Distracted

Elisabeth Naughton

Currently working on: Stolen Seduction

Book three in my Stolen Series for Dorchester

Mood: Feeling Rushed

So I planned to have this blog up and ready by 6am. Alas, you can see I'm a wee bit late. And there's one major reason. You see, last night - when I should have been putting this blog together - I was reading. What was I reading? Our very own Kristina McMorris's Between The Lines. And I got so wrapped up in this fabulous book, I didn't write a single word. Not on this blog or on my wip or on my editor revisions for Stolen Fury, which are due in, um, like a week. So blame Kristina for my being distracted. I am. ;)

Since I'm in the mood to blame Kristina, I'll also add that because I was so engrossed in her book, I didn't have a chance to clean my desk before taking this picture. I do most of my edits here, my promo work and all my email and chapter work here (in case you didn't know, while I'm a member of RCRW, I'm also the president of the Mid-Willamette Valley RWA chapter in Salem). You'll notice I have piles of notes on the left side of my computer - things I need to work on, letters to respond to, etc. On the right I have a couple boxes of business cards that were just delivered, and which I have no idea where to store. On the floor on the left is my spiffy red computer bag (I love that thing) and my signature flip-flops, which, in the summer, I never go anywhere without. What you can't see on the right, behind my chair, is the stack of books in my TBR pile. At least 15 books I'm saving for vacation in August - and all books I can't wait to read.

I do write at my desk sometimes, but the bulk of my writing is done here. On my living room couch. Not sure why, I think maybe it's because this is where I started writing long before I had my own desk and special place. Can't seem to get out of that mindset.

Far and away, the most important item on my desk - aside from my laptop which isn't always ON my desk - is this Believe sign. It sits on my desk always, and every time I sit down to work, I see it like a shining beacon. I got it a year before I sold, when I was going through a period where I was feeling down about the state of the market, how long my book had been "out there" and what was going to happen next. I believe in the power of positive thinking, and seeing this every day helped reinforce my belief that if I worked hard and didn't give up, I'd eventually sell. To this day I am 100% convinced that positive thinking worked.

What's the one thing that keeps you going when you're feeling down? Is it something visual or is it more internal?