Holly
Lisle's Vision
From
Holly Lisle
What? Days Off?
©2001,
Holly Lisle
Writing about
holidays -- the theme of this issue -- has nothing to do with writing during
holidays. In the best of all possible worlds, I have December off. I
plan my schedule so that I won’t have any writing to do that month; I like to
be able to hang out with my family, go shopping, wrap presents, decorate, bake
cookies, and all the other cool things that we associate with holiday seasons.
Most years it works out.
This year, in
spite of my best planning and a great deal of hard work, I’m going to be
writing through the holidays -- and not just writing, but working like a dog.
Schedules change, things come up, and suddenly the easy wrap-up I’d envisioned
for the middle of November has become a vista daily marathon writing that
stretches through way too many hours of every day for the rest of the year, and
with a deadline clock ticking loud and hard to keep me racing.
This little note
is just my reality check for those of you who are serious about doing this
full-time. The best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley, and deadlines
know no holidays.
Merry, cheerful,
and joyous [INSERT HOLIDAY OF PREFERENCE HERE] to all of you, season’s
greetings, and think of me when you’re sitting with your feet up around a
crackling fire singing songs of goodwill to men and raising glasses of grog for
just one more toast. I may still be huddled in my corner, fingers at the
keyboard, sweating out another deadline.
And that’s
cool, too. Because, at the end of the day, and at the end of the year, writers
write.
We’ve put
together an exciting issue for you, full of information you’ll be able to use
right away and some thought- provoking looks a problems that will keep you
thinking long after you’ve finished reading.
Happy writing,
seasons greetings, and my wish for brilliant words and inspiring deadlines to
all of you.
Holly Lisle
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