Stress

I don't get stressed out very easily. I go with the flow. But these packet deadlines are relentless!

Okay. This whole MFA thing is way more work than I expected. I have no idea how people with children handle it. I just have a husband. And pets. And a full-time job, but that's no biggie.

My main problem is procrastination. I take a breather after I send in a packet. And suddenly there are only two weeks left until the next packet's due.

Meanwhile I'm reading like a fiend--20 books a month--mostly novels. For packet four however, I'm going to stick in a whole bunch of picture books because I'm running out of time.

I admit that for my birthday (April 30), I gave myself permission to read a novel for adults. And then, because it was lying on the dining room table, another novel for adults. So I know I have only myself to blame. But Garnethill by Denise Mina was quite compelling, especially for a first novel. (It's a mystery set in Glasgow, Scotland and deals with sexual abuse and memories and therapy.)

So my next deadline is May 16. Hubby will be gone for a couple of days, so it'll be easier to get stuff done because he won't be hogging the computer.

I have one essay drafted. Need to draft one more. I was thinking about writing about story arc, which was discussed at the Iowa SCBWI conference last month. I might write about my own, in- progress, story arc and help myself figure out the major scenes.

I have to revise part of a chapter and finish several more new pages. I know where I'm going. Just have to keep plugging away.