Running With Quills: Jayne Gets a Bit Frantic

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Jayne Gets a Bit Frantic

This is going to be one very short blog, folks. The first volume in my Dreamlight Trilogy, FIRED UP came out in January. The second volume, BURNING LAMP, will be out in April. Meanwhile, the paperback rollover of THE PERFECT POISON goes on sale at the end of March. This has been one busy winter and, yes, I'm feeling frazzled.

Now just to top it off, I find myself on deadline with a book due on Tuesday. Yikes! Tuesday. I simply cannot think rationally about anything except sorting out my very tangled plot. I hope you will understand.

I rarely let myself get up against a deadline like this but here I am. Serious crunch time. Wish me luck.

Time to prioritize. Time to stay focused.

What do you do when you find yourself up against a wall like this?

Sincerely,

Jayne

26 Comments:

Anonymous said...: Busy, busy, Jayne!

Whenever I get into a time crunch or when projects converge on a point in time, I breathe. Not just frantic, light, panicky panting, but long, deep breaths full of oxygen and space. Somehow, opening up my lungs and refreshing my brain with oxygen makes things start to fall into place. Then, I am able to sort out the priorities and get things done, one at a time. Usually, I end up with everything done and a big "YES!" to congratulate myself. But I really need that moment of breathing to get there.

As Cinderella (as played by Drew Barrymore) said, "Just breathe."
Lynne Thomas; 7:05 PM
Jayne Ann Krentz said...: Thanks, Lynne. I needed that advice. I am taking it now.; 7:27 PM
Katt said...: That's it BREATHE... Close your eyes first, then in through the nose, out through the mouth, as slowly as you can. Repeat ten times, blink, and a smile will probably follow. Then focus on the project and enjoy!; 8:23 PM
Mary said...: Yep, I was going to say much the same thing. Calm down, breathe and focus on what you have to do. That's what I do and it usually works out.; 8:29 PM
Kate Douglas said...: Breathing is the first step. Sometimes I just lie down for half an hour and empty my mind and take a nap. There's something about facing a project with my brain not buzzing that helps. Jayne--you have my sympathies. My manuscript was due two weeks ago. The goal is to mail it on Wednesday. And finish the page proofs for another book. I'm really looking forward to The Burning Lamp!; 8:39 PM
Sue G said...: Hi Jayne, Breathing is a start, then think like Fallon and you'll figure out the pattern in the chaos of your plot. :); 8:43 PM
susan andersen said...: Lynne, EXcellent advice. And I loved Ever After--the Drew Barrymore version of Cinderella.; 10:11 PM
Deborah Schneider said...: I like to think of a major reward I'll give myself at the end of the project.

And I visualize the end, how good I'm going to feel and how much I'll enjoy those new shoes or purse. Or the jewelry.
I'm very predictable when it comes to rewards.; 11:35 PM
Beckee said...: Breathe....then write as fast as you can...I keep checking online for the date of the next release, and oddly enough its not coming any sooner lol. None of "my authors" have anything coming out for a while and its driving me batty. I'm hoping your finishing up Fallons story...but then I'm half in love with him myself!; 12:33 AM
Lori Foster aka L. L. Foster said...: Holy cow, Jayne! You're swamped.
Sounds like you've gotten a lot of great advice here. I sort of live in chaos, so I'm not sure I'm a good one to help. LOL.
You know, I take lots of small breaks, to keep my brain fresh. I throw in laundry, take the dogs out, grab a snack, etc... But that might be more distracting thank helpful to some people.

Good luck!

Lori; 4:31 AM
Donna said...: I am a firm believer in primal scream therapy followed by a good cry. Then I put on a pot of coffee, place some of my favorite chocolates well within reach...and get done what needs doing.; 4:51 AM
wstridgerunner said...: Jayne; keep the faith girlfriend!! I have confidence in you. As a reader; it seems like the books cannot come out fast enough; although we know in our heart of hearts how much energy and effort it takes to put all those wonderful story's together.

As the mother of a former cheerleader; here goes;

Gimme a J
Gimme a A
Gimme a K

Go Jayne Ann, Go Jayne Ann, Go Jayne Ann

Pretend you hear this all day and I'll be sending you creative well wishes all day. :); 6:01 AM
Anonymous said...: A good night's sleep followed by some deep breathing exercises before starting the day tends to help me. Also, making my work space as comfortable and inviting as possible helps too. I keep snacks and herbal tea close near my desk too. Lots of breaks to clear my mind and refocus. And, time to stop, think, and review my priority list. I do the last one throughout the day to make sure I don't miss or forget anything.

