Going Crazy or Why Do We Need A February 30th

Today it hit me like a truck. The amount of work I must complete by the end of february is huge and my nerves are crushing under its weight. As it always is on matters of life and everything that matters, I didn't plan for so many things to happen at the same time. One minute I'm milling over my novel and a couple of stories, you know, leisurely (but not lazily); the only deadlines being the ones I wrote on my notebook. The next thing I know, Bam! Work has fallen on my lap out of nowhere.

It all started with a bit of bad news. I got an email from the publisher to which I submitted one of my stories back in November, and once more the answer was no. I felt heartbroken for like five seconds, then I went back to the long list of publishers that might be interested in my story. I was going through it when I remembered: Cemetery Dance is open for submissions. I logged in to check the requirements and they are looking for 5k long stories. 

My story is 7k long. Shoot.

 

Wait, what if I read it again and see... After all, it has been rejected so many times (seven, to be exact), it might be good to give it a new read. So I did. And I couldn't pass the first paragraph without thinking it was full of garbage. 

Oh, what the heck. What can go wrong, right? So I started rewriting. And I've been at it for two straight days. Haven't passed page three and the story is already two hundred words shorter.

Oh. My. God. And to think I paid for a professional edit... Man!

Of course now I'm resolved to make it a 5k story. I might not be able to pull it, but I know at the very least it'll be a much better story and there will be many more markets willing to read a shorter version.

Then, on the same day and just to show me there's still hope for me, I got some good news. The next mail I opened was an invitation to be part of an anthology. 

YAY! 

This is an invite-only anthology and the editor chose thirteen authors to participate in it, yours truly among them. I'm very happy and honored to be considered. I'm also very stressed trying to think of the best, most intelligent, clever, funniest 5k story I can write. And, of course, my mind went kaput. No shiny light bulb above my head. 

Dang! 

After careful consideration, I came up with two ideas that can work if I want to write a new story. Or I have two stories in a very rough first draft that I could make fit. Thing is, the deadline is early March. For the whole, edited and ready to be submitted story. Yep, March... 

Oh, and did I forget to tell you I got a new translation project? Well, yes. This time the good news came by phone (and believe me, they are good news. My wallet can attest to that.) A Geologist for whom I have worked before needs me to translate a final report of some kind of investigation from Spanish to English by the end of February. It's about a hundred pages long. No kidding.

Soooo... I'm in a bit of a pickle. 

I need to haul my ass big time if I want to get everything ready for the different deadlines, so forgive me if I don't write here as often, or if my writing isn't as clever and funny. 

What, you saying I'm not clever or funny? 

FINE. 

Then you won't mind me being cranky.

Hope you are having a much more relaxing start of the week. ;-)