DUCKS IN A ROW? Ramblings on Being Organized By Morgan Mandel

About being organized --
I try, I really do, but it doesn't happen. I don't know if it ever will. I'm the kid who got checkmarks on her report card in grammar school in the section that said, "Keeps desk drawers neat." I don't even know if they give checkmarks on report cards any more.

I'm the teenager who only cleaned up her room the night before a big test until I finally caved in and resigned herself to studying. Fortunately, I still managed to get good grades.

I'm the college student who had to try extra hard to keep my side of the apartment in order so my roommate wouldn't get mad at me.

I'm the adult who has a closet floor littered with shoes and purses, so many I can't even tell what's there. Also, many of the purses still contain items I didn't switch over when I changed to another one.

I'm the doglover who almost trips over her dog, Rascal's toys and bones littering the floor because there are so many of them.

I'm the author who had so many to-do papers from projects not yet completed, I had to dump them all in a drawer in the hopes I can one day have time to go through them.

I'm also the author who went on vacation, tried to keep up with my e-mail by using a network card, but failed anyway. To-date, my inbox shows over 1500 e-mails unopened, which at the time they were sent I deemed not as important, but I'm still afraid to hit delete until I check them out.

And I'm the author with three books in the works, but none are finished - One a thriller, one that was supposed to be a romantic comedy but has evolved into something I can't yet define, another a possible children's book about Rascal.

Do I have my ducks in a row? Doesn't sound like it, but in a way I do. The stuff I've failed to get done bugs me at times, yet not always. As a wife, doglover, author, I've set my priorities.

If my husband wants to go out to dinner, go to a festival, share a DVD or program he likes with me, I'm not going to say no because the house is sloppy or I'm in the middle of a project. Sharing special moments with him is important.

If Rascal wants to take her toys and bones out of the rubbermaid container and spread them all over the floor to play with, I let her. Keeping her happy makes me happy.

If I'm getting ready for a special occasion like a party or booksigning, I'm smart enough to do my hunt early so I can find the right shoes and purse to go with whatever outfit I'm wearing.

Those papers in the drawer - For now they can stay there. I've discovered more exciting projects to keep me busy, like new networks to join and other ways to market my books. Maybe someday I'll check them over and see if any can be thrown out or attended to.

If I can't answer all my e-mail, I answer the ones that look important. I go to the groups with the most activity, since members of the other ones aren't on the web as much anyway and probably don't care if I'm there or not.

Those three books waiting to get done - Now that's another matter. To force myself to get moving, on one of them I signed up for a critique at my local chapter. Chicago-North RWA. That forced me to get twenty pages in shape on one of the manuscripts so I wouldn't embarrass myself. Now, after the critique, I have a better idea of what works and what doesn't. Also, I've got a clearer plan on how to move ahead.

So, I guess you might say my motto is Do What You've Gotta Do, because I'll never by the one who has all my Ducks In a Row.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://sixtyandsavvy.ning.com
http://bookplace.ning.com