I’m still waiting to hear back about that manuscript…

I could technically start writing my next book, but I’m trying to pace myself. For years, I had to write book after book, just trying to break into a genre. I always told myself that when I finally arrived at Harlequin, I’d slow down. You know, enjoy a few days off… smell the roses, take a walk…

Well, I’ve arrived at Harlequin, and it’s time to slow down a little. There is a very pragmatic reason for this–manuscripts take a certain amount of time to work their way through the system, and there is no hurrying them. Unless I want to find a different non-romance genre to write in the meantime, waiting is all I can do. So now is the time to slow down. I need to write more slowly, edit more leisurely, and take myself up on my promise to smell a few more roses.

This is hard. You wouldn’t think it would be, but it really is. Over the last week, I’ve worked on a few articles for a magazine, I’ve read a few books just for the enjoyment (which I blogged about last week), and I’ve rolled up my sleeves and attacked housework like a fiend. My artistic frustration tends to be very good for my home.

It’s all about balance. You see, writing USED to be my hobby, and now it’s my career. That means that I need a new hobby–something for relaxation. Knitting? Woodworking? Doll making? Archery? Tea spoon collecting? Horseback riding? Football?

Seriously– I NEED A HOBBY!

What’s yours?

Julia Hopson of Knit Wits, Penzance, Cornwall with the ‘Guinness World Record’ for knitting with ‘the largest knitting needles in the world’.
Now THAT’S a hobby!