Well, Good Morning. Here I am once again, as you all probably knew that I would be. I know, I know, I say I'm going to quit blogging, and then I always come back. I love you guys too much to stay away.
I can't say it was a relaxing month, I still worked. I formatted and uploaded my last two books into paperback. I wrote up a boatload of blog posts. I spring cleaned my house. Ugh! Windows, carpets, got a shiny new Bot-Spot to shampoo my favorite chair and the love seat. I also started chopping down the trees in my backyard for the fence I'm going to build. Yup, I don't know what it is with me and fences, but I just gotta build them.
I've also finished THE LADY'S MASQUERADE. I had to make a lot of changes to it, so it will work with the last book in the series. It's in the hands of my fabulous critique partners now. However, I'm not rushing it. I'm not putting myself in that stressful environment again. When it looks good, I'll publish it.
I've also been toodling around with KATE, another romantic women's fiction. I love this book. It's kind of like REMEMBERING YOU, but not. You know. A lot of stuff happens to Kate and she needs to find herself before she can figure out what she wants. I do have the title, but sorry, I'm not sharing. Let me just say branding has become my middle name.
Anyway, what I've decided for the next several months is to start posting again M-W-F. Like I said, I've written up a load of posts, some I've reworked from previous posts, and I've also brought back my Friday's at the Piedmont Grille series. I have some fantastic authors to spotlight with new books, and interviews, so I hope you'll all stick around for those.
I also wanted to let you know, that this is the tentative schedule until around Memorial Day. I promised Monster a long time ago, I would only "work" when she was in school. When she's on vacation, then I'm on vacation. But I kind of think this is a good schedule. I can see the end of the tunnel as far as blogging goes -- a couple of months on, a couple of months off -- and I like it. Maybe I won't burn myself out.
So, that's all I've got. Oh, well, one more thing... about commenting. I believe that's where my trouble with burned out blogging started. I couldn't get around to all the blogs to comment. I like to reciprocate when you guys stop by here. But when I don't, I feel guilty, and it eats at me. So, I'm going to tell you now, when you comment on my blog, I will comment back here. I can't promise you I'll show up with any regularity on your blogs, but I will try. I'm not particularly fond of those bloggers who post and then never comment anywhere. I think it's rude. But if you comment on this blog, I will answer you. And rest assured, I will read your blogs as time permits. I like to keep my nose in everybody's business and Google Reader and I have become friends once again.
It's good to be back.
Tell me -- What have you been up to? Get an Agent? Requests? Published? Any shiny new ideas?
Anne Gallagher (c) 2013
25 comments:
You have been busy! I totally understand about schedules, life, and taking time to be with those we love and don't get to see as often as we used to. I have a college freshman this year, and really cherish the times when he comes home.
Oh you woodswoman you! Glad you're back. And I so know how you feel about visiting and commenting and answering comments. It take so much time... AND , I too miss the camaraderie when I am away.
Aww! I have a soft spot for the Lady's Masquerade because that's the MS we became friends over, way back in the day when i saw your query on the public query slushpile. Good times.
Yeah, i'm with you. I always respond to comments on my blog (via email, as long as there's an email address attached) and i try as best i can to visit other blogs, but sometimes work and life gets in the way
Welcome back. That's a great promise to make your daughter, Anne.
I agree about the commenting. That's why I had to cut back on my blogging days. I still visit blogs in the morning and comment back later in the day, but I couldn't keep that up three days a week. Plus, my kids come home early on Fridays. By not blogging on Fridays, I have more writing time.
Sherry, wow a freshman in college. How old are you anyhow? You don't look a day over 28! Thanks for stopping by.
Not a woodsman, just a crazy woman with a chainsaw now. Pop bought it for me for Christmas. Go figure. Most women get perfume or a new bathrobe. Me, I get a chainsaw.
You probably wouldn't recognize the Lady's Masquerade now! It's been through so many changes.
Commenting is so hard sometimes. I love to waste the day reading and commenting, but then I get no work done. And now I have to get my projects all finished before Memorial Day, I feel the time crunch even though it's 3 months away.
Truthfully, it's the only promise I know I'll keep. Summertime is really the only time we get to spend any "quality" time at all together.
Yeah, I started doing that too, a little bit in the morning, and then a little bit at night, but even that got to be too much. Of course it might make a difference if I stopped following so many blogs.
Never feel bad about not commenting. Sometimes the post doesn't warrant it. There will be other posts that'll make up for it.
I have over 1000 blogs on my reader. I can't comment on all of them, but if they say something that strikes a chord or if I feel I can add to the conversation, I'm happy to interact.
So often blogs fall into the trap where it's a popularity game. I'd much rather see thoughtful comments from people who enjoyed the post than drive-bys from people who feel obligated to comment.
But I am glad you're blogging again. :o)
Anne, You may not feel like it at times, but you are not only an amazing and accomplished writer, but you are an amazing and accomplished person. You work far too hard to heap any guilt upon yourself for feeling like an inadequate blogger. You accomplish more in one day than I do in a week! Just keep doing what you're doing and know you are appreciated! :)
So glad you're back. Me? I got a rejection from a publishing house last week, but a very encouraging rejection. I'll be looking for a critique partner because I've permanently crossed my eyes trying to edit alone. Know any good links?
I don't post unless I can return comments and visit others. That just doesn't seem fair. And three days a week is all I can handle.
Welcome back!! We'll take whatever you have to offer! :)
I do wish I had your stamina! Oh! I just wrote that and then I read Bridget's comments. Yep. What she said!
Thanks, Maria. You've nicely summed up exactly how I feel about blogging these days. And 1000 blogs. I can't even imagine.
And now you're going to make me cry. Thanks so much. You're the best.
Em- Well, I'm sorry about the rejection, but I'm glad it was encouraging. As for a critter, give me a couple of days and I'll see what I can do. I'll email you.
Well, with your schedule it's a wonder you can blog at all. Yeah, 3 days a week seems to be the magic number.
Thanks, Don. We'll see how you feel when I get further into this. I've got some pretty heady stuff coming up.
Thanks, Liza. Stamina isn't the word. I think maybe crazy might do it. And without you and Bridget I would be nowhere, so thank you.
Well, I knew you'd be back! It's the same old problem: blogging vs. writing and we know what comes first. I agree with you about those bloggers who never comment back but we eventually figure it out. Women's romantic fiction is always a big sell. And I echo what Bridget said.
Welcome back! I only blog three days a week if there's stuff that needs posting on Wednesday. Otherwise it's Monday and Friday - and most weeks I still have difficulty keeping up. I'm thinking about what to do this summer - something has to change.
Happy to see you! :~) *hugs*!
Part of the reason I disabled comments on my blog was so my buddies could read if they wanted without the 'comment guilt'! Glad I did it, seems to have helped at least a few stop by more often.
You amaze me with all you get done...you are such an inspiration!
xoxo
bru
Thinking about you chopping down trees makes me smile. And, I must say I'm very happy to see you still blogging over here! As far as commenting goes, I don't comment on everybody's posts all the time, but I do try to make the rounds as I can. It's all a girl can do these days! Otherwise, I just go through my Reader and lurk and keep tabs. :)
Thank God, you are not quitting blogging. You were one among the few bloggers who actually inspired me to move ahead with my blog writing. Thanks a lot for that....
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