to it.
Pretty soon, I start thinking that this project would look much better if I had a second project to go with it. Of course, that second project would only work if I picked up a third project and committed to it, too.
Three projects is no problem. I juggle it about, and then my husband or one of my friends will ask to play. We’ll pass them back and forth, but three little projects isn’t enough to keep two or more people busy so… we add a few more to the mix.
And then we add a few more.
I’m always happiest at this stage of the juggling, and we usually keep up a good show. Inevitably, one of the projects ends up requiring a lot of time and attention — for whatever reason– and we have to set everything down and focus on repairing the one. While repairing it, I take a little hiatus until it’s fixed up and I become bored again.
Then I pick up a project, bouncing it back and forth between my hands, and the cycle begins again.
I rarely drop the projects and I rarely get burned out on them– but I like to keep my projects in tip-top condition and sometimes that means focusing on just one. It’s a cycle that works for me, especially since in recent years, I’ve made sure all these types of projects were done for my own entertainment. I also make sure I pace them. I notice that if you pick up a new project too soon after juggling the first project, it’s easier for the whole act to fall apart.
To that end, Dave and I use a large piece of paper as a working “To Do” list in increments of 10 to 15 days. The paper has our grocery list, a wish list, a list of projects we are focused on, and our grown up stuff. Inevitably, we add things as we go, but at least it keeps life under a modicum of control.
Recently, we went rogue. Today, with the holiday keeping us cooped up at home, we churned out a lot of projects that were actually queued up for next week.
Firstly, there’s another contest! Woo!
This one is for a one of a kind clay Batman statuette created by my husband. Just like the Rarasaur toy he made me, it’s awesome. To enter, all you have to do is review (good or bad) one of the six short stories he has available for free on Smashwords. They’re all wonderful, but Coinage is a particular favorite of mine. You can download them to your e-book reader, or just read them online. Full contest details can be found on our other blog, but I thought I’d include links to the stories here.
And here’s a few pictures of the Batman himself, so you know what you’re vying for:
Secondly, we created a critique group for writers!
I’ve talked a lot about my giant red pen. Both my husband and myself suffer from the real desire for honest critique, and the need to provide it. I have a lot of editing experience– some professional, some important, some both– so I’m excited to put it to real use. We made a lot of rules because we don’t want anyone’s feelings to get hurt when we tear something apart.
If this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of– as a critiquer or a writer– we’d love to have you. There’s a 9 question form to fill out:
http://diamondsordust.wordpress.com
The name comes about because of coal, of course. We’re looking for authors who can provide us with coal– works that might not be the prettiest thing, but works that burn brightly nonetheless. Pressure will either turn coal into a diamond, or turn it into dust. We’re hoping to make some diamonds!
Thirdly, I’ve put the finishing touches on my educational blogger hat.
I’ve queued up a series of posts over at my other blog, TheQueenCreative.wordpress.com. We’ll be posting regularly with very-mini courses on marketing, grammar, business, and design. We’ll have tips, theories, and thoughts until I work out what translates best in the blogosphere and what most people need.
I haven’t picked the order of topics yet, so it could be anything from social media to identifying parts of speech.
If you have a particular area in those realms of topics that you’d like more education on, let me know.
I would like the information in my head to be useful to people.
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There’s a few more secret projects underway. Stay tuned.
I know most people have a bucket of experience and education in their head that doesn’t get put to regular use– what do you do with yours? Isn’t the Batman the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? Are you a project juggler or a one-at-a-time sort of person? Do you use a giant piece of paper to organize your life, or do you have another method?
How was your weekend?
