Making a List

In these, the last few days before Christmas, I’m struggling. Not to finish the shopping, baking, wrapping and decorating. Those things will get done as they do every year. I hope.

I typically start panicking two weeks before Christmas. How will I get it all done? What gifts do I still need buy? I don’t know what to get anyone in my family except maybe my granddaughter and two-year-old grandson. (One gives me a list, and the other one is just fun to buy for!) When will I have time to wrap the gifts, bake cookies, and make the candy my kids like? I’m normally making lists like Santa on speed.

I’m not sure why, maybe it’s because I’ve been so busy with book stuff, but this year I haven’t had time to worry about Christmas. I’ve been on autopilot when it comes to Christmas. But Christmas is getting done anyway. Interesting.

In the last six weeks I’ve published two books, had a book signing at a bookstore and I’ve taken my books to three Christmas bazaars. Yesterday I met with a book club whose members had read my three Thrillers and wanted me to sign them. I’ve also spent many hours on social media trying to get word out about my books.

So, here is my struggle. While I’m busy trying to market my books and get ready for Christmas, I’ve had a terrible time getting any writing done. Not because I have no time to write, because even with all the craziness I have had time. Not as much as I normally do, but I can grab an hour here and there.

My writing schedule is normally to get up in the morning, grab a cup of coffee and write for two hours before I do anything else. There are days when that schedule doesn’t work. Like on Mondays when I have the two-year-old, or I have an early appointment, but I try to save those hours to write.

For some reason, it hasn’t been working for me in the last few weeks. And when I have made myself sit down and write it isn’t going well. I’ve started the fourth book in my series six times.  Every time I think I have it nailed down, I read it back and it isn’t working.

I can’t get my mind back in the game. Is this because my mind is revolving around all of the things that I need to do like a hamster on a wheel? Will I be able to calm down and write when the holidays are over? I sure hope so because now I’m way behind schedule.

And then, as if I didn’t have enough to think about, the universe dropped an idea for a Christmas mystery in my lap. I’ve always wanted to write a Christmas mystery. It’s all there: the main characters, the villain, the detective and even the ending. I want to stop writing the next book in the series and write this one instead! I’ve jotted down notes and hope to find time to write this book in 2026 also.

I’d love to hear what you all do when life is crazy, and your muse is trifling with you. Do you whip it into shape or go with the flow? Any advice you’d like to send my way would be greatly appreciated.

Meantime, I’m over here baking, buying gifts and wrapping and longing for the day after Christmas when things will go back to my kind of normal routine and I’ll hopefully be able to figure out the opening of my new book.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and may we all be productive in the new year!