Friday, February 29, 2008

Ouch!

I'm in the midst of writing an article about stress. As I type, I'm acutely aware of the muscle tightness and dull headache that have been plaguing me for days. I'm completely stressed out and my body is reacting poorly to the long hours, pathetic diet and lack of fresh air.

I know I should be taking the advice of the experts I've interviewed: go for a walk, soak in a hot bath, write in my journal, learn to say no...Right now, all I can do is keep plugging away, hoping to make a dent in the pile of work on my desk.

On the bright side: the book is coming along and I have a solid plan in place to ensure I meet my deadlines. I met with a web designer yesterday who is going to create a website to promote The Green Year (stay tuned for details) and I talked to a photographer about getting some professional head shots. (I think it's probably time to stop sending vacation snapshots every time an editor asks for a photo).

I'm working on a handful of other projects including Personal Pitch, the one-on-one writer/editor sessions that take place during the annual ASJA conference in April. It's a huge task to coordinate volunteers, contact editors, respond to e-mails and ensure that the 2,256 slots are filled on members' day.

In the midst of the deadlines, I still manage to have a little fun. I continue to train with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for Hike for Discovery. To date, I've received donations totaling $1,815. Help me reach my goal of raising $5,000 for LLS by donating.

One of these days I'm going to treat myself to a massage, change my furnace filters, download photos from my camera, start knitting a blanket for my neice-to-be and sign Molly and Milo up for classes to become certified therapy dogs. Right now, I need a nap...

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

All Work and No Play...

My office is starting to feel like a prison cell. I've been sitting in the same small space, staring out the windows, wondering what life is like beyond these walls.

It's been a hectic month (actually, it's been a hectic year). Despite the craziness, I wouldn't change a thing. Ok, there is one thing I would change: I'd have a personal chef deliver meals to my office. I'd nosh on salads for lunch, have fresh fruit (peeled and cubed, of course) as a snack and an endless supply of Diet Coke at the ready. My body would like a break from cereal and Ramen noodles.

So, what's keeping me so busy? Deadlines, deadlines and more deadlines. I've been writing non-stop since the beginning of the year. Some of the articles are for editors I've worked with in the past and some are for new-to-me editors I hope to work with into the future. I've also put together proposals for corporate work and two book projects.

Earlier this month, I found out that one of the books I pitched was accepted. I'm going to be an author! The book is called The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference and it will be published by Alpha/Penguin later this year. As the title suggests, it's a tip-a-day tome to living a more eco-friendly life. As the publishing date suggests, I'm on a very tight deadline. The first half of the book is due March 30 and the final 50 percent is due on April 15. Needless to say, I'll be spending several long days in my cell, er, office.

I've been invited to present at conferences in Boulder, Colorado, in June and October. Stay tuned for more details.

In my spare time (translation: when I'm procrastinating) I've been researching my next trip. I have no idea where to go but I'm open to suggestions. Right now, I'm tossing around Egypt and Croatia as possibilities. Of course, a week on a tropical island sounds good, too. Thoughts?

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Drum Roll Please...

I have just gotten the contract to WRITE MY FIRST BOOK!

More info to come soon, I promise. Right now, I'm in the midst of a huge deadline crunch and I need to devote all of my energy to writing the articles that are due this week.