Saturday, January 28, 2012

Holidays and Deadlines


I'm not a big fan of holidays.  I have a reason to dislike each, but I'll example the upcoming Valentine's Day.  Lucky for me, I am someone's Valentine, which means flowers and an overpriced dinner out.  Chances are, I'll feel more like a bowl of soup that night, but, I'll go out.  I'd much rather have flowers on, let's say, February 7.  Why the 7th?  Because absolutely nothing is on the calendar for that day, which means if I got flowers it would be because someone wanted to send them, not because 'everyone else was doing it.'  And I don't even want to think about that feeling of 'nobody loves me' that comes from a February 14th when you aren't someone's Valentine.  Lame. Lame holiday.

           
I am a big fan of organization. I make lists, I keep up a calendar, I plan just about everything ahead.  If I go somewhere for more than a day, I guarantee you I will have a binder with brochures, schedules, maps, travel information and the like.  Yes, a binder, tabbed and color-coded.  And I'm serious about it.  If something makes it on my schedule, I can guarantee, save malicious intent or an act of God, that that task will be performed by said date and time.   

While I was in school, I had deadlines to meet for manuscript submissions.  Never missed one, didn't even come close, in fact, I think I was ahead by more than a month a few times. 

But school is out, and I have no more deadlines.  I have instead, holidays, coming at regular intervals throughout the year; and did I mention I hate holidays? 

So I have decided, in my dislike of holidays, to embrace them and use them for good instead of evil.  I am a writer, and I want deadlines.  It forces me to say, "I have work to do, got a deadline to meet," and in just saying that, I will work. Hard.  So my holiday schedule for this year looks something like this:

Valentine's Day-First draft done on WIP
St. Patrick's Day-1st half revised
Easter-2nd half revised
Etc., etc. etc.

And in doing nothing more than coming up with this little idea, I've done two things. I've committed myself to writing and I have found a reason to celebrate every month. 

So as each holiday rolls around this year, I won't be the Debbie Downer who goes on and on about how disgusting green beer really is or how Columbus didn't actually discover America.  Instead, I will raise my glass to whatever it is we are supposed to be celebrating.  Another deadline met.  Now that is a reason to celebrate. 



28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great idea! I may do something similar with the lesser holidays.

I am not a fan of Valentine's Day either, and you're right that it would mean more having a gift come at another day. The only reason I celebrate it now is because I met my husband on Feb. 13, and we went out the next night. :)

Jen

-G said...

Green beer is pretty gross.

Suzanne Shumaker said...

Can't wait to hear about your progress.

Anonymous said...

I'm behind that idea 100% percent! Although I've never been a big fan of the term "Debbie Downer." I wonder why that is? LOL

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Well, that's sweet and a reason! And thanks, Jen, for pointing out my error. You win a prize!

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Yes, it is.

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

and you know you will. I have a hard time keeping those things to myself. :)

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Well, I'm sure whoever came up with that phrase never met you.

Beth said...

That is a great idea, Kelly! And I know you'll meet all those deadlines. I love your writing as always.

Anonymous said...

The best reason I have for celebrating valentines Day is that is the day my big brother was born!!

Gregg

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Yes, well, that's another reason it's a sad day to me.

Kellianne Sweeney said...

I thought I commented. Didn't I comment? Am I awaiting moderation?

Kellianne Sweeney said...

Apparently I must have neglected to click submit on my first comment that did not appear. (Doh) I was pushing for the "Holiday" song from Madonna (although I do adore Lindsey too). I am ready to DAANCE!

Erica Lucke Dean said...

I hate Valentine's Day too. My husband is a non-conformist and a rebel and refuses to acknowledge that day as anything special. Which, of course, means he doesn't want to pay for flowers or dinner out. I would forgive him this gross oversight if he got me flowers on say, the 7th (just because)...but the guy almost never gets me flowers (he did for our anniversary a few years ago because I made a big deal about it weeks earlier.) I have pitched a fit about his weirdness, so we'll see. Maybe he'll take the plunge this year. If not, I'll have something to blog about, right?

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

I had to stage a virtual fight between Lindsey and Madonna for this spot. Madonna poked him in the eyes with her steel-reinforced bra, but Lindsey came back with, well, just being Lindsey, and took her down. :)

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Let's see what happens on February 7th. And incidentally, my husband hasn't actually bought flowers in a few years, but, that's another story. :)

CLC said...

Anything that celebrates love is fine by me. My first Valentine's after a heartbreaking divorce was in Vancouver, BC. The sky was deep gray threatening rain. It was cold and damp. But there on the downtown streets of Vancouver, as I walked to work, were gals dressed as cupids, handing out candy, sweet comments, and beautiful smiles. I stood for a moment and watched old men beam, hurried business men stop, momentarily vulnerable, professional women eat the candy like it was the dearest of gifts, and felt myself begin to fill in the gaping hole in my heart. Why would anyone be bemoan a holiday that has the potential to spread all that love around?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder on V-Day ... oy vey, my 10th anniversary comes on, oh shit, tomorrow! Holy shit ... I hope I can do this stuff online.

- Charlie

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

You see, that would have just depressed me even more.

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Yeah, right, Charlie, I know better than that. You are a true romantic and have probably had the whole anniversary thing planned for months. :)

Teresa Cypher said...

Excellent way to turn a negative into a positive! Your creativity shows--and your organizational skills. Debbie Downer? I have met her. More often, in my neck of the woods, I meet Negative Nancy... We don't want to be either of them :-) Great post--great idea, Kelly.

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Yes, Negative Nancy shows up around her sometimes, too. :)

Jane of JaneZworld said...

Hi Kelly, just found your blog. Love the header quote, so true. Wish my teachers had known that. Upon reflection I find I have no feelings one way or the other re Valentines day. Not now I am no longer a highly paid over worked florist courier. What a great idea to use the non event holidays in my life as deadlines. My WIP is set during the Civil War time but in the frontier of Colarado.

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Great setting for you WIP. I do love historical fiction!

Amberr Meadows said...

I think you'll have no trouble meeting your goals. You seem like you've been "on fire" lately with the writing anyway. I think Valentine's day is lame, too. I want to feel loved and special all 365 days of the year--not just one.

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Thanks, Amberr. Yes, definitely on fire, just have to feed those flames. :)

D.C. said...

You are a smart cookie, Kelly! I am a HUGE fan of holidays but I don't really like to exchange gifts on Valentines Day. I do like to have crazy sex on Valentines, though, and my boyfriend knows this. The cheeky bugger has decided to extend the holiday by booking us three nights in Niagara Falls. He is also a smart cookie.

Kelly Stone Gamble said...

Sounds like you are the smart cookie, DC. :)