Comments on: The Game Plan

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:07:00 +0000

You would think by this time… I mean at my age… I wouldn't be surprised that Monday holidays throw the whole week off to some degree… but I am… maybe always will be.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:32:07 +0000

Devon – I'm sorry to hear about Elsa. Take comfort in knowing she was lucky to have you.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:48:42 +0000

Diane, great idea. Three months out is optimum.

Devon, I appreciate you posting despite losing your dear kitty, Elsa. Much love and condolences to you.

Cathy, I'll let you know how fabulous it is. :)

Wendy, maybe we should be entering Paula in these all-expense-paid giveaways? The girl needs to get out. Badly.

Paula, in all honesty this vacation will have undertones of "Oh my lord, the money!" I have little left after taxes, and this month is abbreviated thanks to the surgery. And the workload in October is two weeks light. Not great timing on my part, but I do have some bigger checks due by then, amen.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:02:46 +0000

As you already pointed out, I can't speak to pre- or post-vacation workloads, but I sure know the feeling of finally having three digits on the left side of my checkbook ledger's decimal point after paying bills, only to have yet another tax payment (right on the heels of a massive property tax payment) eat it all up.

You brought it up, Lori...The only way I can go on vacation is if I win an all-expenses-paid vacation.

I could probably get over the "I should be working! I need the money!" commentary running through my head. But how could I relax and enjoy a getaway (which I understand is the point of a vacation) when constantly adding up how much everything costs, knowing the money is sorely needed for practical things like home repairs, my IRA or my HSA?

Luckily I didn't grow up expecting an annual vacation so now I don't feel too deprived.

What good is a vacation if it actually increases your stress?

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:36:16 +0000

My vacation plans constantly change all the way to the minute I actually leave, so it's not worth planning too much ahead.

Yes, I also think Paula should pull away from the computer and get at least a small vacation. Plus, I think Devon should be moving out right now and waving goodbye to that nasty landlord. Well, it sounds good in theory anyway.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:51:38 +0000

So far, knock on wood, I have always had something when I get back-mostly due to some regular gigs (monthly posts, ghostwritten articles, etc.)-bare minimum, but at least something.

Pre-vacation (Mine's in November), I try to crank out as much as I can.

I'm hoping I can have an e-book done before I get back in late November so I will have that as well.

Keep us posted on the surgery & enjoy Ireland. It's on my list of places I would like to see.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:40:41 +0000

I don't really have a plan. I take it as it comes. I'm trying to create a plan with the move, but so much in my work arena will change with the relocation, because I'm up for more local stuff. I won't really know until I get there. Meanwhile, I'm juggling a lot of fiction and I'm landing more and more scripting jobs that are located all over the place, which is great. Right now, I just need a place to move into before I can deal with anything else.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:37:15 +0000

When I freelanced full time my diary was booked 3 months in advance, so even if I had a holiday – or any other scheduled time away from the desk – I still had plenty of work to come back to. Every month I had marketing scheduled in, too, with my writing diary to hand and anything in the future I thought I might like to research, attend, write about, etc. Once you get into the swing of things it's automatic.