Good luck with your deadline!

Jennifer S.; 6:06 AM
Carla Neggers said...: As we say around here...anxiety focuses the mind. Good luck, Jayne!! :-); 6:53 AM
ChrisTina said...: Jayne
All the advice sounds positive and awesome.

Let me add my zen-like take: live in the next five minutes. That is all you have to do for now. Live those five well and the rest will follow.

And if that fails, and the deep breathing isn't cutting it, I go for rational emotive therapy and ask "What is the worst that could happen?"

Granted, you will be terribly unhappy and disappointed, as will your editor, and NO fan will say that they don't want your work as-soon-as-possible, BUT the world WILL still turn, and your friends will still love you, and your readers will still be waiting. Guaranteed.

Ultimately, do what is best for YOU: including putting off responding to this blog!!!

Cheering for you, sending good vibes, and peace...

Chris H; 9:29 AM
elizabeth said...: What do I do? Same thing you're doing--work my tail off!

Can't wait for the new ms. *hint hint hint*; 12:24 PM
GatorPerson said...: I make a list of what needs doing. Then I assign 1,2,3 in order of what needs doing most (1 is most needed). I also (this is all in Excel) use another column to assign 1,2,3 for amount of time (1 is shortest).

I sort on needs doing most, then sort on amount of time. Something will pop that is high in both columns. That gets done first, even if it's not 1 in needs doing most. And so on. Once it's done, it gets 99 for both attributes. I want to see what I've completed! Then sort a couple more times to see what's next.; 5:50 PM
Shiloh Walker said...: Breathing is good advice. And um... a rum and coke sounds good, too. O_O; 7:18 PM
Jayne Ann Krentz said...: Checking in on Monday night. Thank you all so much for the advice, good karma and kind thoughts. I solved the plot problems. The mss will go in to my editor tomorrow.

And, yes, it is Fallon's story. And, yes, I am still breathing.

--Jayne; 8:14 PM
Anonymous said...: Well, not being like your very diciplined self,the first thing I have to do if something Must be done, is- Put. The. Book. Down!

Frankly, I have never been able to accomplish tasks or focus my mind until I am
"up to the wire" so to speak. However, I am sometimes quite proud of what I am able to do when I am actually focused.

I must cofess to some smiling curiosity as to the effect of your state of mind on the nature of the writting! It might prove to be exciting , suspensful, and tension and emotion, packed- the resolution of "frantic" especially sweet! I know that, how ever it is, your endearing personality which makes your books so delightful, as well as your knack for the addictivly suspensful turn of phrase, will shine through!

So, do take those deep breaths, ignore us , and plunge in! ( and thank you for sacrifcing your sanity to the cause)----Jill; 8:33 PM
Anonymous said...: Oh, you were writting when I was- Well, Yeah!!! Can't wait!-- Jill; 8:36 PM
Anonymous said...: Jayne-
I am not surprised that you worked it out. Just seeing your output overall - which has got to involve serious discipline - shows your ability to cope is pretty damn good!
I find that a short (maybe not so short) moment of panic, followed by making lists and being able to check things off, calms my soul. Of course, this doesn't preclude sometimes staying up well into the wee hours to really complete the task.
I'm eagerly looking forward to the release of Burning Lamp.
Barbara Rose; 12:40 AM
Librarystitcher said...: Like Fallon Jones, I live on coffee. So I brew a pot, sit and sip while contemplating my first and next steps to conquering everything. Then I charge onward.; 3:12 PM
Stella said...: Those horrible crunch times, Jayne. You're always up to it but I surely understand that you feel pressured.

Stella; 9:43 AM
Anonymous said...: Jayne, you always come up with a surprise in every book .You are as stubborn as a snapping turtle I don't see that you will have a problem with anything that you chose to do.Keep up the good work for I am greedy for anything that you write . Im am glad that you solved the plot problem .Sometimes it is good to just go to bed.Let the characters sort themselves out .Remember your Shakspeare .singerofsongs5717@hotmail.com; 6:58 AM
Anonymous said...: like some of the other ppl said, take a deep breath, and tackle one issue at a time...you can do it
:-)..sometimes ideas can come to you in your sleep, who knows what you will find there next! I just read your Wicked Widow, it was a great read...just finished your Running Hot, don't know if I liked it or not?; 9:29 PM

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Sunday, February 28, 2010

Jayne Gets a Bit Frantic

26 Comments: