<<So what do you do when you end a project? How long before you can shift gears? What tricks do you do to make the transition easier?>> And I can't answer this LOL. I've yet to complete polishing the 2 WIPS I have, though I have made great strides since clearing most of the chemo out of my sogged brain. It's really made a difference, though I never thought it did when I was on chemo. Intellectually, I knew it was having an effect. I was totally unmotivated. I tried pills for depression and pills for energy (those helped some but made me very scatter-brained, tho I did a LOT of scattering on them LOL) and none of them really helped and had side effects that weren't worth the bother for the lack of results, so stopped those. However, now that I'm going a bit better, the cogs finding their coglets, I feel as if I have sooo much to do! My problem now is focusing and finishing. 1. I bought a spiral calendar showing the week on two pages and write down **everything** I did concerning writing, reading, research, contacts, etc. (I've realized my whole life is about writing in some form or fashion. I can't read without analyzing, critiquing, thinking. Can't watch a movie, tv show, or even people watching, squirrel watching outside my kitchen windows, without it fodder. I know, we *say* that all the time, but I'm always amazed when I truly realize it. And I realize it over and over again.) 2. I prioritize my tasks by deadline. If I don't have a deadline, I make one. 3. I've promised I will start the "newest" WIP during Nanowrimo (Nov) and basically do nothing else, as much as my scatterbrain will allow. 4. I've accepted a temp (possibly perm) copyediting job to stretch my editing muscles. 5. I've been researching how to write reviews and have several books authors have asked for reviews. This is a slower project tho, as I won't allow it to interefere with my current WIP. 6. I'm getting business cards. All they say is "writer" basically, but at cons, they are essential. I'm just about ready to be that writer who needs them. 7. Received business cards will be organized in a binder. I've lost so many already from cons, due to juggling my office from my own room to my bedroom (with no room). 8. I keep a spreadsheet on writers I know and one for writers and their agents and editors, when they are mentioned. I won't remember every agent's or editor's name, but over time, I may retain a few and then when it's time for me to submit, I'll have some resources of my own, current ones, to review and maybe I'll even remember names when I attend cons and such. 9. I've learned **how** I write. Which I think is the most important thing a writer learns. I write in huge blocks of time. I've learned to allow myself to do this and to allow myself breaks when I need them. I write in layers, fast first draft, get the gist of the story down, then fill it out and up, delving into the thing again and again. 10. I've learned to appreciate other writers, especially those who give their time to me (and others) to help us become better writers. My writer friends and acquaintances sometimes seem overwhelming and I just a fledgling, but no one makes me feel that way. It's my own insecurities. (another thing to work on) OK that's enough, back to rewriting my WIP! | 
