Monday, January 4, 2016

The Lies I Tell Myself

I don't lie. I learned a long time ago that I always get caught. Besides, the truth is so much easier. That way I don't have to remember what I said. The caveat with that is -- I don't lie to other people. Lying to myself? That's a whole other ball game.

I took a look at this last year, what I accomplished, what I didn't, and instead of New Year's Resolutions, which I never make, decided to review my faults (as pertains to my writing life -- if I wrote down ALL my faults this blog would become a novel.)

I WILL BECOME A BETTER BLOGGER

I will write engaging, interesting content. I will post every week. I will keep up with the comments, and do my part to get around to all my friends. I will find new people to follow. I will leave thoughtful comments wherever I go.

Epic fail. I looked back on what I wrote this last year and it was a rambling, chaotic mess. I barely acknowledged my own comments never mind, getting to my friends' blogs. As for posting every week, I'm lucky I posed once a month, and even then, not so much.

I WILL READ BOOKS

I haven't read a book in almost five years. I used to read a book a day when I wasn't writing--when I lived in the real world. Now that I'm writing, all my free time goes toward my stories. I received two books for Christmas--do we want to take bets on how long it will take me to read them? Or should I say--open them? I'll put $10 on July.


I WILL BECOME A BETTER MARKETER

With the last novel I published, I had a marketing plan in place for several months. I talked it over with a very good friend who actually does that for a living. She thought my plan was good, and gave me some ideas to make it better. When the book came out, I implemented all the ideas. Did it work? Hell to the no. Why not, you may ask. Because I'm still marketing like it's 1999. I need to get into the 21st century, but it's hard considering I'm a fossil who still thinks just publishing a book will make it sell.

I WILL STICK TO A SCHEDULE

I drop Monster off at 7:30 every morning. It's a half hour commute, I'm home by 8, at the computer by 8:15. I write until 12, make lunch, then edit what I wrote until 2:15. I pick Monster up, make her food, help with homework, make dinner (the kid is always hungry) clean up the kitchen, then return to the office to tackle where I left off, in bed by 9:00.

Does this happen? Never. I blame it on my volunteer position at Monster's school. I've always been the "yes man". If they can't find someone to help, they just ask me. Because they know I'll do it. And then what happens is, after being at school all day, I'm so exhausted, I can't get up the energy to even sit down at the computer, never mind find a coherent thought.

I WILL PUBLISH MY BOOKS IN A TIMELY MANNER

See above. I started three stories in June. I finished one in July. I had 25k on the second one by Aug 1. We went back to school August 28. It took me three and a half months to finish that book. It should have been finished by the end of Aug, edited and revised in September, published in October. As it was, I didn't finish it until two days before Thanksgiving and barely had it revised for Christmas. Now, I'm working on that third book.

I WILL BE BETTER AT SOCIAL MEDIA

Friends keep telling me to get on Instagram, Wattpad, Face Book. I can't even keep up with my blog, never mind Twitter. I still haven't figured out how to link my blog with my LinkedIn account. I just finally updated my Pinterest boards. I used to keep Monday as my "social media" day. I don't know what happened. (School is what happened.)


I WILL SAY NO TO VOLUNTEERING

Until the principal, a kindly old nun, looks at me with the "face" and says please. How can I say no? It should be simple. I say no to Monster all the time. I say no to other people. Why is it so hard? Probably the Catholic guilt. I'm afraid I'll burn in hell if I refuse. (This one I promise I'm working on.)

I WILL TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS

When was the last time I did anything for myself? I can't tell you. If I'm not at school, I'm working on a book. When I'm working on a book all hell breaks loose in the housework department, so when I'm finished with the book, it takes me a week to straighten out the mess. By then I'm ready to start work on the next book. It's a vicious cycle. I keep telling myself as soon as I get the money I'm going to the beach. Of course, if I wrote my books in a timely manner, published and marketed them so they sold well, I would have the money to go to the beach.


So that's my list. What do you think? Tell me-- Is there anything you lie to yourself about?

Anne Gallagher (c) 2016

7 comments:

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

wow

some lofty goals (but then you don't enumerate the 'betterness')

Linda G. said...

Nope. I am the Queen of Leaving Myself Loopholes. Honestly, in another life I could have been an excellent lawyer. *grin*

Don't bash yourself for not living up to your own expectations--that will just make it more difficult to even try next time. In fact, if you insert "try my best to" before all your "lies," you magically turn them into truths. Also, not nearly as much pressure, and way less guilt. Win-win. :)

Bish Denham said...

I can so identify with some of these... The big lie I tell myself is that I just don't have the time, that Hubby keeps me occupied, but the truth is... is that I'm just a lazy procrastinator. There, I've said it. Now I don't have any excuses.

You are not alone. And it's a new day, new week, new month, new year.

Happy New Year, Anne!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I always intend to eat better and on a schedule instead of being a grazer all the time. I can't imagine not reading.

dolorah said...

I'm the only person I lie to consistently too. Ah well, the road to good intentions and all that. Perhaps you are focusing on what is most important at this time: Monster. All too soon she will be too busy with her own friends and activities, but she will remember that you cared enough to put her first now. In the bigger picture, that counts for a lot.

See ya around Anne :) If you can't smell the flowers, at least forgive yourself by spraying perfume or plugging in a glade or something, lol.

Shalet Jimmy said...

What is the fun, if life starts rolling just on our terms. I think you are doing wonderful.

I too wanted to post once a week. Years ago, I started blogging to land in a job. Now after so many years, I realise I have the time to use my blog to do some real writing.

Shelley Sly said...

I always have the intention of getting better at blogging and social media, but it doesn't happen. It doesn't mean I don't want to, I'm just bad at it. I'm going to try to be more realistic about what I'm able to get done.