Envy

Envy, like other negative emotions is a waste of time and a drain of energy. It's also human so OF COURSE I feel it when I see other writers making more of a mark than I.

This can be hard, and I don't know that it's much talked about publicly, but we do talk about it privately.

That said, I'm not feeling too envious today. Yesterday was a day off, I think the book is in good shape (will hear back from other beta readers soon), and the sky is blue and the weather warmish for this time of year.

Again, as a writer, as with any other public entertainer, or any other person, you have to concentrate on the moment and that you have done your job well. If I want to break out of my midlist position, I must write something more popular, something that will get my editors behind me and push for the bigger numbers. So, that's what I can do myself to be less envious.

I can cherish the moment. It's been fifteen minutes and Tommy has only whined once. I have my lovely house and some good tea and a pretty day and a neighborhood where I can walk down to get primo bread. These things count.

Now, about the PEARLS, Heart Fate took Honorable Mention in the category I was in (Futuristic Romance). Yes,I felt a twinge of disappointment. But Jayne Ann Krentz (Jayne Castle) won for Dark Light. And she is a wonderful lady and I love, and buy, all her work. They are main comfort reads for me, whether she is Jayne Castle, Jayne Ann Krentz, or Amanda Quick. Those books are rewards...I got the latest as soon as I finished Heart Change.

So I can honestly say that I am sincerely happy she won the PEARL in my category. She is my hero.

And since I spent all day yesterday listening to music, trying to put together a strong soundtrack for my WORLDS website page and didn't actually DO the rest of my website work. I need to get to work.

But first I'll take a walk.

Whatever you do today, YOU'RE a winner.
Robin

"Free" days

Heart Change is done and out to Beta Readers (and Tannun has already gotten it back to me, THANKS, T., not looking at it quite yet).

Heart Journey is not due until December.

This is the time I set for doing more proposals for new books/series, but inner rationalizations will be to not stray too much from the Heart series since I'll be working on Heart Change again next week.

Soooo....

I've done my most significant emails, to my editor's assistant asking that since they are going to an online editing system, can I submit online? To my critique buddies telling them that I'm going to miss the 28th because I'll be in Greeley, signing. To Tannun, for thanks to getting to Heart Change so quickly, to PerkyGoth telling her that the PEARLS are tonight and Heart Fate is up (though I am not sanguine, I have done little promoting to the paranormal group) so I won't be available for our playdate.

What to do today?

Update my website (that will take most of the day), answer some emails (email is usually 3+ hours), maybe update my Profantasy software (which I've purchased and received from Britain), so I can make a floorplan of D'Marigold Residence (I am not competent in this software so it takes me quite long, never did get the BalmHeal garden done in all it's glory).

Walk to the store for bread. Looks like it's going to be sunny. Maybe enter the More Than Magic contest, though entering contests with series books tends to be iffy. I think the books stand on their own, but I am not a good judge. Read contest entries.

So I have plenty of "work" or "work related" to do, and my "workday" will end at about 9 pm after the PEARLS.

May you enjoy your day, whether it is structured or not.
Robin