Still breathing...

Someone asked for my work to do list. I was hesitant to do that, because it'd just be a repeat of this post, or else it'll be like Cheryl Klein's post here, where the comments upset me. I don't mean to whine, because it's not productive, but I hate feeling like I can't ever get caught up, and I hate feeling like I'm not responding to people quickly enough, or leaving emails go unanswered for weeks.

But...well, since you asked, let me show you this, my schedule from two Thursday's ago:

And then the next day I was out of the office for the SCBWI Intensive Writer's Workshop which I wrote about here. And missing those two days of emails put me so behind in my responses that my inbox got so clogged up that I could barely send an email without getting more email telling me that my inbox was over my memory limit, and to please delete mail, so I try to clean out my email inbox just enough so that I can actually send email. And then last week I was busy putting together two proposals for our acquisition meeting this week, and also found myself in the middle of a big auction for a big book that I want very badly. So I was up to my ears in P&Ls and comparable titles and writing my pitches. And then a minor celebrity was pitching a book and wanted a meeting, so I that took time to prepare for, and then there's the three Spring 2008 picture book manuscripts that I need to edit that should have been transmitted to copyediting last August, and the Spring 2008 novels that also need editing, and the Fall 2007 catalog pages that are circulating, and first-pass and second-pass pages for my Fall 2007 novels, and the proof for my Fall 2007 picture books, and sketches for a Spring 2007 picture book, and final art for another Spring 2007 picture book, and then more emails and emails and emails. And then needing time to read manuscripts for other editors for editorial meeting, and trying to read my own submissions, and then more emails, and phone calls, and meetings meetings meetings. And second-pass pages for a 200+ nonfiction book just landed on my desk today to review. And having to figure out costing issues for same book. And of course every day I have meetings meetings meetings.

Okay, I'll stop now. Seriously, I apologize, I'm feeling much better today after a packed yet relaxing three-day weekend, and I was also finally able to clean my room which has been a disaster zone for weeks. Of course I meant to do a lot of reading over the holidays, but instead only read 3/4 of a novel submission. But I've been reading manuscripts tonight and enjoying it. Oh, to be able to have time to read again. I just booked a week-long vacation to San Francisco for April, and aside from looking forward to seeing all my friends and relatives there, I'm also looking forward to a week of sitting in cafes and just reading for pleasure.

Anyway, so that's what I've been up to. Now back to my reading.