And here I thought I was getting so much better at balancing writing with the rest of my life. Yeah. Apparently not. I’ve been working on the new book non-stop for… oh… fourteen days now, with no breaks, and very little sleep. The good news is, it’s coming along really well (finally). The bad news is, I’m so tired that I’m delirious and not much fun to be around. Because on top of all the book stuff, there’s been a whole bunch of not-so-great personal stuff going on in my life, which has made it extremely difficult to stay focused.
Anyhoo, I’ll be handing off parts of this new book to my agent tomorrow (eek!). She’s expecting it, which is the reason I’ve been going at it so hard for the past couple of weeks. Then I’ll probably spend the next couple of days slowing everything down and taking it easy.
OH! I almost forgot. This Friday the 18th I’ll be visiting the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, WA. I’ll be interviewing the Superintendent (which I think is another way of saying ‘warden’?) and she has graciously agreed to give me a tour of the prison. Exciting stuff! I seriously can’t wait. This visit is exactly what I need to fill the holes in my current draft. It’ll be hands down the coolest thing I’ve done for research so far. So be sure to check back next week to see what I’ve learned about women in prison, because you know I’ll be blogging about it!
What’s the coolest thing you’ve done for the sake of research?
Sounds like you need a break. Hope the prison visit goes well.
Well it was not research for a book, but for new drugs; at my last job I got to take marine sediment samples from all over the world and extract DNA from it. I was amazed how much DNA was in what looks like dirt. All the micro-organisms in the sediment really added up! Found a couple of novel antibiotics doing that, it was cool.
I visited Maine, where my book-soon-to-be-on-sub is set. It was gorgeous up there 🙂
Visiting the prison does sound exciting! Can't wait to hear about it. =D
Wow! Are you stepping in the prison for a book idea!? I love that you're bold enough to go in!! Good luck and can't wait to hear how it goes!
That being said, get some rest girly! We love us some Jennifer and I hate to know you're running out of energy! If I had some bottled up I'd send it to you, alas, I do not!
My research so far been mostly doing cool stuff in my life so that I can draw on it.
You know I feel your pain on the burn out. Hang in there!
I had to do extensive research on Deborah Sampson, the woman who posed as a man to enlist as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. She was one brave chick!
Hope you get some good rest!
That sounds exhausting. The prison visit should be cool and kind weird too I imagine.
Good luck with the handoff! Don't get too burned out. 🙂
I took a survival course! Honestly, if apocalypse hits, you don't want me. I won't get us meat. I can't do it. I'll starve first. BUT, if you can kill it and skin it, I'll give you some tasty herbs and onions out of the meadow to help make it flavorful.
I can only imagine the exhaustion and delirium. That is what it truly means to be a writer. Hope you can relax and get some sleep the next few days. I find it hard to get my system back in whack!
Can't wait to hear all about your visit and interview!!
Just take each hurdle one at a time.
I think your research field trip should give you the boost you need. That's so cool! Enjoy your trip! 😀
You inspire me:)
I think a prison tour would be so fascinating, especially if it's for research. The most interesting thing I've done for research is visit the Trinity Site in New Mexico where the first atomic bomb was detonated. It's so odd and yet incredibly interesting to walk where an actual atomic bomb went off — the first ever! — and to just imagine what was going through all those scientists' minds.
You need to recharge your brain and get some good z's.
All the interesting research for me has come from books and the internet. Nothing in person, yet.
🙂
So- let me get this straight- you're tired and stressed and feeling burned out. And the light at the end of the tunnel is a prison visit?
Atually that does sound pretty cool, though.
I've never done research for a book, but I had a job once as a research assistant which involved a range of tasks- one of which was squirting saline up people's noses, and then aspiating it back out again. It's called nasal lavage, and I think it was probably more uncomfortable for the participants than it was for me. Although- it wasn't great for me.
Anyways, good luck with everything. Hope you get some down time soon.
So much better than Prison Break; I can't wait to read all about it. And thanks for "fanning" me on FB. =]
Awe, you poor darlin! It will be all worth it when your agent is a pleased panda! Hope to get some rest soon!
What an amazing way to research! I can't wait to hear what you find at the prison. Good luck with all that work!
Hope you get a good break with lots of sleep and no typing! Wow, the prison visit sounds amazing! Can't wait to hear all about it.
The coolest thing? Calling and emailing Colorado state care services…and they never answered me. I stopped after a while.
I think you should chill out Jennifer. I have worked myself into the ground last fall and after a while, rest does not suffice anymore. You might want to keep that in check.
Ballance between life and writing? If you can mannage to maintain both at the same time, ballanced or not, you're doing better than me. lol
Good luck with your new book! Your prison visit sounds fascinating so I look forward to hearing about it. I visited Alcatraz last year and it was really cool.
Sorry you're burned out, but glad it's coming together nicely! I'm sure it's awesome. I def want to hear about prison.
I think going to New York was the coolest thing I did for research. My novel is set in NYC and upstate, and I'd never been, so me and hubs checked it out. And loved it!
Sorry that things haven't been going so smooth lately. I understand what you mean about burnout. Now that you have something ready to send off to your agent, take a few days off and re-charge your batteries! Sounds like you deserve it!
Comment of the day goes to Ben: "I think you should just chill out Jennifer." (BTW Ben, I imagine you saying that with a perfect Quebecois accent).
Yes. You are right, mon ami. Life's too short to stress so much! Writing is fun. I need to remember that.
And what does it say about me that I'm excited to go to prison? Hmmm. Nobody answer that. 🙂
I've never got to do anything interesting for the sake of research!
Well… maybe a google search or two.
Shucks.
What a fantastic opportunity!
I've been plugging away at my manuscript in the last couple of weeks. I'm getting close to burning out, too. Good thing I'm almost finished and can take a break.
Deep breath.
And the coolest thing I've done for research? Toured an old submarine (though I didn't know at the time that it was research).
Oh no! I'm sorry about the personal stuff going on in your life… whatever it is, I hope it ends soon!
And I totally get what you mean when you say that after too much work it's not fun to be with you, lol. I really get cranky after that–but I have the feeling my mood goes more south than yours! 😉
I'm glad you're happy about this visit, though I would be a bit freaked out! Hah! maybe it's just me.
And research? Umm, nothing that cool! 😛
I inadvertently visited a few websites set up by law enforcement while researching how to manufacture meth. Imagine my shock when they showed up at my front door. I let them look around and even provided them a draft of my novel Asylum Lake. It was pretty intense.
Now I'm researching the U.S. Marshal Service for my current project FLIGHT. I just know I'm gonna end up on a no-fly list!