In the lead up to Christmas I seem to have no time for any creative writing; I spend my time creating lists instead! So I thought I’d share with you a short article I wrote about lists, that was published in The Australian some time ago but is certainly applicable during the festive season – see below. Happy Christmas and may all your wishes come true in 2012!
IN PRAISE OF LISTS
I’m an author, so I spend a lot of time with imaginary friends in imaginary places, having lots of imaginary but really interesting adventures – all far more interesting than what I usually do at home. (How can hanging out the laundry or shopping for dinner compete with interacting with a ghost, combating an assassin or solving a crime back in medieval time, for example?)
In my real life I have a husband, an extended family and a network of friends relying on my presence in the here and now. And I’ve discovered that the only way I can keep track of my different lives is to maintain a central calendar with lots of room for writing down social & work engagements – I’m cactus without that – plus I keep numerous lists.
There’s one down in my study (for writing tasks.) I have a list beside my bed for midnight thoughts. Next to it is a pen with a light on it so I can scribble in the semi-dark without really waking up. There’s another list in the loo (lots of good thinking time there!) The master list is upstairs in the lounge room, on which I cross-reference all my other lists with the dates on my calendar.
Sometimes, when the lists get too long, I compile an emergency list of things to do TODAY. For example, picking up grandchildren after school takes precedence over preparing a talk or getting on with my new novel, while everything takes precedence over housework – a task I usually resort to only when suffering major writer’s block.
The system works! I remember dates, tasks, functions and birthdays. I get through lots of stuff, and I also have the satisfaction of crossing out each item once it’s done. Keeping lists helps me to prioritise what’s important, but also reminds me of what I need to do that can wait a while. Confession: I’ve been known to write and rewrite the same thing for months as I update my lists until, finally, I either can’t put it off any longer or I get so sick of seeing it listed that I get on and do whatever it is (and polish my halo afterwards!)
Lists help to keep my life (lives) in order, although I stress out sometimes when they get too long. But then I think: when all the tasks are finally done and the page is empty – what then? Will my life be over?
These lists let me know that I’m a functioning part of my family, of the writing fraternity and of society. They tell me that I am needed, and that my contribution is valuable. I LOVE my lists!
