The other day someone asked me how I liked retirement. In 2009, I decided to retire a bit early and enjoy life. That didn’t mean lounging on Waikiki Beach in the shadow of Diamond Head every day reading my fill of mystery novels; it meant researching, writing, and publishing mystery novels. It also meant paying closer attention to my blogs and participating in writers’ groups. But I do enjoy plenty of leisure time because I do just what I want . . . sort of.
That
means that although my goals are set and my projects outlined, deadlines are not carved
in stone. If there is a deadline, I can begin the project far in advance so as
not to be rushed. This year my goals include completing and publishing a novel;
posting interviews with the 13 authors involved in the mystery anthology MYSTERY IN PARADISE 13 Tales of Suspense;
and participating in Arlee
Bird’s April 2014 A to Z Blog Challenge
by writing and posting twenty-six articles
with topics ranging from A to Z.
Marketing
is an area where I need to improve, another goal. My focus for 2014 includes the
novel WITH FIERY VENGEANCE published
in December 2013. As the third book in the Pepper Bibeau mystery series, and
set in Hawaii, I am having fun discussing the settings featured in the story.
Yesterday
I spent time at Paˋina Café for the monthly local NaNoWriMo group gathering. I had
been in a quandary about my WIP because of indecision over the story line. Scenarios
had been swimming around in my mind since I completed the first draft last
November. As I typed out my thoughts at the cafe, everything fell into place. Doing just
what I want, letting my thoughts simmer until the time was right for a solution
to develop, worked better than trying to force a decision.
That’s
what I like about my retirement state-of-mind: Doing Just What I Want . . .
Sort Of. While I must still take the steps necessary to move a project toward its
goal, I have the freedom to do just what I want at any given time. This is
my idea of stress-free time management, an enviable luxury.
How
do you manage your time?